James McCarthy, former Deputy Director for Scotland of the Nature Conservancy Council, is now a Board Member of SNH. He has extensive experience both of introducing visitors to the best of natural Scotland, and training professionals from conservation organisations. Previously a forest officer in East Africa he became enthralled with the story of Selim Aga.

"The forgotten exploits of an African slave who rose to become an admired figure in Victorian exploration and whose adventures have all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster, are to be revealed in a new book..." - The Voice