The Annals of the Parish

About the book

"The Annals of the Parish" by John Galt is a novel published in 1821. Written as a fictional first-person chronicle, it follows Reverend Micah Balwhidder's fifty-year ministry in rural Scotland from 1760 to 1810. Through the minister's proud yet flawed narration, the novel humorously captures the realities of parish life and the profound social changes brought by the Industrial Revolution. Balwhidder observes political upheaval, including reactions to the French Revolution and emerging utilitarian philosophy, while revealing his own human vanities and economic interests.