The Shell of Stone is Ian Nimmo White’s third book-length collection of poetry. The author being a keen genealogist, many of these poems resonate with his passion for heritage, some marking major events of the twentieth century, with other poems travelling even further back to previous centuries.The author also touches on the inevitable passing of time and his own ageing, which he addresses with some mischief and fun. While there is always a presence of nostalgia, sometimes sadness, White balances this with poems about the joy of having grandchildren, observations of wildlife and the ever-increasing amount of time he is spending in his garden.The reader is left with feelings of respect for the past together with hope for the future. White’s poetry is laced with warmth and humanity, not to mention a good helping of his native Scottish humour. The experience gained in a four-decade-long career in community service has given the poet a priceless knowledge and understanding of the lives ofordinary men and women, who will be able to relate to these poems and enjoy them.