I am but mad north-north-west; when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw . . . Hamlet's words from one of Norman Campbell's favourite plays could well be used to describe his early life. Raised in a strict Calvinist community on the island of Lewis, without a father to give him a name, Norman's feelings of alienation and paranoia grew as he grew, fearing the friendship of others and dreading the word applied to people who were illegitimate. Finally, after his MSc degree at Aberdeen University, the descent into the mire of schizophrenia began. Jobs came and went; Norman signed the Official Secrets Act, and in no time MI5 were 'investigating' him, while the police were on his case regarding Joycean adventures with loose women and other less savoury sexual peccadilloes. Then came stasis, dependency, solitude . . . and slow recovery. This is a triumphant story, graphically told and full of touching references to literature and painting. It concerns an outsider's fight back against his demons, into a community (Christian), rewarding employment (medical), and a thoughtful hobby (bridge, where he found a new social world opening). The forming of friendships, the acceptance of responsibilities, and the perception of other people for what they are make Norman's victory an immense achievement. It really is an inspiration - a beacon of light - to anyone touched by the shadow of mental illness.