The Cone-Gatherers [Mass Market Paperback]

Robin Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1985 | Series: King Penguin

This volume is part of a new series of novels, plays and stories at GCSE/Key Stage 4 level, designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum syllabus. Each text includes an introduction, pre-reading activities, notes and coursework activities. Also provided is a section on the process of writing, often compiled by the author. This is the story of two brothers, Calum and Neil, who work in the forest of a large Scottish estate. But the harmony of their life together is shadowed by the dark obsessive hatred of Duror, the gamekeeper.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a sheer delight. It never flags and every page makes you want to read the next." Sunday Herald; "A witty, ironic, intelligent and charming novel." Punch; "Jenkins laces his themes of greed and selfishness with plenty of lascivious goings-on. For all the humour, this is also a thoughtful novel and a wry look at 'what a mess folk make of their lives'." The Times; "Always a pleasure to read." Herald" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Robin Jenkins was born in Cambuslang in 1912. His first novel was published in 1951 and more than 25 works of fiction have followed, many of which have been graced with literary awards and have remained in print for decades. He lives in Argyll. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140062920
• ISBN-13: 978-0140062922
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,232,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars haunting, December 2, 2004

By 

A. C. Walter "awalter" (Lynnwood, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cone-Gatherers (Paperback)

Originally published in 1955, "The Cone-Gatherers" is set in the middle of World War II on a country estate in Scotland. The estate's wood is to be cut down soon to provide wood for the war effort, and two men have been sent into the wood by the forestry service to collect cones for seed. The men are brothers, and the younger is a simple-minded but very empathetic hunchback with "a face like Lord Byron". Through no fault of their own, the brothers acquire the irrational hatred of the estate's gamekeeper. The wood, itself lying under the shadow of ruin, quickly becomes a dangerous and mysterious setting in which the problem of evil plays out to tragedy.

Jenkin's short novel is the stuff of high literature and evokes associations with Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and the bold themes of Joseph Conrad. Also, the novel exhibits a strong and welcome moral sense not often seen modern fiction today. It addresses the intense issues of character and virtue also seen, for instance, in the works of the mid-century Oxford group "the Inklings", especially the novels Charles Williams (such as "The Descent into Hell" and "All Hallows"), though without the supernatural element. As a story of genuine, concentrated pathos, "The Cone-Gatherers" is the sort of haunting novel that brings the reader to a stark confrontation with the truth of human nature.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite 20th Century Novel, January 22, 2008

By 

Pennsylvania Settler (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cone Gatherers (Canongate Classics) (Paperback)

I'll simply state that I agree with all of what my friend Mr. Walter said in his review, and will add that I think fans of Flannery O'Connor's work would greatly enjoy this book as well. Nice to see it's got a new reprint!