Hawkfall: and other stories [Paperback]

George MacKay Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2005

He was dead. The spirit of the Beloved One had gone on alone into the hall of death. His body was left to them for seven days yet so that they might give it a fitting farewell. Now it was time for it too to be sent after. The priests washed his old frail bluish body with water that had been drawn at sunrise. They arrayed him in his ceremonial vestments: the dyed woollen kirtle, the great gray cloak of wolfskin, the seelskin slippers. Across his breast they laid his whalebone bow, with seven arrows of larch. In his right hand they put the long oaken spear. The old mouth began to smile in its scant silken beard, perhaps because everything was being done well and according to the first writings. Now it was time. All was ready.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Incantatory but down-to-earth, profound and often funny" -- The Sunday Telegraph

"What illuminates and pleases, apart from the speech of his characters and the poetic imagery, is the insight into people" -- Iain Crichton Smith, The Scotsman

About the Author

George Mackay Brown is one of the major Scottish literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific poet and novelist, he took much of his inspiration from the myths and landscape of Orkney, and also from his deep Catholic faith. His collection of short stories A Time to Keep (1971) won the Katherine Mansfield Mentor short story prize and his novel Beside the Ocean of Time was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1994. He died in 1996. Andrew Greig (b. 1951) is one of the leading Scottish writers of his generation. He has published six collections of poetry, including Men on Ice and The Order of the Day (Bloodaxe). He has written two books on his expeditions to the Himalayas and four novels, including Electric Brae and That Summer. He divides his time between Orkney and Sheffield.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Birlinn Ltd (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904598188
• ISBN-13: 978-1904598183
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Island Magic, February 12, 2011

By 

Sentinel (Essex) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hawkfall: and other stories (Paperback)

Mackay Brown adds to his reputation as a insightful bard of the ghosts of past and present, isolation and loss, the uncertainty of the future, and the yearning for love. All this is accomplished within an island setting, with the location mirroring the internal struggles and isolation of his sympathetically drawn characters. In this way, the particular becomes the universal, as the reader recognises the essential truths at the core of these haunting tales.
From his stone age 'standing stone' tale, through his returning ghost from the '45' rebellion, up to the present, his compassionate eye gently draws the frail, broken nature of flawed humanity, yet from this unpromising material there sometimes come wonders, whether of endurance, or succour, love and kindness. These are dark, but also healing and redeeming tales, laced with a modest magic. Beautifully told, spare and moving stories about darkness and light. Strongly recommended. If you enjoy this collection, other wonders await in A Calendar of Love and Other Stories or A Time to Keep. Happily there are further short story collections, novels, poetry and more from this gentle master.