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4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping stories leave enduring Highland society portrait, June 15, 2000
His last novel, this is typical of those which preceded it. Set in the Highlands of Scotland, it contains a cast typical from the 1920's through to the 1970's: locals struggling with a harsh land and sea, the more able youngsters leaving the community, the rawkous, the well-to-do hunting and fishing set from the South, the effects of economic dependency on them, and the more sympathetic academic visitors. It is an action story, a psychological drama (with some scenes evocative of William Golding's later, more extended treatment in "Pincher Martin"), a detective story, and a social commentary all in one, containing impressionistic character portraits, dry highland mirth, and gripping tragedy. A stong line of metaphysical speculation, pithy philosophical discussion, and acute observation of personal and group dynamics runs through the sub-plots. The title refers to the first of these since he gives more attention to the "other world" and tries to incorporate its "presence" more fully here than he had previously in his earlier works. Whether or not his rather self-concious treatment successfully parallels the celtic story-telling tradition, this doesn't diminish the book's worth. For those familiar with the Highlands at that time, the value of the book is its masterful storytelling and suspense and the philosophical nuggets, even if the setting would now seem historical given recent changes. For those not familiar with the place and the people, it may take more effort to follow the allusion and the impressionistic sketches which he draws (a glossary for non-Scots is missing). The effort is worthwhile if one wants to understand the background to northern Scotland today.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping stories leave enduring Highland society portrait, June 15, 2000
His last novel, this is typical of those which preceded it. Set in the Highlands of Scotland, it contains a cast typical from the 1920's through to the 1970's: locals struggling with a harsh land and sea, the more able youngsters leaving the community, the rawkous, the well-to-do hunting and fishing set from the South, the effects of economic dependency on them, and the more sympathetic academic visitors. It is an action story, a psychological drama (with some scenes evocative of William Golding's later, more extended treatment in "Pincher Martin"), a detective story, and a social commentary all in one, containing impressionistic character portraits, dry highland mirth, and gripping tragedy. A stong line of metaphysical speculation, pithy philosophical discussion, and acute observation of personal and group dynamics runs through the sub-plots. The title refers to the first of these since he gives more attention to the "other world" and tries to incorporate its "presence" more fully here than he had previously in his earlier works. Whether or not his rather self-concious treatment successfully parallels the celtic story-telling tradition, this doesn't diminish the book's worth. For those familiar with the Highlands at that time, the book will read like a nostalgic ride into the past given the radical changes which have taken place in the meantime. For those not familiar with the place and the people, it may take more effort to follow the allusion and the impressionistic sketches which he draws (a glossary for non-Scots is missing). The effort is worthwhile if one wants to understand the background to northern Scotland today.
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