Ardnish Was Home
A Novel
Published on 20. September 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-78027-426-3 (ISBN)
Description
Young Donald Peter Gillies, a Lovat scout soldier lies in hospital in Gallipoli in 1916, blinded by the Turks. There he falls in love with his Queen Alexandra Corps nurse, Louise, and she with him.
The story moves back and forth from their time at the field hospital to the west highlands of Scotland where Donald grew up. As they talk in the quiet hours he tells her the stories of the coast and glens, how his family lived and the fascinating life of a century ago: bagpiping, sheep shearing, celidhs, illegal distilling, his mother saving the life of the people of St Kilda, the navvies building the west highland railway and the relationship between the lairds and the people. Louise in turn tells her own story of growing up in the Welsh valley: coal mining, a harsh and unforgiving upbringing.
They get cut off from the allied troops and with another nurse are forced to make their escape through Turkey to Greece, getting rescued by a Coptic priest and ending up in Malta. By this time their love is out in the open, but there is still another tragic twist to their story waiting on the way back to Donald's beloved highland home . . .
The story moves back and forth from their time at the field hospital to the west highlands of Scotland where Donald grew up. As they talk in the quiet hours he tells her the stories of the coast and glens, how his family lived and the fascinating life of a century ago: bagpiping, sheep shearing, celidhs, illegal distilling, his mother saving the life of the people of St Kilda, the navvies building the west highland railway and the relationship between the lairds and the people. Louise in turn tells her own story of growing up in the Welsh valley: coal mining, a harsh and unforgiving upbringing.
They get cut off from the allied troops and with another nurse are forced to make their escape through Turkey to Greece, getting rescued by a Coptic priest and ending up in Malta. By this time their love is out in the open, but there is still another tragic twist to their story waiting on the way back to Donald's beloved highland home . . .
Reviews / Votes
'If ever there was a story ready-made for the big screen, the Ardnish trilogy is it: an unforgettable case, heart-thumping adventure and romance, but above all a backdrop of spell-binding beauty' * National Trust Magazine * 'Extraordinary. Far more than another wartime love affair. I closed the book with the strong feeling of the importance of kin shire, the need to nurture one another, and the power of love. It will enter your soul' * Scots Magazine * 'a tragic tale, captivating and a good read' * Press and Journal, Book of the Week * 'Striking, charming, page-turning novel about love in the ruins of the first world war' * Piping Times * 'Burns with love for his country...[Macdonald's] plain, easy-going style takes on a natural engaging momentum' * The National * 'a genuine portrait of a time gone forever ... a very good read' * Rosamunde Pilcher * 'This is a book that is truly enthralling - brutal, poetic, unjust but beautiful... A beautiful yet tragic tale, set in the First World War, Ardnish Was Home kept me captivated throughout and left wanting more at the end. It delivers everything the title implies about family and community in the Scottish Highlands and illustrates that love can be found in the most desperate of circumstances' * The Bookbag * 'a fast-paced narrative with deeply likeable characters ... far more than yet another wartime love story ... impossible to put down' * Scottish Field *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Dimensions
Height: 200 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
245 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78027-426-3 (9781780274263)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Angus MacDonald has lived all his life in the west highlands, serving in the local regiment The Queens Own Highlanders before becoming an entrepreneur with businesses in publishing, education and renewable energy. Now largely retired from corporate life he has written the Ardnish trilogy, is the proud owner of The Highland Bookshop and has built The Highland Cinema in the Fort William town square.