I loved this novel. I was completely sucked in almost immediately. I've never been to the hebrides (I think I went to Scotland once when I was really small to my shame!) but my general fascination with islands, the sea, wild life and history made me pick this one up.
Several reviewers have focused on the idea that this is a post-colonial novel that's unique in locating the story within the British Isles itself. The historical elements and the conflict between paganism and christianity etc. are all very interesting but for me the human element was the fascinating part. How would you survive in such physically bleak conditions? how would you survive emotionally within frighteningly rigid marital and social roles? Lizzie is alienated from the islanders because she doesn't speak gaelic and increasingly alienated from her husband who tries to survive psychologically by throwing himself further into a rigid understanding of his faith.
I was really pleased to do a quick Q&A with Karin for the Quercus blog. She had lots of really interesting things to say:
"..I am intrigued by all the silent, faceless women in history who followed men around the world. Lizzie would obviously have had a mind of her own but her actual possibilities to change her situation in the 1830s would have been limited – I wanted to stay true to history in that sense...
I am interested in the Scottish enlightenment and the liberal ideals which were born out of it. But even the liberal philosophers were at times a bit confused about who belonged to the liberal society and who didn’t. Mixed with the Protestantism of the time I believe even people with good intentions may have struggled to see themselves as equal to ’primitive’ people..."
You can read the full interview over at the Quercus Blog.
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