Ardnish: A Novel

Description

Ardnish, the Highlands of Scotland, 1944. On his deathbed, Donald John Gillies sends for a priest to hear his last confession. During his 85 years he has witnessed much - world wars, the loss of family through death and emigration, and the daily struggles which face the small remote community. Waiting anxiously for the priest, his mind travels back to the dusty plains of South Africa in 1901, where he fought as a Lovat Scout during the Boer War, and where he met the woman who was the love of his life. Forced to abandon her and her young daughter in a British concentration camp, DJ returns to Scotland and his old life after his camp is ambushed by Boers and many of his fellow soldiers are massacred. As he lies dying, an unexpected visitor arrives at Ardnish. making it more imperative then ever for DJ to come to terms with the past and to make peace with himself - and his family - while there is still time.

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.

'[Macdonald's] novels are a rich tapestry depicting Highland life and the horrors of war' * Sunday Post * '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 * 'From the blazing heat of South Africa to the wild waters of the West Coast of Scotland, MacDonald guides the reader through vivid landscapes, capturing the very essence of each location... MacDonald's love of Scotland is infectious ... heartfelt' -- Scottish Field 'Opens a window on two worlds, shining a light on the experiences of Highland regiments in the Boer War while commemorating tradition Highland culture, evoking both of them vividly in well-crafter, deceptively simple prose' -- Alastair Mabbott * Herald * 'A book that seeks to tell the story of a good man's life lived across two worlds now gone; and that does so with so much, energy, knowledge and love for the men of that time and place, whose memory MacDonald strives to keep alive' -- Joyce McMillan * Scotsman * 'A heart-felt, ingeniously plotted and wonderfully resonant novel that sweeps the reader from the smokey peat fires of the West Highlands to the baking sun of the South African veldt at the height of the Boer War. Alive with the rhythms of Highland speech and animated by a deep love and understanding of Highland ways and Highland mores, it's a deeply moving reminder of the global reach of the Gaels and the impact they've had on world history' -- William Dalrymple 'What I really enjoyed about this book was its beauty, an enthralling read that is both brutal and poetic' * Daily Record * 'A fast-paced narrative with deeply likeable characters ... far more than yet another wartime love story ... impossible to put down' * Scottish Field, Book of the Month * 'Macdonald is a master of bitter-sweet, of mingling the sad, the heart-breaking with that which gives hope, relief and final peace. This book has it all' * The Braes * 'The author has a natural gift for storytelling...his earthy descriptions and dialogue transport the reader who can smell the peat fires, feel the ceaseless rain, the hardship, the shimmering African heat, and above all the heartache. Another thought-provoking and mesmerising read' * Scots Magazine, Book of the Month * 'A beautifully poignant book that paints an amazing pen picture of the life of one man between 1900 and 1944, switching between life in Ardnish and life on the front line in South Africa. Fascinating, extremely detailed...there is plenty to keep you turning the page to the very end and to appreciate the craft of the author. A thoroughly enjoyable read and one we would highly recommend' * Undiscovered Scotland *