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tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
Okay, so I'm a truly idealistic romantic with a really soft spot for Jacobite fiction. The fact that this book features members of Clan Cameron (my ancestors) is entirely coincidental
I first read this trilogy as a young teenager caught up in the seeming romance of the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745 and as a proud, albeit idealistic, descendant of highland Camerons. I have read the trilogy twice since and while I am slightly less idealistic, I still enjoy this historically set fiction which involves many of the heroes of Clan Cameron (The Gentle Lochiel, and Dr Archie) as well as some wonderful fictional characters including the dashing Ewen Cameron.
These novels were first published in the 1920s and this is evident in both language and style. Despite this, they are still worth reading today. Ms Broster created a world where much of the action is implied rather than explicitly described, and she does not linger overlong on the battles. The strength of the novels, for me, is in the impacts on the lives of those caught up in the rebellions. Viewed with the benefit of hindsight, the Battle of Culloden is an historical crossroad and in many ways it serves such a purpose in this novel.
I’d recommend this trilogy (‘The Flight of the Heron’, ‘The Gleam in the North, and ‘The Dark Mile’) to anyone interested in Jacobite fiction set in the 18th century Scotland. The romance of the highlands as depicted may largely be illusory but in fiction all things are possible.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I first read this trilogy as a young teenager caught up in the seeming romance of the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745 and as a proud, albeit idealistic, descendant of highland Camerons. I have read the trilogy twice since and while I am slightly less idealistic, I still enjoy this historically set fiction which involves many of the heroes of Clan Cameron (The Gentle Lochiel, and Dr Archie) as well as some wonderful fictional characters including the dashing Ewen Cameron.
These novels were first published in the 1920s and this is evident in both language and style. Despite this, they are still worth reading today. Ms Broster created a world where much of the action is implied rather than explicitly described, and she does not linger overlong on the battles. The strength of the novels, for me, is in the impacts on the lives of those caught up in the rebellions. Viewed with the benefit of hindsight, the Battle of Culloden is an historical crossroad and in many ways it serves such a purpose in this novel.
I’d recommend this trilogy (‘The Flight of the Heron’, ‘The Gleam in the North, and ‘The Dark Mile’) to anyone interested in Jacobite fiction set in the 18th century Scotland. The romance of the highlands as depicted may largely be illusory but in fiction all things are possible.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
cdbnovelist's review
4.0
Anything historical I'll read at least once. This was an interesting read, but after reading another book, I changed my rating from 5 to 4.
lnatal's review
3.0
My rating: 3,5 stars.
Opening lines:
The sun had been up for a couple of hours, and now, by six o' clock, there was scarcely a cloud in the sky; even the peaked summit of Ben Tee, away to the north-east, had no more than the faintest veil floating over it. On all the western slopes the transfiguring light, as it crept lower and lower, was busy picking out the patches of July bell-heather and painting them an even deeper carmine, and the mountains round were smiling (where sometimes they frowned) on Loch na h-Iolaire, today a shining jewel which tomorrow might be a mere blot of grey steel. It was going to be a fine day, and in the West of Scotland such are none too plentiful.
Loch Assynt from Creag na h-Iolaire
The first book, "The Flight of the Heron" describes the story of Ewen Cameron, a Highland Jacobite and his relationship with Keith Windham, a British soldier.
The main plot describes the story of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 with a summary description of Battle of Culloden. In my opinion, this is the best part of the book.
The second volume of this trilogy, "The Glenn in the North" tells the story of Ewen's cousin Archibald Cameron, another dangerous Jacobite rebel. The plot describes how the rebels's lives changed after the 45's rising.
'And then,' said the childish voice, 'the clans charged..but I expect you do not know what that means, Keithie; it means that they ran very fast against the English, waving their broadswords, and all with their dirks in their left hands under the targe; and they were so fierce and so brave that they broke through the line of English soldiers which were in front, and if there had not been so many more English, and they well-fed - but we were very hungry and had marched all night.
The final volume, "The Dark Mile" tells the story of another Ewen's cousin, Ian Stewart and his romantic involvement with Olivia Campbell.
In overall, this trilogy is quite interesting but presented sometimes in a quite long narrative way. In spite of this, a memorable book on Scottish history.
Opening lines:
The sun had been up for a couple of hours, and now, by six o' clock, there was scarcely a cloud in the sky; even the peaked summit of Ben Tee, away to the north-east, had no more than the faintest veil floating over it. On all the western slopes the transfiguring light, as it crept lower and lower, was busy picking out the patches of July bell-heather and painting them an even deeper carmine, and the mountains round were smiling (where sometimes they frowned) on Loch na h-Iolaire, today a shining jewel which tomorrow might be a mere blot of grey steel. It was going to be a fine day, and in the West of Scotland such are none too plentiful.
Loch Assynt from Creag na h-Iolaire
The first book, "The Flight of the Heron" describes the story of Ewen Cameron, a Highland Jacobite and his relationship with Keith Windham, a British soldier.
The main plot describes the story of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 with a summary description of Battle of Culloden. In my opinion, this is the best part of the book.
The second volume of this trilogy, "The Glenn in the North" tells the story of Ewen's cousin Archibald Cameron, another dangerous Jacobite rebel. The plot describes how the rebels's lives changed after the 45's rising.
'And then,' said the childish voice, 'the clans charged..but I expect you do not know what that means, Keithie; it means that they ran very fast against the English, waving their broadswords, and all with their dirks in their left hands under the targe; and they were so fierce and so brave that they broke through the line of English soldiers which were in front, and if there had not been so many more English, and they well-fed - but we were very hungry and had marched all night.
The final volume, "The Dark Mile" tells the story of another Ewen's cousin, Ian Stewart and his romantic involvement with Olivia Campbell.
In overall, this trilogy is quite interesting but presented sometimes in a quite long narrative way. In spite of this, a memorable book on Scottish history.
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