A Scot's Quair & The Flight of the Heron

**Orionson** · 27th March 14, 05:32 AM

I have read with interest the recent posts regarding the new TV series of the Outlander novels. I haven't read the books primarily because as I recall when the books first came out I read several interviews with the author wherein she confirmed that at the time of the writing of the books she herself had never actually ever been to Scotland. This fact put me off entirely, both then and now. However, I will likely watch the series when it hits my screen.

Another reason I avoided Outlander is because I am such a fan of the Scot's Quair Trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon which is set in rural Aberdeenshire in the run up to WW1. The Author grew up and lived in the area and it's authenticity was stunning. Sunset Song, Cloud Howe and Grey Granite are classics of modern 20th century Scottish Literature which are still studies in schools today. Sunset Song was also adapted for TV by both Scottish Television and the BBC.

Another popular classic written in 1925 by DK Broster is The Flight of the Heron which is set in the Highlands during the '45. I discovered this classic, which is also part of a trilogy along with The Dark Mile and The Gleam in the North, when I was 7 and they sparked my lifelong love and interest in the Highlands and the Jacobite Rebellions. Like many others, I thought Broster was a man and was surprised to learn many years later that he was a she - and from Liverpool, to boot. Her Jacobite Trilogy, however was meticulously researched for historical accuracy (she was Assistant to a Regius Professor of History at Oxford and read over 80 scholarly research works of the period and spent significant time on the ground in Lochaber, Glenfinnan and Culloden before she put pen to paper.

My first edition set of the works are well read and precious to me.

If you like Outlander, or perhaps, more appropriately - if you don't like Outlander - then by all means seek out these works. They are all available on Amazon/Kindle and still in print today here in Scotland. You will not regret the effort.

**creagdhubh** · 27th March 14, 05:56 AM

Well said John, and thank you for sharing the additional information in regards to the works you so thoroughly enjoy. You have me quite intrigued, my friend.

Slainte,

**ASinclair** · 27th March 14, 08:53 AM

My reading list continues to grow.

**Blupiper** · 27th March 14, 11:11 AM

Her's the link to the author's page on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Lewis-Grassic-...691&sr=1-2-ent

JMB

**domnhall.rowlan** · 27th March 14, 05:55 PM

After such a fine recommendation I just had to do a search.
Not having any luck with local libraries I began the search for used books.
Found both trilogies published in a single book each.
they are now en-route, one from here in the states, the other coming from the UK.
I am quite looking forward to some good reading.
Thanks for the recommendation

**madmacs** · 29th March 14, 03:55 PM

Doesn't the Scots Quair trilogy have a lot of Doric in it? I seem to recall it that way... Might be a little coloured from living so long in that area though...