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Read-along of The Flight of the Heron by D. K. Broster
Over the next few months I'll be hosting a read-along of The Flight of the Heron by D. K. Broster on my journal. You're invited to join in!
Published in 1925, The Flight of the Heron is a historical novel set in Scotland during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Keith Windham is an English army officer annoyed at being sent to such a barbaric, out-of-the-way place as the Scottish Highlands; Ewen Cameron is a young Highland chieftain and ardent Jacobite, eager to fight for the cause of Bonnie Prince Charlie. They first meet in the early days of the Rising when Ewen beats Keith in a swordfight and takes him prisoner, after which Keith is pleasantly surprised by both Ewen's gentlemanly hospitality and his good looks. Later they meet again, and history, plot and emotions all get a bit more dramatic.
It's a beautifully written book; the historical detail is wide-ranging and meticulous; the descriptions of place and scenery are gorgeous; the hints of the supernatural are intriguing; but the most important thing is Ewen and Keith's enemies-to-friends relationship, and the conflicts of loyalty, the complicated tangles of gentlemanly honour and duty and—most important of all—the oodles and oodles of dramatic hurt/comfort it involves as the plot progresses.
The Flight of the Heron is in the public domain in most countries; it's available as a free ebook and a free audiobook, and paper copies are widely available in libraries and second-hand bookshops.
The read-through will cover about two chapters a week; I'm planning to put up the first discussion post, in which we'll read the Prologue, on 25/26 September, and I'll link the posts here. Whether you're already a fan or would like to read it for the first time, I'm hoping this will be a good opportunity to discuss and appreciate this lovely book. :)
Published in 1925, The Flight of the Heron is a historical novel set in Scotland during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Keith Windham is an English army officer annoyed at being sent to such a barbaric, out-of-the-way place as the Scottish Highlands; Ewen Cameron is a young Highland chieftain and ardent Jacobite, eager to fight for the cause of Bonnie Prince Charlie. They first meet in the early days of the Rising when Ewen beats Keith in a swordfight and takes him prisoner, after which Keith is pleasantly surprised by both Ewen's gentlemanly hospitality and his good looks. Later they meet again, and history, plot and emotions all get a bit more dramatic.
It's a beautifully written book; the historical detail is wide-ranging and meticulous; the descriptions of place and scenery are gorgeous; the hints of the supernatural are intriguing; but the most important thing is Ewen and Keith's enemies-to-friends relationship, and the conflicts of loyalty, the complicated tangles of gentlemanly honour and duty and—most important of all—the oodles and oodles of dramatic hurt/comfort it involves as the plot progresses.
The Flight of the Heron is in the public domain in most countries; it's available as a free ebook and a free audiobook, and paper copies are widely available in libraries and second-hand bookshops.
The read-through will cover about two chapters a week; I'm planning to put up the first discussion post, in which we'll read the Prologue, on 25/26 September, and I'll link the posts here. Whether you're already a fan or would like to read it for the first time, I'm hoping this will be a good opportunity to discuss and appreciate this lovely book. :)
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