First published 1969
The fishermen mend their nets as they have for centuries, while modern islanders navigate changing times on Orkney. Brown presents twelve distinct voices from this Scottish archipelago, weaving between stories rooted in ancient traditions and tales reflecting contemporary island existence. Characters face the eternal struggles of survival, community, and identity against the backdrop of wind-swept landscapes and crashing seas. An elderly woman recalls old customs while young people consider leaving for the mainland. Farmers work land their ancestors tilled, yet modern pressures threaten old ways. Each story captures a moment where past and present collide, revealing how island life shapes its people across generations. The collection explores what endures and what changes when isolation meets progress, tradition confronts modernity, and individuals must choose between preserving the past or embracing an uncertain future.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, past-vs-present
Setting: Orkney, Scotland
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Hardcover · The Hogarth Press