He was dead. The spirit of the Beloved One had gone on alone into the hall of death. His body was left to them for seven days yet so that they might give it a fitting farewell. Now it was time for it too to be sent after. The priests washed his old frail bluish body with water that had been drawn at sunrise. They arrayed him in his ceremonial vestments: the dyed woollen kirtle, the great gray cloak of wolfskin, the seelskin slippers. Across his breast they laid his whalebone bow, with seven arrows of larch. In his right hand they put the long oaken spear. The old mouth began to smile in its scant silken beard, perhaps because everything was being done well and according to the first writings. Now it was time. All was ready.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
George Mackay Brown is one of the major Scottish literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific poet and novelist, he took much of his inspiration from the myths and landscape of Orkney, and also from his deep Catholic faith. His collection of short stories A Time to Keep (1971) won the Katherine Mansfield Mentor short story prize and his novel Beside the Ocean of Time was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1994. He died in 1996.
"Incantatory but down-to-earth, profound and often funny" -- The Sunday Telegraph
"What illuminates and pleases, apart from the speech of his characters and the poetic imagery, is the insight into people" -- Iain Crichton Smith, The Scotsman
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR005178408
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: James Fergusson Books & Manuscripts, London, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Corners of two leaves slightly creased, dustwrapper (by Ian MacInnes) price-clipped and faintly creased. Dedicated to Peter and Betty Grant. "Though these stories are primarily entertainments, they are also studies in depth of a community. George Mackay Brown lives in the Orkneys, surrounded by sea and sky, where time has an altogether different nature and significance from time in the cities. 'In Orkney', wrote Edwin Muir, 'the lives of living men turn into legend'" (dustwrapper blurb). Seller Inventory # 3S100059
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Haven, Wellington, WLG, New Zealand
Hardback. Condition: Good. This collection of eleven stories, first published by The Hogarth Press in 1974, demonstrates the full range of George Mackay Brown's literary talent. George Mackay Brown was steeped in the life and traditions of Orkney, a world set firmly between the sea and the sky, where time has an altogether different nature and significance from the rest of the world. 'In Orkney,' wrote Edwin Muir, 'the lives of living men turn into legend.' The rich history of the islands - the succession of Neolithic man, Pict, Norsemen, Scot - leaves its impression upon the life of modern Orkney and is reflected in this finely wrought collection. Mingling past and present, the human world and the spiritual, George Mackay Brown brings together both the modern islanders and the Orcadians of centuries past, for the same lineaments are discernable in both. 'Hawkfall', the central story, traces the vicissitudes, violence and hypocrisies which recur over many generations; in 'The Drowned Rose', the ghosts of dead lovers, still in love with the things of this world, mix with the living, while 'Sealskin' explored the relationship between legend, art and life. All stories are richly entertaining, poignant and moving, their universal themes realized in the context of their unique island setting. This copy is a former library book. Ex lib, DJ. 220 pages. Seller Inventory # 1486669
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: B and A books, Banff, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Good +. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Blue cloth boards; gilt lettering to spine; pages clean & clear; tightly bound; fading to reverse side of dust jacket; slight browning along top edges. Seller Inventory # 001624
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Hay-on-Wye Booksellers, Hay-on-Wye, HEREF, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Dust jacket has light scratches/marks and outer edges have minor scuffs. Book content is in very good condition. Seller Inventory # 096713-10
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First edition. A spot on the front board else near fine in a fine dust jacket. Seller Inventory # 549486
Seller: PW Books, Andover, HANTS, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. True first British printing with original clipped jacket. Jacket has minor patchy edge/shelf wear, a little pushing/rubbing/creasing to head/tail of spine and to corners, the odd small mark/minor foxing to reverse (white side), minor patchy browning and a little patchy creasing to edges. Boards are near fine with very minor pushing/bumping to corners and a little pushing/rubbing to head/tail of spine. Pages are generally clean and the binding is tight. Pages bit tanned. Top of pages slightly dusty. Odd small mark/mild foxing to page edges and tops. Odd small scratch to edge of pages. Very occasional small mark to pages. No other faults. All books described honestly and accurately. Paypal accepted. Seller Inventory # 006476
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: CARDINAL BOOKS ~~ ABAC/ILAB, London -- Birr, ON, Canada
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Hardcover, in dust jacket. Clean, tight and unmarked. Very neat -- a sound and handsome copy. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book. Seller Inventory # 77629gl
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: CURIO, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. First Edition / First Print. Hardback copy in blue boards with gold gilt lettering to spine. Clipped dustjacket in removable protective clear sleeve. 220pp. Not library copy, no inscriptions. (10/5). Seller Inventory # ABE-1524322733648
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Signature Firsts, Brecon, POWYS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. Near fine first printing in near fine price-clipped dust wrapper. The book is clean, tight and seems unread. A little dust to top edge of text block. The dust wrapper has been clipped and repriced at £7.95 by the publisher, but is otherwise unmarked. Light crease to the top of the rear panel. A bright copy of the author's third collection of stories centred on Orkney. As an enthusiastic collector myself I make every effort to provide a high level of service. Enquiries welcomed. Paypal accepted. Seller Inventory # 007545
Quantity: 1 available