A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
The Jacobite Trilogy: Flight of the Heron / Gleam in the North / Dark Mile by D.K. Broster
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