The Ninth Child
The new novel from the author of The Sealwoman's Gift
Format:Paperback
Publisher:John Murray Press
Published:1st Oct '20
Should be back in stock very soon
In The Ninth Child, Isabel Aird navigates the challenges of motherhood and societal expectations in a hauntingly beautiful Highland setting, facing both hope and darkness.
In The Ninth Child, set against the backdrop of the Loch Katrine waterworks in 1856, Isabel Aird grapples with the societal expectations of motherhood while facing her own struggles with a series of miscarriages. As her husband takes on the role of doctor in a remote Highland setting, Isabel finds herself in a harsh industrial landscape that threatens to overshadow her personal journey. The isolation of her surroundings becomes a canvas for her reflections on life, loss, and the yearning for motherhood.
The narrative intertwines Isabel's emotional turmoil with the physical labor of the navvies working tirelessly to bring clean water to Glasgow, creating a vivid depiction of an era marked by both engineering innovation and the constraints placed on women. As she becomes pregnant once more, Isabel feels the stirrings of new life within her, but an ominous presence lurks in the shadows, watching her every move. This tension between hope and fear adds a layer of suspense to her story.
Inspired by the enigmatic figure of Robert Kirke, a minister who mysteriously disappeared centuries earlier, The Ninth Child skillfully blends historical realism with folklore. The novel captures the essence of a time when the boundaries between the modern world and ancient beliefs were perilously thin, making Isabel’s journey not just a personal one, but also a reflection of the societal changes occurring around her.
Sally Magnusson's classy new novel The Ninth Child has snared me . . . Suffice to say I'm hooked, and I'm only on page 50. It's wonderful and I daren't stop. One never messes with the faeries. * Melanie Reid, THE TIMES *
An absolute triumph! Such a clever interweaving of history and fairytale. I loved the lively intelligent heroine and the brooding sense of menace throughout. It had me gripped right to the end * Sarah Haywood, author of THE CACTUS *
Not only did the book transport me while I read, but when I slept my dreams were extraordinarily vivid - I dreamt I was roaming in the highlands, smelling fresh air, feeling sunlight - far from my hospital bed. Few books have this impact on me. * Michelle Gallen, author of BIG GIRL SMALL TOWN *
An engaging mix of folklore and Victorian history * Sunday Times *
This eerie tale blends Scottish folklore with historical fiction * i *
Pacy and accomplished, with a supernatural chill * The Herald *
Enthralling * Scots Magazine *
Well-researched, fascinating . . . a strong sense of place . . . an accomplished piece of writing, cementing Magnusson's place, not just as one of Scotland's best-loved broadcasters, but one of Scotland's leading writers of historical fiction * Scotland on Sunday *
Entertaining, educational and thought-provoking, The Ninth Child is pacy and accomplished, with particular skill in capturing the supernatural chill attached to some of Scotland's most picturesque sights * Press Assocation *
A compassionate story of the clashing cultures of science and superstition, of male and female, rich and poor * Anne Goodwin Weekly *
A gripping plot, vivid period detail and a terrific touch of faery too * Caroline Sanderson *
A beguiling weave of fine imaginative writing and deft research into Celtic folklore and a triumph of Scottish engineering. The Ninth Child is a dramatic and magical novel told with enormous zest and wit.I am looking forward to Sally Magnusson's next fine novel. * Les Wilson Author of The Drowned and the Saved *
A very impressive piece of work, drawing on a strong sense of place and a rich seam of history and folklore for its power. * Donald Murray, author of As the Women Lay Dreaming. *
Sally Magnusson has written a brilliant tour-de-force that blends together unlikely ingredients such as engineering, the Celtic Otherworld and 19th century medicine into a memorable, riveting, page-turning story. I savoured it! * Alistair Moffat *
ISBN: 9781473696624
Dimensions: 198mm x 128mm x 26mm
Weight: 236g
336 pages