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An Orkney Tapestry

By George Mackay Brown
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
An Orkney Tapestry by George Mackay Brown paints a vivid picture of the Orkney Islands' rich culture and history. By intertwining myths, legends, and folklore with historical accounts, it explores the islands' unique character and the timelessness of their landscapes and stories. This narrative journey delves into the tapestry of life in Orkney, celebrating its enduring spirit and cultural heritage.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the rich tapestry of history and folklore of the Orkney Islands. It elegantly weaves together cultural narratives and local legends, offering a vivid exploration of the islands' past that can captivate both history enthusiasts and those who appreciate lyrical storytelling.

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An Orkney Tapestry

First published in 1969, An Orkney Tapestry, George Mackay Brown's seminal work, is a unique look at Orkney through the eye of a poet and a celebration of Orkney's people, language and history. Unavailable for many years, this new edition has a specially commissioned Introduction written by Kirsteen McCue and Linden Bicket.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A unique look at Orkney through a poet's eye, An Orkney Tapestry is a celebration of its people, language, and place. It is not written as a continuous historical narrative but as a pattern of history, legend, and folklore.

Beautifully illustrated throughout by Sylvia Wishart, a fellow Orcadian, the illustrations show what has been won and lost in Orkney over the centuries.

Chapters discuss modern Orkney; Rackwick, the development and decline of an island community, a microcosm of Orkney life; Vikings, a study of three great Vikings: Earl Sigurd, Saint Magnus and Martyr, and Earl Rognvald the Crusader; Poets, a ballad maker and Robert Rendall, an Orkney poet; Midwinter Music and Midsummer Music, two chapters on folklore and communal art and poetry.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

An Orkney Tapestry by George Mackay Brown is praised for its skilful blend of myth, folklore, history, and poetry, creating a rich narrative that vividly captures the essence of the Orkneys. Critics admire his ability to transform ordinary details into profound revelations, with his simple yet evocative storytelling style. The book is recognised for its celebration of Orkney's landscapes and communities while raising thought-provoking questions about the future.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781846974809

Publisher: Birlinn General

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 June 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited

Illustration: illustrations and line drawings throughout

Contributors:

  • Edited by Linden Bicket
  • Edited by Kirsteen McCue

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 271g

Pages: 304

Collections

Education & Reference European History George Mackay Brown History & Military Non-Fiction

About the Author

George Mackay Brown (192196) was one of the twentieth century's most distinguished and original writers. His lifelong inspiration and birthplace, Stromness in Orkney, moulded his view of the world, though he studied in Edinburgh and later at Newbattle Abbey College. In 1941 he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and lived an increasingly reclusive life in Stromness, but he produced a regular stream of publications from 1954 onwards. These included A Calendar of Love (1967), A Time to Keep (1969), Greenvoe (1972), Hawkfall (1974), and, notably, the novel Beside the Ocean of Time (1994), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the Saltire Book of the Year.

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