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And the Land Lay Still [Paperback]

James Robertson (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 2 Jun 2011

And the Land Lay Still is the sweeping Scottish epic by James Robertson

And the Land Lay Still is nothing less than the story of a nation. James Robertson's breathtaking novel is a portrait of modern Scotland as seen through the eyes of natives and immigrants, journalists and politicians, drop-outs and spooks, all trying to make their way through a country in the throes of great and rapid change. It is a moving, sweeping story of family, friendship, struggle and hope - epic in every sense.

The winner of the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award 2010, And the Land Lay Still is a masterful insight into Scotland's history in the twentieth century and a moving, beautifully written novel of intertwined stories.

'Toweringly ambitious, virtually flawlessly realized, a masterpiece and, without a doubt, my book of the year' Daily Mail

'A jam-packed, dizzying piece of fiction' Scotland on Sunday

'Gripping, vivid, beautifully realized' The Times

'Engrossing' Daily Telegraph

'Powerful and moving. A brilliant and multifaceted saga of Scottish life in the second half of the twentieth century' Sunday Times

'Brilliant and thoughtful. Eminently readable, subtle and profound' Independent on Sunday

'Bold, discursive and deep, Robertson's sweeping history of life and politics in 20th-century Scotland should not be ignored' Ian Rankin, Observer Books of the Year

James Robertson is the author of three previous novels: The Fanatic, Joseph Knight and The Testament of Gideon Mack, which is available in Penguin. Joseph Knight was awarded the two major Scottish literary awards in 2003/4 - the Saltire Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year - and The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, picked by Richard and Judy's Book Club, and shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year award.

Frequently Bought Together

And the Land Lay Still + The Testament of Gideon Mack + The Fanatic
Price For All Three: £20.37

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Product details

  • Paperback: 688 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin (2 Jun 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0141028548
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141028545
  • Product Dimensions: 2.9 x 13.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 7,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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› Visit Amazon's James Robertson Page
James Robertson
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Product Description

Review

Wonderful, brilliant, panoramic, illuminating. A joy to read (Irvine Welsh Guardian )

Gripping, vivid, beautifully realized (The Times )

Powerful and moving. A brilliant and multifaceted saga of Scottish life in the second half of the twentieth century (Sunday Times )

Toweringly ambitious, virtually flawlessly realized, a masterpiece and, without a doubt, my book of the year (Daily Mail )

Big, ambitious, intricately organised . . . it's some achievement (New Statesman )

Dizzying . . . subtle and profound . . . And The Land Lay Still reads like an alternative history of Scotland told by its everyday people instead of its movers and shakers . . . eminently readable (Independent on Sunday )

Both epic and domestic, it delivers a wonderful lifelikeness (Scotsman )

A hugely ambitious and compassionate novel . . . a jam-packed, dizzying piece of fiction . . . already it's being spoken of as the most important novel about Scotland since Lanark (Scotland on Sunday )

About the Author

James Robertson is the author of three previous novels, The Fanatic, Joseph Knight and The Testament of Gideon Mack. Joseph Knight was awarded the two major Scottish literary awards in 2003/4 - the Saltire Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year - and The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, picked by Richard and Judy's Book Club, and shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year award.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning achievement - best book I've read for ages 31 July 2010
By Ripple TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
James Robertson's And The Land Lay Still couldn't be more evocative of Scotland if it came deep fried with a dram of whisky on the side and a soundtrack of bagpipes. As it is, it's the size of a small caber, but this is not a book you want to toss away. It's wonderful. It's beautiful. It's epic.

The basis for the story is Michael Pendreich who is preparing an exhibition of photographs from taken by his late father, Angus. The focus is on the people rather than the landscape though. Angus had a reputation for taking pictures that are slightly off of the main subject matter - something known as the Angus Angle. Michael had a strained relationship with his father and as he prepares for the exhibition he wonders about his father's life and the subjects of the photographs. As Mike searches for a thematic link between the images, this is a metaphor for the book with a rich cast of believable characters. However, what it is in reality is a celebration of Scotland and a social and political history of Scotland in the post war years, with an on-going focus on national identity. But just like Angus' photographs, Robertson makes these political issues an angle on a series of stories and character studies that intertwine.

It's a terrific achievement. Robertson is a highly gifted story-teller himself and while those searching for a clear plot line might be frustrated, what emerges is one of the most evocative and convincing celebrations of a country that I've had the pleasure of reading. He's clever too. Some characters speak in Scottish dialects, but these are not always the ardent supporters of nationalism. No, that would be too cliche and easy. And yes, his characters do take opposing views, although the over-riding sense is that independence is a good thing.... Read more ›
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Epic and impressive but less than enjoyable 9 Nov 2011
By Poppy Field
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I decided to read this book after hearing a lot about it on the radio and with the intention of soaking up some Scots history, in order to learn a bit more about part of my family background. Having raced through the early part of the novel I went on to find the heavier sections of the book hard work to push myself through and discouraging, I wanted to carry on loving the book but I lost the will during the first section on Peter Bond. After this reading the novel became a worthy task that I pursued at intervals between periods of lighter reading. I found the ending far from satisfying, I felt as if reading the characters and following their connections had been leading me towards a hard-earned climax but then the novel finished before it arrived.

I developed a deep and sympathetic interest with some of the characters. I was interested in Don and Billy, less so in Michael, I enjoyed certain sections of the plot but it also included a fair amount of violence, aggression and a rape scene which I found difficult to read and have haunted me since.

The political and historical content of the novel is huge, and I wouldn't have read a book that only included this information so something was accomplished in working in what I, afterwards, discovered to be more historical events than I had realised (the line between fact and fiction here for me being pleasingly blurry). The plot structure is sprawling and impressive. However, for me the fact that after about the first quarter I did not find the book pleasurable to read means I won't be recommending it to others.

'And the land lay still' is an impressive accomplishment but not a pleasure to read.
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36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Four years well spent, an amazing achievement. 30 July 2010
By I Readalot TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
'And the Land Lay Still' is an epic masterpiece of a novel. Not always easy to read but well worth the time and effort. It is a novel about the social and political change in Scotland - but not JUST about Scotland - over a period of 50 years, a time when the 'Scottish Question' is debated time and time again. Somehow Robertson makes politics interesting and shows how it affects everyone. It is modern history and anyone alive today, (except the very young) will relate to the story as part of 'their' history. I found most of the references regarding politics, society and popular culture to be familiar.

It starts with Michael Pendreich in the process of choosing photographs for an exhibition of his father's work, not an easy task considering the 1000's that Angus Pendreich had taken during his lifetime. He is also planning a book to run alongside the exhibition and is struggling with the introduction. The novel ends with the opening of the exhibition and inbetween we hear the stories of the characters who appear in the photographs, some who directly influence change and others who are affected by it.

I said it is not always easy to read partly due to the stucture which is not linear, much appearing as flashbacks from the various characters. However I think that the structure is signposted near the beginning of the book when Michael visits Jean, an old friend of Angus's. When he suggests chronological order for the photographs she considers it as being interesting but perhaps not really the natural way to construct a narrative 'It's not how we remember our own lives, our own stories, after all. Bits of them come at us in any old order.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Condition as described.
This book was recommended to me and I am delighted with the condition and the price, good value for money.
Published 29 days ago by William Crighton
3.0 out of 5 stars And the land lay still
The book consists of a succession of stories about various Scottish characters over a period of about 50 yrs.The characters were revisited as the book progressed. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Simon Gale
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning and magical
This is a magical panoramic story of Scotland of people and the developing longing for nationhood. The stories wind and twist like tales told at fireside and camp fire. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Skyebird
5.0 out of 5 stars Reason for purchase
I read this book in hardback, from the library and just had to have my own copy to reread and annotate. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cristobal
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding novel
One of the most interesting political novels I have read. Brilliantly drawn characters and their interaction illuminate Scotland's social ,political and cultural history in the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Gillian Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars Long and lovely
This was superb. Robertson takes a group of characters, links them together and tells their story parallel with the recent history of Scotland. Read more
Published 3 months ago by sally hart
5.0 out of 5 stars A really good read
It arrived quickly and in very good condition. The story is e real revelation of the politics and social mores of the second half of the 20 th century.
Published 4 months ago by Liz
5.0 out of 5 stars Was a gift for someone they loved it
We looked and found Amozon was by far the cheapest place to purchase this book. Our friend said the book was amazing.
Published 4 months ago by mburdess
5.0 out of 5 stars And the Land Lay Still
Lovely book - loved by my husband - I haven't read it yet but judging by the speed he finished it, I will love it too.
Published 4 months ago by Jennifer Mellor
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I've Read For Ages
I really enjoyed this book, its scope was dazzling. The author weaves stories and characters together with great skill, and manages to include social and political ideas without... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms. M. I. Benson
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