Flight of the Heron read-along: Prologue

[regshoe]

The news frae Moidart cam yestreen will soon gar mony ferlie...

Welcome everyone to the Flight of the Heron read-along! I'm delighted by the amount of interest there's been in this lovely book recently, and I hope this will be a great opportunity to discuss it in more depth.

Some notes:

A reminder of where to find the novel as a free ebook and a free audiobook.

My plan is to cover two chapters in most weeks, but I thought we'd start with just the Prologue, partly to provide a gentle introduction and partly because it makes it easier to split the rest of the book up in a way that makes sense.

We have a mixture of people re-reading the book and people reading it for the first time participating, so, if you've read the book before and would like to discuss earlier chapters in the context of what happens later on, please warn for or hide spoilers! I suggest using rot13, if that works for everyone.

Next week we'll read Part I chapters 1 and 2, and meet Keith Windham...

Comments

[regshoe]

Epigraph notes: the epigraph to the book is from As You See It, a collection of descriptive sketches and short stories by Viola Garvin. I read it recently to find out what D. K. Broster thought was so good about it. In and out of context, I think it's a very appropriate epigraph!

I am reminded of this every time I open any of her books, but, my goodness, D. K. Broster knows how to write a descriptive passage. Those first few paragraphs are absolutely gorgeous, and I love the attention to detail with the nature descriptions—the bell-heather, the sprig of bog-myrtle, the shelduck. Right at the start of the book we get such a strong sense of place, and it'll continue to be important throughout.

Another of my favourite things about this book is how it combines being a basically mundane historical novel with a constantly present atmosphere of the supernatural—with, of course, the centrally important presence of fate. That's there from the start too, and not just in Ewen and Lachlan's actual discussion of the heron—right there in the second paragraph, Loch na h-Iolaire is 'like a fairy pool come upon in dreams', and then there's the mention of water-horses (there's a very good fic developing that idea further...). I'm always fascinated by the overlap between 'fantasy' and 'realistic' fiction, and I think this book is an especially good example.

What does everyone think of Ewen's introduction? I like the picture we get of his character—swimming happily in the loch, not a care in the world, security and authority and a suggestion of more serious depths, with the shadow of History and Doom hanging over him.... And it's very clear already how much Broster likes him! I enjoy her attitude to her main characters—when she gets it right it's the perfect balance of indulgent fondness and somewhat detached amusement with genuine and serious care and emotional weight, without going too far into annoying exaggeration of foibles.

I also like how Broster slots her main character so neatly into the pattern of real history: 'the cadet branch of Cameron of Ardroy' is fictional, but Clan Cameron itself is very real, and Donald Cameron of Lochiel, Ewen's cousin and chieftain whom he admires so much, really was one of the most significant figures of the 1745 Rising. Ewen himself was probably named after Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, Donald's grandfather and a highly memorable figure in earlier Jacobite history. Having just turned twenty-six in July 1745, our Ewen would have been born a few months after Sir Ewen's death.

Broster's humorous use of epithets is great: '“Stop!” said the marrow of his heart peremptorily.' is one of my favourites.

Ohohoho, 'bayl gur rneyl fha ba gur fgrry', vaqrrq—gung'f n irel avpr ovg bs sberfunqbjvat, vfa'g vg...!

And the prologue ends with some nice darkly significant bird murder. Don't worry, that heron will be back....

[luzula]

Aww, I think you're right about Broster being fond of Ewen!

Broster's humorous use of epithets is great: '“Stop!” said the marrow of his heart peremptorily.' is one of my favourites.

Heh, I do like that one, too.

Re: the opening passage, she often opens descriptive sections with what the light is doing. I remember you doing so very nicely in fic, too. : )

[osprey_archer]

I've noticed that older books are often a bit more willing to blur the line between realistic fiction and fantasy. Here there's Angus's visions and the presence of fate; I've also seen a number of otherwise realistic children's books from the time period that give their heroines a dash of clairvoyance (Emily in Emily of New Moon, Norah in the Billabong books). Maybe there was a less stringent demand for genre separation in the 1920s?

I love that Ewan shows up the first time buck naked and glistening with water. Broster, making sure that we know exactly what kind of book we're getting into.

[impala_chick]

I was trying to google what herons might have meant at the time, but I'm definitely curious to see what significance this heron has for Ewen.

[dr_zook]

Her describing the scenery really sets the table, I agree!

And Ewan's introduction is pretty awesome, not only because he is over six feet and splendidly made (haha, SERIOUSLY), but the way she describes him as embedded in nature/wilderness could mean either he's a fairy thing himself or (which gets confirmed in his talk with his foster-brother) that he's rather grounded in the literal soil of his home turf, exploring it, and not shying away from adventure (that dive from the cliff).

I also snorted out loud when I read the marrow of his heart exchange, wonderful!

Thank you for the water-horse fic link! I have saved it for a later read already. :3

[luzula]

Aww, I love this playful and boyish introduction to Ewen, splashing in the water--it's so different from how we see him through Keith's eyes later, and also such a contrast to the more serious business of the war. And who doesn't love some nudity? : ) Ewen not wearing a wig has historical precedent--apparently men who had long beautiful hair of their own were admired, even though wigs were also in fashion. Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, in the Jacobite army, had long blond hair, wore no wig, and was considered very handsome.

Lachlan and Ewen's relationship, hmm. In a way Lachlan is a bit of a stock character of Broster's (the loyal follower), but it's complicated by their foster-brother relationship. I always felt a bit bad for Lachlan--Ewen can tease him, but Lachlan is so submissive to him. I just want him to talk back a bit!

Re: the prophecy, Ewen is just as much the educated gentleman of the Enlightenment as Keith is, dismissing superstition. And of course, he was educated in Paris.

How is Lochiel supposed to be Ewen's near kinsman by marriage?? Ewen isn't married, so it can only refer to Lochiel's marriage. But he was married to a Campbell! (From a Jacobite branch of that clan.) I do think Broster must have misphrased that.

So, Ewen and Alison. I do like Alison's playfulness and teasing a lot, although I find Ewen's teasing in return about carrying her off by force to be in somewhat bad taste--but she does tease him back for it. (Incidentally, "m'eudail" = "darling", but it also means "booty or spoils, especially cattle". Um.) On the other hand, I love that he says You shall always wear the Grant if it pleases you better. Awww. And in fact it was common that Scottish women kept their last names when they married--I'm sorry Broster doesn't let Alison do so.

I love how the prologue introduces Ewen's love for and connection to Ardroy and the loch, in several different ways--Alison sees it very clearly, and no wonder, since she grew up in exile. I also love the bit where Ewen throws his bonnet into the air. He's so young and enthusiastic, and really has no idea what's coming...

[regshoe]

Ewen is such a sweetheart, really :)

I do feel bad for Lachlan, especially in that bit where he thinks Ewen is really asking him to swear on the iron (just the kind of literal-minded misinterpretation I'd make...). Although this is him when he's anxious about what he thinks is a serious threat to Ewen—perhaps he talks back a bit more in everyday situations when the stakes are a bit lower? The reference to them killing deer together makes me imagine happy brotherly hunting trips with casual mutual teasing and no worries about Fate.

Ewen is just as much the educated gentleman of the Enlightenment as Keith is, dismissing superstition.

Good point!

Hmm, perhaps Ewen has an uncle/aunt/cousin who's married to a close relative of Lochiel's? Although I think he says later on that they're second cousins, rather than related by marriage—perhaps Broster had got a bit confused.

The Ewen/Alison scene is really rather sweet, especially that comment about the plaid (dubious historical accuracy of clan tartans notwithstanding)—it makes me think, if only I shipped it...! :) And I do like the contrast with Alison, who's grown up in exile, appreciating Ewen's deep connection to the place he's lived all his life, too.

[owl]

Maybe not Lochiel's marriage, but Ewen's aunt married to some of Lochiel's near relatives, or Ewen's grandmother being an aunt or great-aunt of Lochiel's? (with 'by marriage' meaning 'on the distaff side' here). They could be related in several different ways, given the limited size of the "dating pool" in the 17th and 18th century Highlands.

[osprey_archer]

That bit where Lachlan is like "You know I would put the hair of my head under your feet": good lord. But although he puts up a good show of being submissive (and in his own mind clearly he is Ewen's #1 most loyal servant), when it comes right down to it... well, he does kill the bird against Ewen's express orders. I get the feeling that he might have done it even if he had sworn on the iron, probably feeling that whatever he suffered for breaking his oath would be fairly repaid if only it saved Ewen.

The way Alison and Ewen tease each other is sweet. The moment where he says she can always wear the Grant if she wants and she's all, "I feel... very warm in the Cameron," these two dorks.

[dr_zook]

Thank you for the bits about the wigs! I always wondered why some wore them, and on which occasions? Do you know if it was a thing to do both, wear one in public on one day and not on the other?

Ewen is just as much the educated gentleman of the Enlightenment as Keith is, dismissing superstition. And of course, he was educated in Paris.

I really liked how he and Lachlan discussed the latter's sword (dagger? dirk.), Lachlan's all, "WOE!" while Ewan just points out at first, "Eh, you should keep it in better condition," only to realize a mistake in his perception and finds no problem in correcting himself. It tells a lot about his relationship with "his servant". :)

Also thank you for translating m'eudail, haha, love that bit!

I read that Broster served during WWI as a nurse in France, which I reckon made her one of these women who earned not only money for herself, but also recognition for her commitment. From what I learned, the end of the war made it difficult for the men and women who survived to realign with what was their "usual place": many soldiers were drastically wounded, maimed not only physically but also mentally, and thus couldn't provide for their families like before war. On the other hand women who worked during the war (because the men who did the work before were gone) were supposed to do what afterwards? I guess one could assume this: Alison could have kept her name in the 18th century, but Broster letting her taking her husband's can be read as a re-establishing of post-war certainties? (I know, that's a pretty big swing, haha!)

[philomytha]

Broster sets up so much in the prologue! The relationship between Ewen and Lachlan, and the way it's so unequal and Ewen is obviously fond of Lachlan but also takes him completely for granted almost as one of his possessions, it's all setting up what happens later. Naq Ynpuyna'f fvatyr-zvaqrq bofrffvirarff nobhg Rjra, gur jnl ur qvfborlf Rjra orpnhfr ur'f fb svkngrq ba gelvat gb fnir uvz - guvf vf nf zhpu n frghc bs jung unccraf yngre nf gur ovg nobhg gur oybbq ba gur qnttre, nyy gur frrqf bs gur gentrql ner urer.

I love the introduction of Ewen swimming in the loch, his character comes across so clearly, happy and optimistic and strong and determined, and then the sweetness of the scene with Alison, they're so tender with each other, it's adorable.

Also, help, you've earwormed me with Wha'll be king but Charlie! My favourite version is this one by Silly Wizard.

[regshoe]

That is very true about how well things are set up for what happens later on! This is just what I love about re-reading books, getting to see all these complex bits of foreshadowing...

Also, help, you've earwormed me with Wha'll be king but Charlie!

:D

I do like Jacobite folk music, so I thought it was a good opportunity to rec some! And thanks for linking that version, it's great, very vivid.

[luzula]

Ooh, good point with your rot13'd bit! That's very true.

and then the sweetness of the scene with Alison, they're so tender with each other, it's adorable.

They are! Although it feels weird to me to read it, because I wrote a whole novel of Ewen/Alison + Ewen/Keith, where Alison had so much more page time than in canon. So it's almost like the Alison I extrapolated from canon is more real in my head now than the one in canon, and I kind of judge her against my version, ha ha...

(The introductory text in the Silly Wizard version is WRONG! He did not intend to only rule Scotland, he wanted the whole of Britain...it's a catchy version though.)

[hyarrowen]

I can't help but feel that Lachlan's nose is already slightly out of joint because of Alison. His chieftain and foster-brother comes home and Lachlan is all ready to take up his former position - and Ewen has someone else, besides his blood relatives, who comes before Lachlan.

[tei]

Okay, I distinctly remember clicking on a Flight of the Heron post a while ago and nppvqragnyyl frrvat ~fcbvyref~ nobhg qrngu, naq jnf yvxr, bu ab, abj V unir fcbvyrq zlfrys sbe guvf obbx V zvtug ernq, ubj greevoyr… fb univat ernq gur cebybthr V nz abj ernffherq gung V qvq abg ehva zl rawblzrag bs gur guvat. Qrngu? Va guvf obbx? Fnl vg vfa’g fb!

[osprey_archer]

Un, lrf, guvf vf nofbyhgryl n obbx jurer gur nhgube vf gnxvat nofbyhgr cyrnfher va gur sberfunqbjvat. Fur jbhyq cebonoyl gnxr vg nf na vafhyg vs fbzrbar jnf nyy "Gur qrngu jnf fhpu n fhecevfr! V arire thrffrq gung nalbar va guvf obbx jbhyq QVR!"

[regshoe]

Ururur, gehr—jung V sbhaq fhecevfvat naq tevccvat jura V svefg ernq gur obbx jnf gur rknpg cybg gjvfgvatf vaibyirq va jub qvrf naq ubj, engure guna gurer orvat punenpgre qrngu ng nyy, juvpu jnf boivbhf—ohg zber bs gung yngre ba...!

[impala_chick]

Ewen's carefree nature is so fun/interesting to me. The picture-perfect scene puts me totally on edge with anticipation -- something is clearly going to come along to disrupt all of that, lol.


Also, I'm going to nominate this book for Yuletide considering I'll be reading/listening to it at this time of year :D

[regshoe]

History is impending...!

Ooh, FYI, luzula is already planning on nominating the book for Yuletide—you should coordinate. Anyway, I certainly hope we get lots of good fic for it :D

[hyarrowen]

Everyone else has said so many things I love about the prologue - the wonderful scene, the slight sense of snark about the weather, Ewen being such a happy lad, the tension introduced by Lachlan, and above all the scenery descriptions. What a wonderfully visual writer.

I've searched and searched for information about the role of the heron in folklore, and the only thing I can find is that it's a denizen of three worlds - earth, air and water. So I suppose it's a fit messenger between those worlds.

[regshoe]

Heh, I do like the weather snark—but of course we get a beautiful day for this scene. :)

it's a denizen of three worlds - earth, air and water.

Oh, that's interesting! I vaguely remember reading somewhere that some cultures give folkloric significance to puffins for the same reason—anyway, I do think the heron seems appropriate as Garvin's 'messenger'.

[dr_zook]

First of all: thank you for hosting this! ♥ And kicking off with that song is really apt, haha! I'm really looking forward to this read-along, for I haven't read anything by Broster before, plus I'm super intrigued about learning more about 18th century history (totally a blank space for me) through the lense of an author from 100 years ago. :D

I'm learning already about rot13 (never heard of that before as well), and had laugh so hard, because it took me some time to realize that you guys are using this method indeed, but I thought, "Wait, are they quoting Gaelic passages now I have overlooked?" and then, "Wow, they sound like a Great Old Ones' Bookclub." XD

[regshoe]

I knew almost nothing about the Jacobites when I first got into FotH, and learning about all the history has been one of the most fun parts of the fandom! I hope you enjoy it too. And I intend to keep reccing Jacobite folk music throughout the read-along, because there's a lot of great stuff :D

"Wow, they sound like a Great Old Ones' Bookclub." XD

XD It does have its humour value!

[cyphomandra]

Hello! luzula pointed me over here - I read Flight of the Heron when I was young and impressionable (about 8) and re-read it many times, including a patch in my teens where I kept checking to see if the ending still made me cry (yes) and then finally read the blurb on the back of my copy mentioning the two sequels.

It has now been quite a few years since my last visit and I’ve been meaning to get into the fandom! Looking forward to the read through.

I tend to race impatiently through the prologue in order to meet Keith, but I do like Ewen’s introduction and how playful he is. Also the set up, with the heron and the project, and Lachlan’s concealed defiance, is nicely done.

And the athletic nudity definitely makes an impression, although even in summer it must be pretty chilly in a Highland loch…

[regshoe]

Welcome! Aww, I'm glad you're getting a chance to revisit an old favourite—I hope you enjoy it.

I kept checking to see if the ending still made me cry (yes)

XD (oh dear, of course it did...)

I'm sure Ewen, with all his eighteenth-century Highland nobility, considers it an important matter of honour not to be put off by cold water. Keith might think differently!

[friendofthejabberwock]

As others have pointed out, the scenery is wonderful - I'm not always one for a lot of descriptive prose, but when it works for me, it really works, and I loved this. The heron has me very intrigued. I do love a good mysterious omen.

The humor along the way (eg, "dhé, how these vegetables prick!") was great, as was Lachlan taking the heron very seriously and Ewen... not so much. The fond exasperation is wonderful.

[regshoe]

I love long indulgent landscape descriptions (all that Tolkien at a formative age, I think), but I'm happy to know that Broster's works so well for someone who doesn't always!

Haha, the 'vegetables' is a great line. :D Oh, Ewen, so blithely sceptical...

[verdande_mi]

Thank you for hosting this read-along. It’s my first time reading the books (and the author), and it’s been interesting reading all the comments here. What grabbed me the most with the prologue was the mix of realism vs fantasy, or how old believes are woven into a “modern” story. It’s fascinating reading stories where pieces of old folklore and folktales survive. I also loved the descriptions of nature, and the sense of home Ewan feels there.

[regshoe]

I'm glad you're enjoying the read-along :) Yes, I love the mix of realistic and magical elements—and the 'modern' eighteenth century is a particularly interesting time to set a book with a mixture like that, with its Enlightenment scepticism alongside older surviving folklore.

[sanguinity]

First time reader of the book -- thank you for hosting this readalong!

I agree with many others that the scenery descriptions are masterfully done, and I laughed at getting (tastefully elided) nudity right out of the gate. I don't know where this story is going beyond what is inherently implied in a one-paragraph summary of the 1754 Rising, but I nevertheless have a strong sense of foreshadowing that killing the heron was exactly the wrong action to take -- that everything might have gone much better had he just left the poor bird alone. And also that anything you have to put deliberate effort into sinking is probably going to come back again...

[regshoe]

Welcome! :)

Look, it's very important that we know right away exactly how splendidly handsome Ewen is—it provides important context for Keith's POV later on... :D

That's an interesting thought about the heron—and very true!

[hedgebird]

I'm a bit late to the party, sorry! This will be my third time reading FotH, I guess. IIRC I first heard of it six or seven years ago, came across a copy about three years ago, and have since read the trilogy (and, well, skimmed Almond, Wild Almond.)

What struck me this time is what a pessimist Lachlan is. His life is full of omens, and they're all bad. Dad sees a dream heron, context unknown? Better kill a heron! Red light on my dirk? Better throw my dirk away! Clearly a "glass half-empty AND PROBABLY POISONED OMG" kind of guy. I wonder why.

And it's very clear already how much Broster likes him!

Haha yes. Mr. Darcy arises from the pool...

[regshoe]

Welcome, and no worries—the intention is for discussion to stay open through the week, so you're not late :)

That's very true about Lachlan—and Ewen's impatient recitation of all the other things Lachlan considers bad omens suggests he's like this a lot.

I love Ewen as Mr Darcy :D