‘Desperately romantic, lyrically written and with a fascinating plot’ Katie Fforde 1927: When Fred Lawson takes a summer job on St Kilda, little does he realise that he has joined the last community to ever live on that beautiful, isolated island. Only three years later, St Kilda will be evacuated, the islanders near dead from starvation. But for Fred, memories of that summer – and the island … summer – and the island woman, Chrissie, with whom he falls in love – will never leave him.
1940: Fred has been captured behind enemy lines in France and finds himself in a prisoner-of-war camp. Beaten and exhausted, his thoughts return to the island of his youth and the woman he loved and lost. When Fred makes his daring escape, prompting a desperate journey across occupied territory, he is sustained by one thought only: finding his way back to Chrissie.
The Lost Lights of St Kilda is a sweeping love story that crosses oceans and decades. It is a moving and deeply vivid portrait of two lovers, a desolate island and the extraordinary power of hope in the face of darkness.
‘A gorgeous, melancholy love story.’ The Times
‘An undeniably haunting love story.’ Sunday Times
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The Lost Lights Of St Kilda is a dual timeline novel of lost love and quite beauty. The locations are 1940’s France and 1927 St Kilda, a grouping of islands off the west coast of Scotland.
The female protagonist is Chrissie Gillies a young woman born and raised on St. Kilda. Life there is slow and filled with love but the harsh weather and conditions on the island make living there very difficult. Chrissie wishes to never leave.
Fred Lawson is a young man who spends the summer of 1927 on St Kida’s to complete his geology thesis for Cambridge University. Both figure prominently in the 1927 St.Kilda timeline as they meet, and no spoiler here, fall in love. The 1940’s time line centers mainly on Fred. He is a soldier caught by the Germans at the battle for St. Valery where many Scotsmen were killed or captured, as the army retreated. It is his attempt to escape the Germans, flee France and remember his lost love of St Kilda that comprises his 1940’s story. Chrissie in the1940’s is living in Scotland with her teenage daughter. At her daughter Rachel Anne’s insistence she begins too recall life on St Kildas and eventually her lost love.Fred.
This novel is very well written. St Kilda is a small cluster of volcanic islands that are heavily windswept and desolate. Through Ms. Gifford’s lyrical prose I was able to envision the stark, natural, and unspoiled beauty of st. Kilda’s so well that looking at pictures online I found that my visions were accurate. That takes talent on the part of an author! She also demonstrates her talents as she describes the people of St. Kildas. They are a hardy group of strong people who take joy in the simple things and love their island fiercely. Ms. Gifford shows us their quiet courage and dignity. They become another character in the novel. We as readers care about them. We worry about their future as it becomes clear that their numbers are dwindling and there may be too few of them to survive winter.
I loved that the characters become real people. We learn not just their descriptions and actions, but their beliefs, hopes and dreams. We learn the motivations behind their actions. They are allowed to change, grow and mature as the story unfolds. That this is such a rarity in fiction is a shame since it added a very satisfying dimension to the story.
This is an emotional read. Through the authors prose we not only see the calm beauty of first love but also the horror of war. It is this juxtaposition of the two that forms the core of the novel. It is Fred’s frantic attempt at fleeing from France that set’s the pace and tension that leads to the stories climax. Will Fred escape France? Will he and Chrissie ever see each other again? These are questions that you’ll have to read the book to answer!
4 stars! Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and romance.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.
This was a fascinating story and I loved how it was told. To think that for many, many years people could live on this breathtaking island with all of its restrictions and beauty.
Parts of this were heartbreaking, but beautifully written. It made me take pause at my busy life and left me wanting for a simpler life.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and the narrators were excellent. I highly recommend listening to it.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley
The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford and Narrated by Fiona McNeill; Geoffrey Newland; Diane Brooks is an amazing historical fiction that takes us into the rugged and stunning landscape of the islands that make up the archipelago of St Kilda. it is just beautiful.
I loved everything about this novel. The author has impressively woven a story that contains multiple timelines (all within the 1900s and mainly 1927 and 1940-41) and multiple points of view (Fred, Chrissie, and Rachel) into an absolutely haunting, beautiful, soaring, and bittersweet story that tells the tale of a love that spans the test of time and distance, a family separated and united…and of a culture, people, and existence within an isolated, historic, and proud group of inhabitants that have made a place for themselves in this westernmost location off of Scotland.
First of all, I loved learning more about this group of islands west of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The location, geography, history, people, culture, and transformation that took place as the years move onward.
The author is able to take that aspect and weave a story that involves not just its people, but also of a love story…and despite the great divide of so many things…a love that is able to find itself again despite the odds. It was beyond beautiful and stunning and I dare anyone read this and not have their breath taken away.
Just wonderful.
I am reviewing the audiobook which was also excellent. The narrators added just the perfect pacing, accents, and depth to make this a 5/5 hit.
Highly recommend.
Thank you NG and Dreamscape Media for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/6/22.