The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter

About the Book: 

A cold sweat had spread over Mary as she listened. What she was hearing was sounding ever more like a premonition: adultery was nearly as bad as murder.

Shetland, 1773: a land of hand-to-mouth living and tight community ties overshadowed by the ever-watchful eye of the kirk, an institution ‘run by auld men, for auld men’. In this fictionalised retelling of historical events, young Waas lass Mary Johnsdaughter stands accused of having sinned in the eyes of the church after the Batchelor, a ship bursting with emigrants seeking new lives in North Carolina, is left stranded upon Shetland’s shores.

Will she survive the humiliation? Will she become an outcast? Will one moment cost her everything?

A tale of Shetland folk knit out of Shetlandic voices and real parish records, The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter pits the bonds of friends and family against the grip of the kirk. Only one thing is clear: then as now, ‘Hit’s no aesy livin in a peerie place.’

Reviews: 

A compelling story of resilience and hope that will linger long after the book is closed. JENNI DAICHES, historian, poet and novelist

About the Author:

CHRISTINE DE LUCA writes in English and Shaetlan (Shetlandic), her mother tongue. She was appointed Edinburgh's Makar (laureate) for 2014-2017. She has had eight poetry collections published, several of which have won awards. She has also written two novels, the most recent being The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter (Luath Press, 2022). 

She is also active in translation, with six bi-lingual poetry collections published as well as classic storybooks for children.  She particularly enjoys collaborating with traditional, jazz and classical musicians (Catriona Macdonald, Tommy Smith, Gemma McGregor) and visual artists (Victoria Crowe, Brigid Collins).  Luath Press (2018) published Paolozzi at Large in Edinburgh, which she co-edited and to which she contributed poems.  

www.christinedeluca.co.uk