We met to talk about ‘The Secrets of the Sea House’ by Elisabeth Gifford, an intriguing story set in the Outer Hebrides in 1860. The novel is centred on a young Minister, Alexander Ferguson in his first parish. There are many strands to the story, not least legends of ‘selkies’ or mermen, which are often recounted in the area and the desire of the young Minister to uncover the truth or otherwise about the creatures.
A parallel story concerns a young family moving into his old Manse ‘The Sea House’, more than a century later and discovering the bones of a baby buried under the house.
It was agreed that the descriptions of the landscape were exceptional and some were more interested in the earlier story rather than the 20th century one. We all agreed that this had been a very original and worthwhile read.
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