Remember the Rowan | glasgowgallerina

Longlisted for The Highland Book Prize

Finalist in The People's Book Prize

Available from Red Squirrel Press with free UK postage,

via Amazon or from your local library or bookshop.

‘A poignant tour de force that lays bare the complexities of both of its central characters, Remember the Rowan honours their brilliance while examining their flaws with curiosity and compassion. As a poet herself, MacQuarrie scarcely wastes a word, writing with shining clarity. Every sentence is exquisitely worked, every detail in some way significant…’

Alastair Mabbott, The Herald

‘A beautifully written book in which, reminiscent of Hilary Mantel at her best, MacQuarrie uses the real lives of historical figures as a jumping-off point to write a touching and engaging story of poetry and writing, of the inspirational power of nature and of an all-encompassing, overwhelming love... in its sadness is a real beauty which reveals MacQuarrie as the new author to watch for the Scottish audience.’

Kavan P. Stafford, Bella Caledonia

‘MacQuarrie’s deep research into the life of twentieth century poet Kathleen Raine offers a brilliant reappraisal of a woman feted in life for her literary talent yet almost completely forgotten in Scotland today. Absolutely alive with emotion, this impressive first novel will help to ensure that Raine is remembered as the hugely talented and inspirational writer she was.’

Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists

'... An astonishing job in creating a convincing first-person voice for Kathleen. It far exceeds anything I would have thought possible... you have done it with great imagination and sensitivity... I hope reviewers judge it as I have done and give it great praise for a brave and remarkable work on a deeply challenging and important subject!'

Professor Grevel Lindop, chair of The Temenos Academy, the educational charity founded by Dr Kathleen Raine in 1991 (the year of Kirsten's birth).

'What a tour de force! Not only has Kirsten amassed and digested a vast amount of research to produce this deeply felt, passionate and unflinching portrait of the hugely talented yet overlooked and ill-used writer, Kathleen Raine, she has written a beautiful, lyrical novel about unrequited love in which the landscape takes your breath away and the shared love for a wild otter becomes transcendent.'

Helen Graham, author of The Real Mackay: Walter Scott's Favourite Comedian

'How grateful I am to have experienced your novel. An unusual word to choose, but how else to explain the way it lingers in the memory, with many scenes still vividly present long after reading... the pathos and impossibilities in their relationship are so powerfully caught.'

Professor James McGonigal, poet, editor, critic, and biographer of Edwin Morgan (Beyond the Last Dragon, winner of Research Book of the Year at Scotland's National Book Awards).

‘If hate were love, if love were hate, it could not make our tale untold’.

Divorced and living apart from her two children as she strives against the odds to carve out a career in 1940s London, poet Kathleen Raine is initially unimpressed when she meets Gavin Maxwell, a would-be portrait painter struggling to recover from a recent breakdown. Nevertheless, the pair soon bond over childhood memories and a profound love of nature, epitomised by a mysterious vision they share of a rowan tree.

When Gavin confides that he is ‘more of a man’s man’, Kathleen remains determined that their connection can survive. They share a cottage in the wildest reaches of the West Highlands, where they care for Gavin’s beloved pet otter Mij and for each other. But when tragedy strikes, love soon turns to hate, and Kathleen finds herself being written out of her own life.

Inspired by the true story of Kathleen Raine and Gavin Maxwell’s ‘some-requited’ love, Remember the Rowan illuminates their extraordinary relationship and shines a light on the woman behind Ring of Bright Water.

'This book was absolutely stunning and unexpected, a page-turner as well as a meditation on the soul's desires. I was not very familiar with Kathleen Raine's poetry prior to reading this, and you absolutely do not have to be for this well-told story to make an impact. It's clear the author has a significant depth of understanding of Raine's experience in addition to being a fantastic writer – she was born to convey this story and I am so grateful for the work she has done!'

'It is so beautifully written, poetic and moving. I absolutely loved it. I felt so close to Kathleen and related to her a lot - the complexity of her character, the highs and the lows, the emotional depth and the beauty of expression... There were lots of times when I had to just stop and think about a sentence that made my heart ache... I've not enjoyed a book that much in a long time. I keep recommending it to my friends!'

'Having been a fan of Kathleen Raine's poetry for most of my life, I absolutely loved this and could not put it down. A beautifully written and incredibly moving story about the complex nature of love, relationships and the power of poetry and nature to sustain us. Wonderful.'

'A truly important novel, placing a long-forgotten and even long-disdained female writer back into the public eye. Beautiful prose and agonising (in the best way) emotional back-and-forths and complex relationships abound. Go read!'

'The book is really amazing; a kind of meditation on love, misunderstanding and forgiveness. Not only are the characters rich and fully developed, but the nature writing is beautiful. And if you are going to write the last great Gavin Maxwell book (which I think MacQuarrie has) then you have to be able to do the nature writing!'

'What a powerful and emotive book! I absolutely loved reading it. It's always so wonderful to read a book that you're enjoying so much you don't actually want it to end, but you also just can't put it down. I've read it twice now, as I just found it so incredibly moving to be immersed in Kathleen's world with her. I started to note down my favourite lines as I was reading, until I realised it was basically going to be the entire book!'

'I was completely absorbed in this telling of Kathleen and Gavin's story: The complexity and heartache, MacQuarrie's understanding of the depths of their relationship, and her descriptions of the landscape, so evocatively part of their story. I want to say how much I enjoyed the book, although the word "enjoy" seems superficial. Through MacQuarrie's writing, I lived inside the story, appreciating the depth of her research, the rawness of Kathleen's pain and longing, and her empathy.'

'This is a wonderful book from a very talented young writer which illuminates the depth of the relationship between the two principal characters and got me rereading the Ring of Bright Water trilogy. I recommend this to everyone... captivating in its examination of human emotion.'

'I absolutely loved this book. MacQuarrie's depth of research was incredible, and her eloquent style draws the reader deep into the world of Kathleen Raine and Gavin Maxwell. It was a powerful captivating read from a talented emerging writer and I cannot wait to read her next book. Wonderful!

'This will be a difficult read to follow on from, giving voice to a hugely poignant some-requited love story. Kathleen Raine's work and her influence have to be recognised. Without her, there would be no Ring of Bright Water. Deeply moving and such an important work.'

'A poetic emotional rollercoaster... Raine's romantic soul and strong connection to her idea of the man she loves is heartbreaking but life-affirming. Read it, you won't regret it.'

Reader reviews of Remember the Rowan