Eric Linklater (1899–1974)
Author of The Wind on the Moon
About the Author
Series
Works by Eric Linklater
The survival of Scotland; a new history of Scotland from Roman times to the present day (1968) 27 copies
María Estuardo 2 copies
Det blæser på Månen 1 2 copies
Robert the Bruce. With ... maps 2 copies
God Likes Them Plain 2 copies
'THE RAFT AND SOCRATES ASKS WHY : TWO CONVERSATIONS, THE CORNER STONES, CRISIS IN HEAVEN, THE GREAT SHIP AND… (1944) 1 copy
Barn och blomma 1 copy
Gift med Delila 1 copy
Odvaha vojína Angela 1 copy
Kind Kitty 1 copy
Associated Works
Frans G. Bengtsson : en minnesbok — Contributor — 7 copies
Tredive mesterfortællinger — Author, some editions — 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Linklater, Eric Robert Russell
- Birthdate
- 1899-02-08
- Date of death
- 1974-11-07
- Burial location
- Harray Churchyard, Mainland, Orkney, Scotland
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Penarth, Wales, UK
- Place of death
- Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
- Places of residence
- Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
Orkney, Scotland, UK
Bombay, India - Education
- Aberdeen Grammar School
University of Aberdeen - Occupations
- journalist
teacher
novelist
poet
autobiographer
historian - Relationships
- Linklater, Elizabeth (grandmother)
Linklater, Andro (son)
Linklater, Kristin (daughter)
Linklater, Magnus (son) - Organizations
- British Army (WWI|WWII)
- Awards and honors
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1954)
Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh (1971)
Members
Reviews
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 71
- Also by
- 19
- Members
- 1,701
- Popularity
- #15,088
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 24
- ISBNs
- 139
- Languages
- 9
- Favorited
- 1
The novel is very much of its time. An isolated Scottish village on the west coast is preparing to put on an amateur production of a play by Euripides. The villagers have been canvassing their MP in London for money to build a new road and an improved docking facility and are thrilled to learn of the arrival of a delegation from London. They have been refusing to pay their road tax because they claim they have not got a road on which they can safely drive their cars. The General who owns Laxdale Hall is leading the protest group and his large house is the only suitable accommodation for the delegation. A criminal group from Glasgow have targeted the salmon river running by Laxdale hall for a poaching expedition. The villagers must persuade the London delegation they are worthy of monetary support, fight off the criminal gang and make a success of a controversial play.
Linklater's book never quite hits the right note, not quite funny enough, not serious enough about the problems facing a remote highland village and underestimates the problems of putting on such a play. The General tries to be all things to all men while various other characters become caricatures of half crazy people living in a remote village that still have the wit to outfox a criminal gang and dupe a bunch of stuffed shirts from London. Linklater writes some excellent prose describing the countryside and the beating of the criminal gang is carried out like a military exercise, however there are still fifty pages to go, when most of the issues have been resolved and there is only the play left to bring the story to a climax that unfortunately has already been largely resolved. The book is entertaining enough and the colourful characters have their moments, but it all seems so old fashioned; and not in a good way, to be reading this now. 3 stars.… (more)