Remember the Rowan

Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize and a finalist in the People's Book Prize, MacQuarrie's debut has been praised as 'an impressive first novel absolutely alive with emotion' and 'reminiscent of Hilary Mantel at her best'. This special edition is published by Red Squirrel Press. 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, this special edition of 'Remember the Rowan' illuminates their extraordinary relationship and shines a light on the woman behind 'Ring of Bright Water'.