Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance is a coming-of-age novel set in a small evangelical community in the late 1960s, exploring family, friendship, faith, loneliness, and grief.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 18 November 2019
Publisher: Vagabond Voices

The fact of the matter is that Joseph Kirkland was afraid. Afraid of not being saved. Afraid of being saved. Afraid of the transformation that would occur the moment he uttered those words, "Jesus! God! I want you to come into my heart!" Blessed Assurance is a coming-of-age novel. It is set against the backdrop of a small close-knit evangelical community in the fictional Scottish village of Kilhaugh during a fog-bound December in the late nineteen-sixties, when the Cold War was on the brink of turning hot. The story takes place over six soul-searching days in the life of God-fearing dog-thief and pyromaniac, eleven-year-old Joseph Kirkland, and his godless, devil-may-care best friend, Archie Truman, as the perpetually guilt-ridden Joseph attempts to put right what he believes to be the most terrible of lies. It is peopled with colourful characters, peppered with moments of tenderness, tragedy, and occasional surreal humour. At its heart, though, Blessed Assurance is an exploration of family, friendship, faith, loneliness, and grief, and the compromises that sometimes have to be made to remain part of our community.

The fact of the matter is that Joseph Kirkland was afraid. Afraid of not being saved. Afraid of being saved. Afraid of the transformation that would occur the moment he uttered those words, "Jesus! God! I want you to come into my heart!" Blessed Assurance is a coming-of-age novel. It is set against the backdrop of a small close-knit evangelical community in the fictional Scottish village of Kilhaugh during a fog-bound December in the late nineteen-sixties, when the Cold War was on the brink of turning hot. The story takes place. place over six soul-searching days in the life of God-fearing dog-thief and pyromaniac, eleven-year-old Joseph Kirkland, and his godless, devil-may-care best friend, Archie Truman, as the perpetually guilt-ridden Joseph attempts to put right best right what he believes to be the most terrible of lies. It is peopled with colourful characters, peppered with moments of tenderness, tragedy, and occasional surreal humour. At its heart, though, Blessed Assurance is an exploration of family, friendship, faith, loneliness, and grief, and the compromises that sometimes have to be made to remain part of our community.

Weight: 378g
Dimension: 142 x 210 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781908251923