Music in the Dark

Jamesina Ross is a writer who was bent on becoming a writer, but her music was no match for the Highland Clearances. Her lodger believes that if she opens the past, she might have the chance of a future. This is a story about resilience, memory, resurrection, and those parts of who we are that nobody can take away.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: John Murray Press

A captivating and emotionally resonant tale, intricately woven and masterfully brought to life, Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers transports readers to a poignant episode in history, vividly capturing its essence.

Once upon a time, Jamesina Ross harbored a deep aspiration to become a writer, possessed of a remarkable talent for words. She crafted melodies that celebrated the picturesque Highland glen where she resided, honoring the generations of her kin who had tilled the land. When her community faced the imminent threat of eviction, she fearlessly raised her voice, uniting the women in a show of defiant strength and determination. However, Jamesina's music proved no match for the brutal realities of the Highland Clearances, a harrowing chapter in Scottish history.

Since that fateful day, Jamesina has carried the physical and psychological scars of that encounter, etched upon her face and within her mind. It marked the end of a promising life and the commencement of a vastly different journey. Her lodger believes that if she possesses the courage to delve into the past, she may unlock the potential for a brighter future.

Small Pleasures is a captivating exploration of unexpected love in later life, delving into the complexities of its nature, its unconventional nature, and the delightful surprises it brings. It is a story of resilience, memory, resurrection, and the indomitable parts of our essence that cannot be taken away. Through the poignant narrative of Jamesina Ross, Chambers invites readers to reflect on the power of healing, the significance of embracing the past, and the limitless possibilities that await us when we dare to embrace change.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 146 x 224 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529345933