Traipsing Blood,

In And The Land Lay Still, James Robertson manages to complete a special feat, he teaches history through the medium of fiction. His subject is Scottish politics from 1950 onwards and the progress towards potential independence.

The book begins telling the story of photographer Michael Pendreich who is preparing an exhibition from his more-prominent late father’s portfolio. These images provide the trail that Robertson takes us through Scottish history and to which all the characters; spies, war veterans, journalists, MPs and ordinary working folks are; merge onto and become bound together.

Robertson deserves bounteous credit for the mapping the paths of a multitude of characters and maintaining their synchronisation across several decades. The theme which struck me was hope and the need to believe in Scottish independence. I have never been a nationalist but through the story, I almost succumbed to separatist beliefs. Perhaps Robertson paints our lives with a heavy paint and the oppression began to weigh upon me by the end, he promotes change through the fortunes of his characters. I am now firmly undecided about independence and that’s the power of Scottish fiction, Scottish friction - it’s moved me.

In the Guardian review of the book, the journalist comments on the theme of alcohol and serves up an interesting discussion. I must say that this never struck me at the time of reading but it does seem to be tied to everything, whether its consumption is central to the behaviour of certain characters or whether a pub is the setting for an incident. If alcohol was to be removed from the book, there would not be a story, for it helps to bind these characters to the same extent that family and ideologies do.

I may not vote for independence, I may settle for humming Letter From America, but I can confirm that my thoughts have been firmly provoked.