Book description
The Testament of Gideon Mack is James Robertson's acclaimed
novel exploring faith and belief.
For Gideon Mack, faithless minister, unfaithful husband and troubled
soul, the existence of God, let alone the Devil, is no more credible
than that of ghosts or fairies. Until the day he falls into a gorge
and is rescued by someone who might just be Satan himself.
Mack's testament - a compelling blend of memoir, legend, history,
and, quite probably, madness - recounts one man's emotional crisis,
disappearance, resurrection and death. It also transports you into an
utterly mesmerising exploration of the very nature of belief.
'Fascinating, extraordinary, strange, rich' Sunday Telegraph
'Overwhelmingly compassionate and thought-provoking. Demands another
read' Irvine Welsh, Guardian
'Hugely enjoyable, very funny, deeply refreshing . . . its touch of
devilry makes it even more of a joy' Herald
'Fabulous . . . a work of the highest literary quality' Scotland
on Sunday
'Astonishingly accomplished, utterly compelling from start to finish
. . . could well be the best novel published anywhere this year'
Big Issue
'James Robertson is a brilliant novelist. It's a long time since I
read a novel in which the contemporary notions of faith and belief
were so frankly tested' Ali Smith
James Robertson is the author of the novels The Fanatic,
Joseph Knight, The Testament of Gideon Mack, And the Land
Lay Still and The Professor of Truth. The Testament of
Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize, picked
by Richard and Judy's Book Club, and shortlisted for the Saltire Book
of the Year award, and And the Land Lay Still was the winner of
the Saltire Book of the Year Award 2010.
Artful and lyrical . . . you are under the influence of a master
storyteller . . . this book promises to become a Scottish masterpiece
James Robertson is the author of two previous novels,
The Fanatic
(2000) and
Joseph Knight
(2003). The latter was awarded the two major Scottish literary awards
in 2003/4 - the Saltire Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council
Book of the Year. He has also published stories, poetry, anthologies and
essays. In 2006 he was selected for a prestigious Creative Scotland
award and was also nominated for a Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland award.
The Testament of Gideon Mack
was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Saltire
Book of the Year award.
