Shadowed Valley: A novel based on the Weisdale evictions

by John J. Graham

Shadowed A Novel Based on the Welsdale Evictions Graham, John J.

Genres: Scotland

199 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

John J. Graham, MA, OBE was born in 1921 in Shetland where he grew up and was educated. After serving in the RAF in World War II he read English at Edinburgh University before returning to teach at the Anderson Institute until 1966. He became headmaster of Lerwick Central School and then headmaster of the Anderson High School. Retiring in 1982 he was a member of Shetland Islands Council from 1982-1994. He remained actively involved in Shetland life and letters until shortly before his death in 2008.

He was joint author of Grammar and Usage of the Shetland Dialect together with T.A. Robertson (1952, reprinted 1991). He wrote two novels, Shadowed Valley (1987) and Strife in the Valley (1992), and a history of Shetland education A Vehement Thirst After Knowledge (1998). John J. Graham co-edited several volumes of the Shetland Folk Book; and Nordern Lichts (1964). He and his brother Laurence (Lollie) Graham were joint editors of the New Shetlander magazine (1958-1998). The Graham brothers also co-edited the 1998 poetry collection A Shetland Anthology.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shetland's answer to Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart,' this historical novel skilfully portrays Shetland life in the Weisdale Valley during the mid-19th century and follows the characters affected by the forced evictions which were carried out during the period. Extensive historical research must have gone into developing the characters' lifestyles, aided by the authentic use of dialect. Shadowed Valley forces the reader to reflect on the nature of the crofter-laird relationship in which the people of the Weisdale Valley were powerless to respond to the devastation of their communities, and has left me keen to learn more about the history of Scotland's clearances.

[Lynnette Polson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww, I enjoyed dis book but it’s dat sad really.
Liked how a lot o it is written in dialect too.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough story to read, partly because of the subject matter (the Scottish clearances are always grim) and partly because of the language. The dialogue of the Shetlanders in the book is written in dialect. I found I understood it better if I didn't slow down a lot in those sections and just sounded everything out phonetically. I was usually able to get the gist of the meaning via context. I used the glossary a lot, but there are many words that aren't in it.

I'm glad I read this to get a sense of the place.