Poverty Castle

by Robin Jenkins

Donald Sempill has a beautiful wife who adores him, five perfect daughters and enough money that he doesn't have to work. In fact he can afford to buy a ruin in Argyllshire and restore it as a home for them all—Poverty Castle. The idyll can't last, though. Try as hard they might obsession and the outside world begin to creep into the Sempills' Eden and the stability and idealism they had worked so hard for is threatened. A subtly ironic tale from Scotland's master storyteller.

Genres: Scotland

Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Author of a number of landmark novels including The Cone Gatherers, The Changeling, Happy for the Child, The Thistle and the Grail and Guests of War, Jenkins is recognised as one of Scotland's greatest writers. The themes of good and evil, of innocence lost, of fraudulence, cruelty and redemption shine through his work. His novels, shot through with ambiguity, are rarely about what they seem. He published his first book, So Gaily Sings the Lark, at the age of thirty-eight, and by the time of his death in 2005, over thirty of his novels were in print.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book. I don't know why Jenkins isn't better known.

[Thekirkiepirate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent novel from Robin Jenkins, who I feel has never received the recognition for the thoughtful and philosophical work he has produced.

Here, he returns to the theme of for how long an idyllic life can be maintained before things come to an end. The plot considers questions of inherited wealth and the orality of the lifestyle that can go with it, but at the same time, this material condition does not necessarily provide for the most basic of human drivers. I particularly liked the way in which, at time, we are taken away from the novel to consider the circumstances of an apparently fictitious writer, who may well have been a representation of Jenkins. It was also interesting in the ultimate parallels between this author and the plot of the novel.

I also enjoyed the geographical setting of the book in Cowal and Kintyre - areas that I know well and are beautifully described in the book.

[Margaret McDowall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Robin Jenkins books for the insight they give to Scotland's past. This is no exception. Here he dealt with class differences in the 1950's.

[Sharron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Beautifully written with clever plot ideas. One or two of the characters are irritating, which creates realism. Will read more by the same author now.