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The Fires of Bride: A Novel
Book by Galford, Ellen
229 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1986
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Galford
33 books19 followersEllen Galford is a Scottish writer of fiction and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 29, 2019
I had no idea what to expect when I picked it up but it was really fun. I enjoyed it a lot.
This book is a love letter to a remote Scottish island called Cailleach (which google tells me is a real goddess but a fake island) with a small town feel and also a love letter to the women who live there. Maria, an artist from London who moves to the island at the whimsical invitation of the countess there, connects to the island which she finds to be full of mystery--like the stone circles, an ancient convent, and whispers in the wind.
Even though the genres of the books are very different, it reminds me a lot of the Caitlín R. Kiernan books I've read (The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl) which, regardless of if the ghosts are real or not, have a strong sense of being haunted by real history. All three books intertwine history with religion and art and academics and place in a really thought-provoking and satisfying way. All three books also have a kind of... intense meandering through the daily lives of the characters and the plots of the books are not what you've been taught to expect from the conflict chart. Certainly, Kiernan's books are more intense and different genres than Fires of Bride, but even if the antagonist to the women of Cailleach never really feels threatening, it's still such a joy to watch the women succeed.
Though the story is not a relationship story, it's pretty gay, so that's an advertisement. Both Maria and the countess are lesbians*, the countess has a prominent ancestor who was a boyfriend of King James VI and I, and gay history does make other appearances in the plot which I enjoyed a lot. Several side characters become involved with women as well.
*=They don't use the word for themselves, but like, they're lesbians.
If you would like a gay exploration of a remote Scottish island, this is the book for you!
This book is a love letter to a remote Scottish island called Cailleach (which google tells me is a real goddess but a fake island) with a small town feel and also a love letter to the women who live there. Maria, an artist from London who moves to the island at the whimsical invitation of the countess there, connects to the island which she finds to be full of mystery--like the stone circles, an ancient convent, and whispers in the wind.
Even though the genres of the books are very different, it reminds me a lot of the Caitlín R. Kiernan books I've read (The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl) which, regardless of if the ghosts are real or not, have a strong sense of being haunted by real history. All three books intertwine history with religion and art and academics and place in a really thought-provoking and satisfying way. All three books also have a kind of... intense meandering through the daily lives of the characters and the plots of the books are not what you've been taught to expect from the conflict chart. Certainly, Kiernan's books are more intense and different genres than Fires of Bride, but even if the antagonist to the women of Cailleach never really feels threatening, it's still such a joy to watch the women succeed.
Though the story is not a relationship story, it's pretty gay, so that's an advertisement. Both Maria and the countess are lesbians*, the countess has a prominent ancestor who was a boyfriend of King James VI and I, and gay history does make other appearances in the plot which I enjoyed a lot. Several side characters become involved with women as well.
*=They don't use the word for themselves, but like, they're lesbians.
If you would like a gay exploration of a remote Scottish island, this is the book for you!
January 15, 2022
I first read this back in the late 80s and re-read in the early 90s. I loved the story then and one part remained with me - the idea of someone saying "I was just passing by', when this is a remote Scottish island, was just hilarious. At the time I was working in television and I suggested it as a possible drama - contacted Ellen to see what she thought and she was, indeed, working on a script. However, as so often happens, it faded away as an idea. I have no idea why I decided to re-read it this year - however, the shelf was bare and I have lent it to someone and so it has gone away with the fairies.
Fortunately, I was able to buy it second hand and immerse myself once again in the island of Cailleach with all its wonderful inhabitants, past and present. No spoilers - you must read it for yourself and feel that wind in your hair, the peat under you feet, and that sense of something other that is beyond our control and yet wishes to be noticed. It is cinematic, yet also close and personal, and the characters are as flawed and as wonderful as any of us...plus it is very, very funny.
Fortunately, I was able to buy it second hand and immerse myself once again in the island of Cailleach with all its wonderful inhabitants, past and present. No spoilers - you must read it for yourself and feel that wind in your hair, the peat under you feet, and that sense of something other that is beyond our control and yet wishes to be noticed. It is cinematic, yet also close and personal, and the characters are as flawed and as wonderful as any of us...plus it is very, very funny.
June 5, 2014
I came across this book in the now defunct bookshop in Cardiff " Chapter and Verse" that had a little corner dedicated to "The Womens' Press". Fascinated by their zebra-crossing black and white trademark spine, I picked one or two up and that was it.
Womens's fiction entered my life. This was one of the first I read all those years ago ( 1987 ) and I lost track of the book, having lent it out. At least 10 years later I got it back amazingly. Sadly over the years, its glue dried out and my original copy started to fall apart when I wanted to re-read it a couple of months ago... so I found a second hand copy online and just sat down and read it.
Like finding an old friend, it was like it had never been away. I laughed at the characters' quirkiness, roared at the comeuppance of one or two of the les lovable residents on the island where the story takes place.
Mixing historical events ( viking raids ) with current day people is complicated but Ellen Galford carries it off with a certain brio. Having travelled a little in Scotland, i recognised some of the characters - they are lovingly based on cultural strands within Highlands and Islands society. She deliciously exposes some of the hypocrisy to be found now and again in religious extremes.
What pleases me most is the way in which the main character renews herself and finds another way of living. At first she seems destined to be a victim but by going at her ideas with doggedness and ignoring others who would stop her, she not only re-invents/finds herself but carries it forward and helps others do the same thing.
The style is light and easy, the story satisfying. Yes it is LBGT but actually it's not important. Which was something I liked, people just being and as a result being accepted or even not being noticed as being different and thus needing accepting....
I'd recommend it as a nice weekend read. Particularly if staying on an island with a wee bit of mist .... your imagination might take you voyaging too.
Womens's fiction entered my life. This was one of the first I read all those years ago ( 1987 ) and I lost track of the book, having lent it out. At least 10 years later I got it back amazingly. Sadly over the years, its glue dried out and my original copy started to fall apart when I wanted to re-read it a couple of months ago... so I found a second hand copy online and just sat down and read it.
Like finding an old friend, it was like it had never been away. I laughed at the characters' quirkiness, roared at the comeuppance of one or two of the les lovable residents on the island where the story takes place.
Mixing historical events ( viking raids ) with current day people is complicated but Ellen Galford carries it off with a certain brio. Having travelled a little in Scotland, i recognised some of the characters - they are lovingly based on cultural strands within Highlands and Islands society. She deliciously exposes some of the hypocrisy to be found now and again in religious extremes.
What pleases me most is the way in which the main character renews herself and finds another way of living. At first she seems destined to be a victim but by going at her ideas with doggedness and ignoring others who would stop her, she not only re-invents/finds herself but carries it forward and helps others do the same thing.
The style is light and easy, the story satisfying. Yes it is LBGT but actually it's not important. Which was something I liked, people just being and as a result being accepted or even not being noticed as being different and thus needing accepting....
I'd recommend it as a nice weekend read. Particularly if staying on an island with a wee bit of mist .... your imagination might take you voyaging too.
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September 3, 2024A strange, wild, funny book that you'll probably either love or hate (I'm in the "love" camp). In a bizarre way it reminded me of Djuna Barnes' Nightwood, except I just couldn't get into Nightwood at all (I know, I know, someone should revoke both my queer card and my English degrees) and I really enjoyed The Fires of Bride. Something to do with its surrealistic elements, probably, and its unabashedly eccentric characters. There's an exuberant weirdness to this story that I love and want to see a lot more of -- as well as a whole lot of enthusiastic patriarchy-smashing, which I also appreciate.
April 28, 2015
This was a lucky find as I was randomly looking through the fiction section at the library. This is a great book. I hadn't read a good lesbian feminist witchy novel in a long time, so I'm glad I picked this up. Love that it's set in the far north of Scotland, too. Going to look for others by this author.
May 10, 2011
i really really tried to get into this book, but i couldnt. i liked moll catpurse, her previous novel. this was awful. boo!
May 21, 2017
As I recall, I borrowed Ellen Galford's The Fires of Bride from the local library more than once when I was a teenager. I borrowed it the first time because teenage feminist me would borrow anything with the Women's Press's black and white striped spine, and then I borrowed it again (and again) because I loved it; it was funny and feminist and fuelled a burning ambition to live in artistic solitude somewhere remote and spectacularly beautiful when I grew up. (Alas, I turned out not really to be the artistic type, and I don't think solitude would be good for my mental health, so it's probably better that I ended up living in suburbia and having a prosaic career in finance and administration, but at fourteen the prospect would definitely have horrified me.)
I was a bit apprehensive about re-reading it, but I needn't have worried; it's still very funny, and very feminist. It's the story of an artist, Maria, who accepts an invitation to visit lady of the manor, local doctor and probable witch Catriona on the remote Hebridean island of Cailleach, and ends up staying. On the one hand, it's the story of a woman finding her confidence and her identity as an artist and a person, fairly typical of feminist novels of the 80s; on another, it's a humorous portrait of a rural community which owes something to Ealing comedies (it's a bit like Local Hero, which I think I discovered shortly after reading the book, and which is one of my favourite films, though it would have been even better with more lesbians); on a third, it's a quasi-fantasy about communities of women facing up to the patriarchy throughout history, and about the survival of pagan goddess-worship throughout centuries of Christianity. I still liked it a lot; maybe I'll see if I can track down copies of Ellen Galford's other novels as well.
I was a bit apprehensive about re-reading it, but I needn't have worried; it's still very funny, and very feminist. It's the story of an artist, Maria, who accepts an invitation to visit lady of the manor, local doctor and probable witch Catriona on the remote Hebridean island of Cailleach, and ends up staying. On the one hand, it's the story of a woman finding her confidence and her identity as an artist and a person, fairly typical of feminist novels of the 80s; on another, it's a humorous portrait of a rural community which owes something to Ealing comedies (it's a bit like Local Hero, which I think I discovered shortly after reading the book, and which is one of my favourite films, though it would have been even better with more lesbians); on a third, it's a quasi-fantasy about communities of women facing up to the patriarchy throughout history, and about the survival of pagan goddess-worship throughout centuries of Christianity. I still liked it a lot; maybe I'll see if I can track down copies of Ellen Galford's other novels as well.
May 5, 2018
I am not really sure about the five stars - but I have read and re-read it. Partly drawing on the “southern urbanite finds rural life weird” theme (Think a Hebridean Cold Comfort Farm), partly an LGBTQ+ revenge comedy against a censorious, cold Christianity, partly a celebration of island life and learning what home means, this is a magical, light-hearted book with serious moments: the protagonist, struggling artist Maria’s encounters with a mysterious seaweed-gatherer are touching, sensual and more than a little chilling; the finale, a face-off between the Castle-owning GP and her arch-enemy the local minister is high camp drama, but these interchanges are a parable for all sorts of heartbreaking discussions and rejections many people have had. Hilarious, poignant, dripping with Celtic twilight and strong women, this is a go-to Comfort Read, a romp and a meditation on roots and belonging.
And not easy to review without spoilers.
And not easy to review without spoilers.
May 1, 2022
Feels incomplete but enjoyed what story there is.
February 2, 2025
Took me a while to finish but it was worth it! The first part is really unnecessary but sets up an excuse to tell the real story, which includes a nice alt, perhaps even viable version of herstory regarding the Celtic Goddess Bridget/Bride.
I appreciated the setting of a made up Scottish isle hosting an old monastery of nuns who worshipped Bride.
The story was about two lesbians without it being about oppression or overly romantic scenes. Although I suppose making love to a seaweed goddess counts as romance for some of us.
I appreciated the setting of a made up Scottish isle hosting an old monastery of nuns who worshipped Bride.
The story was about two lesbians without it being about oppression or overly romantic scenes. Although I suppose making love to a seaweed goddess counts as romance for some of us.
April 2, 2018
Is this a fantasy? I actually picked up this book thinking it would be a fantasy based on that blurb.
It is not.
But I still loved it. It features an artist, and an island, and yes, lesbians. The pacing I found a bit odd, but I enjoyed the language and the description of art.
It is not.
But I still loved it. It features an artist, and an island, and yes, lesbians. The pacing I found a bit odd, but I enjoyed the language and the description of art.
January 5, 2011
This was by far my favorite of my mainstream lesbian fiction stack. It also was the least mainstream, as it posits a offshoot of Christianity that worships Jesus's twin sister. I'm perfectly happy with lesbian nunneries happily writing bible fanfic, though.
I did not love the sort of weird cougar love interest, though. There were a lot of power dynamics there that were almost but not quite fully explored. A fun book overall, though, even if it tended a little far towards the lesbian-separatist side of things to totally suit me.
I did not love the sort of weird cougar love interest, though. There were a lot of power dynamics there that were almost but not quite fully explored. A fun book overall, though, even if it tended a little far towards the lesbian-separatist side of things to totally suit me.
July 27, 2011
A really lovely book. its a relaxing read. A lovely story set on a tiny island off the coast of Scotland. Full of very bright characters. A fight of us versus them. and apparently blarzay attitudes to same sex relationships. not sure i like the ending, but o ften dont cus i want books like this to never end.
November 27, 2016
'Starving' artist goes to a remote Scottish isle, is seduced by the Lady of the Manor (who may be a witch.) and ends up settling there. Amusingly written, interesting characters, and not much actual plot, arguably. I liked it tho.
September 7, 2008
Set on a remote Scottish island, an artist discovers herself through the pagan-goddess past. Hilarious and cool, Galford rules!
November 7, 2015
Marvelously, quirky fantasy along the lines of the 1980s film "Local Hero." One of the best novels around with fantasy elements and lesbian characters. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews