What do you think?
Rate this book
Quarry
In the shadow of the Cumbrian hills, a way of life is fading...
In the rugged beauty of north-west Britain around five thousand years ago, meet Bran, a master stone-crafter. He is a key member of the skilled group of workers in The Valley, where the legendary Langdale axes are extracted from the native rock, and then lovingly shaped and prepared. But change is stirring in the land.
In the nearby settlement of Dolgolvan, farmers are carving out a new world, one of settled fields and fixed boundaries. Bran finds himself caught between loyalty to his people's traditions, and the inevitability of progress. Through his eyes, witness the delicate balance of cooperation and conflict, the struggle to adapt, and the quiet beauty of the natural world — its plants, animals, and birds — that sustains them all.
With a keen eye for detail and a deep reverence for the humanity of the past, Quarry is a poignant exploration of a pivotal moment in human history, where the old ways clash with the new, and the land itself bears witness to the dawn of a different age.
In the rugged beauty of north-west Britain around five thousand years ago, meet Bran, a master stone-crafter. He is a key member of the skilled group of workers in The Valley, where the legendary Langdale axes are extracted from the native rock, and then lovingly shaped and prepared. But change is stirring in the land.
In the nearby settlement of Dolgolvan, farmers are carving out a new world, one of settled fields and fixed boundaries. Bran finds himself caught between loyalty to his people's traditions, and the inevitability of progress. Through his eyes, witness the delicate balance of cooperation and conflict, the struggle to adapt, and the quiet beauty of the natural world — its plants, animals, and birds — that sustains them all.
With a keen eye for detail and a deep reverence for the humanity of the past, Quarry is a poignant exploration of a pivotal moment in human history, where the old ways clash with the new, and the land itself bears witness to the dawn of a different age.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2025
About the author
Richard Abbott
11 books56 followersRichard Abbott writes both historical and speculative fiction. The Ancient Trackways and Kephrath series of books explore the world of the past. Half Sick of Shadows and the Far from the Spaceports series are set in speculative and science fiction worlds.
The Ancient Trackways immerses you in the Cumbria of the late Stone Age, where axe-making artisans are facing challenges to their ancestral way of life.
Half Sick of Shadows is a retelling and metamorphosis of the Arthurian tale of The Lady of Shalott. The book was awarded an IndieBrag medallion in December 2017.
The Far from the Spaceports series is set in a near-future solar system where human-AI partnerships are common.
The Kephrath books take the reader to the ancient near East, at the end of the Bronze Age, when differing groups and factions struggle for survival and vie for dominance.
Richard lives and works in Cumbria, England, as part of a family business. When not writing words or computer code, he enjoys spending time with family, walking, and wildlife, ideally combining all three pursuits in the English Lake District.
The Ancient Trackways immerses you in the Cumbria of the late Stone Age, where axe-making artisans are facing challenges to their ancestral way of life.
Half Sick of Shadows is a retelling and metamorphosis of the Arthurian tale of The Lady of Shalott. The book was awarded an IndieBrag medallion in December 2017.
The Far from the Spaceports series is set in a near-future solar system where human-AI partnerships are common.
The Kephrath books take the reader to the ancient near East, at the end of the Bronze Age, when differing groups and factions struggle for survival and vie for dominance.
Richard lives and works in Cumbria, England, as part of a family business. When not writing words or computer code, he enjoys spending time with family, walking, and wildlife, ideally combining all three pursuits in the English Lake District.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 29, 2025
Quarry by Richard Abbott is a beautifully immersive and finely detailed historical novel set in the rugged landscapes of northwest Britain nearly five thousand years ago. Through the eyes of Bran, a master stone crafter, Abbott brings to life the world of the famed Langdale axe makers skilled artisans whose work shaped both culture and survival during this pivotal era.
The novel captures the tension between two worlds: the ancient traditions of wandering craftsmen and the rising influence of settled farmers whose fields and boundaries mark the early steps toward a new civilization. Abbott’s descriptions of daily life, craftsmanship, community, and the surrounding natural world are vivid and deeply researched, giving readers a rare insight into a transformative moment in human history.
Thoughtful, evocative, and rich in atmosphere, Quarry is a moving exploration of identity, change, and the quiet resilience of the people who lived at the crossroads of the old and the new.
The novel captures the tension between two worlds: the ancient traditions of wandering craftsmen and the rising influence of settled farmers whose fields and boundaries mark the early steps toward a new civilization. Abbott’s descriptions of daily life, craftsmanship, community, and the surrounding natural world are vivid and deeply researched, giving readers a rare insight into a transformative moment in human history.
Thoughtful, evocative, and rich in atmosphere, Quarry is a moving exploration of identity, change, and the quiet resilience of the people who lived at the crossroads of the old and the new.
January 23, 2026
This feels quietly powerful. The tension between tradition and change is handled with real sensitivity, and Bran comes across as a deeply human figure rather than a distant historical idea. The setting feels alive, almost watchful, and there’s a gentle sadness running through it that lingers.
July 4, 2025
I am the author so am not leaving a review
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews