The Testament of Gideon Mack - Softcover

Robertson, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 014102335X ISBN 13: 9780141023359

Publisher: Penguin, 2007

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review:

Overwhelmingly compassionate and thought-provoking . . . In the hands of great writers the unlikeliest stories are generally the most rewarding (Irvine Welsh The Guardian)

Robertson is a true descendant of James Hogg – this is a superb piece of Scottish Gothic (The Times)

A rich novel of ideas about faith, Scotland and the ways in which fictions shape our lives (Sunday Telegraph)

Artful and lyrical . . . you are under the influence of a master storyteller . . . this book promises to become a Scottish masterpiece (Sunday Herald)

About the Author:

James Robertson is the author of The Fanatic, Joseph Knight, The Testament of Gideon Mack, And the Land Lay Still, and The Professor of Truth. Hamish Hamilton published his most recent novel, To Be Continued. Joseph Knight won the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year, The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize, and And the Land Lay Still won the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year. Robertson is also the author of four short story collections, most recently 365: Stories, five poetry collections and numerous children's books written in English and Scots. He runs the independent publishing house Kettillonia, and he is co-founder and general editor of the Scots language imprint Itchy Coo, which produces books in Scots for children and young adults.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 014102335X
• ISBN 13: 9780141023359
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400