Greenvoe
Greenvoe by George Mackay Brown, published by Polygon in 2004, is a work of fiction that explores the lives of a close-knit community on the Orcadian island of Hellya. This edition spans 243 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers around the impact of Operation Black Star, which threatens the island’s traditional way of life, introducing a range of characters including The Skarf, Ivan Westray, and Alice Voar, who embody the struggles and resilience of the islanders.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of life in Greenvoe, where the interplay of prose and poetry vividly illustrates the community’s challenges and triumphs. As the story unfolds, the islanders confront the impending changes brought by external forces, ultimately leading to a celebration of renewal despite the turmoil. The themes of community, resilience, and the connection to place are woven throughout the narrative, offering insight into the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
Greenvoe, the tight-knit community on the Orcadian island of Hellya, has existed unchanged for generations, but Operation Black Star requires the island for unspecified purposes and threatens the islanders’ way of life. A whole host of characters – The Skarf, failed fishermen and Marxist historian; Ivan Westray, boatman and dallier; pious creeler Samuel Whaness; drunken fishermen Bert Kerston; earth-mother Alice Voar, and meths-drinker Timmy Folster – are vividly brought to life in this sparkling mixture of prose and poetry.
In the end Operation Black Star fails, but not before it has ruined the island; but the book ends on a note of hope as the islanders return to celebrate the ritual rebirth of Hellya.
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