Everything about this novel was breathtaking. The story follows John Ferguson as he’s shipwrecked on an Island north of mainland Scotland, where he was supposed to evict its last remaining tenet, Ivar. Set during the historic Highland Clearances, the novel explores the perspectives of two men on opposite sides of the conflict and the unique, quiet bond they form.
Language is a strong, central theme in Clear. In the author’s note she explains how Ivar speaks Norn, a dead language, historically spoken in Shetland (an archipelago 100 some miles northeast of Scotland). Ivar is one of the last speakers of this dialect, and knows no English or Scots due to his geographic isolation from the mainland. This creates a seemingly insurmountable barrier between Ivar and the English-speaking John Ferguson which is tenderly chipped away as Ivar teaches John Ferguson Norn while he guides him around the Island.
The third perspective, that of Mary Ferguson, gives the reader a deeper insight into John Ferguson’s nature and beliefs. There was a lot of reading between the lines that allowed the reader to piece together aspects of John Ferguson’s character through Mary Ferguson’s account. The subtlety of the writing was my favorite part of the novel. So much was left unwritten; the author was showing, rather than telling the reader what was going on.
The writing style and storytelling in this novel were stunning. All three of the main characters were so interesting and well written. I still have many questions and a lingering feeling in my chest after finishing this novel. I will definitely be reading it again some time in the future to fully emotionally and intellectually process it. Clear reflects everything I love about the historical fiction genre. I’ve learned so much about a devastating period in Scotland’s history through an unforgettable story and deeply human characters.