Carys Davies’ latest novel made me reflect on her short story The Quiet, which debuted in the Stinging Fly in 2012 and later became the leading tale in her acclaimed collection – The Redemption of Galen Pike. The story of The Quiet revolves around three characters living in an historical, isolated place. The curious and seemingly menacing presence of one of these characters, Henry Fowler, imparts a heavy tension throughout the narrative. A tension so profound, the reader is left breathless at the end.
Davies’ natural skill of intertwining tension and drama is evident throughout her works. Her stories often downplay dramatic crescendos to highlight subtle moments which profoundly alter the trajectory of lives. Her books so far radiate elegance, being quick reads but with weighty emotional charges – characteristic of Claire Keegan’s style. Her first work, West (2018), a poignant tale set in frontier America, was awarded the Wales Book of the Year Fiction prize, came second in the Society of Author’s McKitterick Prize race and was a contender for the Rathbones Folio Prize.
Her third novel, set in an imaginary Scottish island past the Shetlands in 1843, presents another interesting canvas. The year was marked by the Great Disruption in the Scottish Church – when a multitude of clergy members, unimpressed with a system conferring undue power to landowners, abandoned their posts to form the Free Church. Concurrently during this period, Scotland was amidst the Clearances – local rural renters were ousted from their homes to pave way for crops, cattle and sheep.
In her book Clear, the two historical events intersect when John Ferguson, a hard-up, newly-married church minister from Edinburgh, accepts a lucrative job of evicting the sole dweller of a distant island on behalf of a landowner. The task is challenging not simply because the island is remote, but because conveying the message to Ivar, the non-English speaking tenant, proves difficult. In her acknowledgment, Davies expresses gratitude to Jakob Jakobsen’s Etymology Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland, her source of inspiration.
The book Clear by Carys Davis tells a tale of hope in the face of harsh mass dispossession on an invented Scottish island.
Irish authors Anne Enright, Claire Kilroy, and Megan Nolan are among those recognised on the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist. Their love for the written word is evident in the distinct clarity and detail of their works, like the powerful account of characters Ivar and John’s struggle to interact with each other.
In the tale, the protagonist Ferguson arrives on an island with an eviction deed, basic supplies, a weapon, and some crudely translated phrases, making a grand entrance in a fishing trawler after enduring an unpleasant sea journey, contributing to a dramatic beginning. This opening is masterfully undermined by Davies by switching to Ivar’s reflective narration, depicting his routine life, slowing down proceedings.
Davies takes us on a journey through Ivar’s world, detailing how he repairs his storm-torn roof with fresh turf and straw, his satisfaction and serenity derived from the laborious task visible. The act of routine work, the climbing up and down, the movement across muddy ground, and the occasional stopping to hone his knife are all effectively depicted.
Revealing more about the storyline at this point may impact the joy derived from the meticulously built narrative featuring three dynamic characters – Ivar, John, and his wife Mary. Their decisions and actions instigate a series of events with significant implications. An all-knowing teller moves between the characters, adeptly weaving their individual stories. Mary notes later in the narrative about decision-making being about predicting the future, emphasising how one inevitably has to make a decision even if the future is unclear.
Davies’ skilful creation of the setting is consistently apparent, featuring turbulent seas, dewy coastlines, Ivar’s humble dwelling, and the island’s wildlife. His vivid descriptions leave enduring impressions on the readers, immersing them in Ivar’s world.
The affection she holds for linguistics is evident in her lucid writing style and significantly in the narrative involving Ivar and John striving to converse with one another. The Norn language elements incorporated in the tale add to its plausible aspect, avoiding any impression of being superficial. At its heart, Clear narrates the extraordinary journey of individuals striving to comprehend the complexities of each other’s realities. Despite the savage mass displacements evoking contemporary analogies, Davies engages with us by proposing a narrative that’s encouraging and compassionate.