Eric Linklater (1899–1974)

Linklater is described in wiki as a Welsh-born Scottish poet, fiction writer, military historian and travel writer. His most famous book is probably The Wind on the Moon which is a children's fantasy novel. Laxdale Hall was published in 1951 and it was made into a film of the same name; I have not seen it, but imagine it as a British made 'b' movie following on the coat tails of Whiskey Galore, however looking at the cast list: Ronald Squire, Kathleen Ryan, Raymond Huntley, Sebastian Shaw and Fulton Mackay I am thinking it might have had pretensions of better things.

The novel is very much of its time. An isolated Scottish village on the west coast is preparing to put on an amateur production of a play by Euripides. The villagers have been canvassing their MP in London for money to build a new road and an improved docking facility and are thrilled to learn of the arrival of a delegation from London. They have been refusing to pay their road tax because they claim they have not got a road on which they can safely drive their cars. The General who owns Laxdale Hall is leading the protest group and his large house is the only suitable accommodation for the delegation. A criminal group from Glasgow have targeted the salmon river running by Laxdale hall for a poaching expedition. The villagers must persuade the London delegation they are worthy of monetary support, fight off the criminal gang and make a success of a controversial play.

Linklater's book never quite hits the right note, not quite funny enough, not serious enough about the problems facing a remote highland village and underestimates the problems of putting on such a play. The General tries to be all things to all men while various other characters become caricatures of half crazy people living in a remote village that still have the wit to outfox a criminal gang and dupe a bunch of stuffed shirts from London. Linklater writes some excellent prose describing the countryside and the beating of the criminal gang is carried out like a military exercise, however there are still fifty pages to go, when most of the issues have been resolved and there is only the play left to bring the story to a climax that unfortunately has already been largely resolved. The book is entertaining enough and the colourful characters have their moments, but it all seems so old fashioned; and not in a good way, to be reading this now. 3 stars.… (meer)