Following his bittersweet slacker debut novel ‘Three Craws’, Jame Yorkston has announced his second novel: The Book of the Gaels, described by musician and broadcaster Jarvis Cocker as ‘An unsentimental and unflinching miracle of remembrance’.
The Book of the Gaels tells the story of young Joseph and his brother Paul – living semi-neglected, grieving their mother, sheltering in the make-believe; until their struggling father – an aspiring poet – receives a letter with a summons to Dublin and the promise of publication. It offers a chink of light and the hope of rescue. But Dublin is a long, wet and hungry way from West Cork, especially when you have no money – just the clothes they stand up in, and a battered suitcase containing one clean shirt and a sheaf of flimsy typewritten pages.
In simple, beautiful, lyrical prose, Yorkston’s novel takes us on an almost anti-roadtrip, as seen through the eyes of a brave and resourceful but poor and frightened child. It tells of the emptying, paralysing pain of grief and loss, tempered only by the hope of rescue and the redemption of parental love. It also tells of the boy’s father Fraser’s love for his children’s dead mother, as hidden within the battered suitcase is Fraser’s heart-breaking collection of poems – The Book of the Gaels.
Publisher Ion Mills acquired World English Language rights from Jim Gill at United Agents. Mills says: ‘As a longtime admirer of James’ music and fan of his debut novel Three Craws, I am delighted to be publishing James’ second novel. He has an astonishing ear for storytelling and The Book of the Gaels is suffused with melodious, vivid prose. The heartbreaking story of Joseph and Paul and their father Fraser will remain with you long after you close the last page.’
Yorkston says: ‘This is it, this is The Book of The Gaels, a story that’s been with me for years… It took me a while to write it down, then a while longer to send it out into the world. I’m very pleased it was welcomed so warmly by Oldcastle, and of their help passing on the story of Joseph and Paul; twa brave wee lads.’
The limited tour edition (available online and via shows), is signed and features a cover by Olga Krasanova (see above), who also did the Yorkston / Thorne / Khan ‘Navarasa : Nine Emotions‘ cover. There will also be a “trade” edition of The Book of the Gaels, with a cover by Jonny Hannah (who did the ‘Route to the Harmonium‘ cover). That edition comes out in September and will be available in book shops.
Turnaround UK will be distributing The Book of the Gaels.
For more information please visit https://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk/shop/clothing/book-of-gaels/
Yorkston Thorne and Khan are on tour in May/June including London’s Kings Place and Orkney Folk Festival, see details below:
Yorkston Thorne Khan Tour Dates
May 2022 – Yorkston Thorne Khan
Wednesday 18th London Kings Place
Thursday 19th Liverpool Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Friday 20th Bury – The Met
Saturday 21st Stirling The Tolbooth
Sunday 22nd Edinburgh Summerhall
Tuesday 24th St Monans Futtle
Wednesday 25th Inverness Eden Court
Thursday 26th Stromness The Visit
Friday 27th Sunday 29th Stromness Orkney Folk Festival
June 2022 – Yorkston Thorne Khan
Wednesday 1st New Galloway CatStrand
Thursday 2nd Cumbernauld Cumbernauld Theatre
Friday 3rd Glasgow Baljaffray Parish Church
Saturday 4th Crieff Strathearn Arts
Wednesday 8th Sheffield The Greystones
Friday 10th Selby Selby Town Hall