Stone Lands
A Journey of Darkness and Light through Britain’s Ancient Places
Finding comfort, meaning, and timeless human connection in Britain’s ancient megaliths, Fiona Robertson’s luminous memoir Stone Lands explores the inner reaches of grief and how, even when confronting the inevitability of loss and death, she chose to love.
Contemplating dualities and contrasts inherent in human life, the book blends personal memories with elements of history, folklore, archaeology, and travel writing. Its is a sensitive, probing search for meaning, illuminating the wonder and resilience of the human spirit. Curious, empathetic observations of human frailty arise as Robertson embraces her vulnerability. She also expresses reverence for Britain’s standing stones, which withstood the ravages of nature and the passing of millennia, watching as civilizations rose and fell.
Detailed descriptions of each ancient site exist alongside Robertson’s emotive vignettes about passing through them, with sonorous descriptions of the “luminous russets, garnets, and golds of bracken, gorse, and grass glow warm and rich, like stained glass.” The lively scenes of her two small children running and playing among the megaliths are immersive too. Also evocative are the images of her husband, a climbing and bird-watching enthusiast who enjoyed the outdoors. Elsewhere, Robertson writes about her encounters with local cattle, who were less than happy to have humans invading their territory.
Respect is paid to the ancient people who raised the megaliths and the anonymous people who, across the centuries, cared for them and found their spirits renewed in their presence. And while the book laments the carelessness of others when it comes to encountering sacred spaces, it also celebrates how the landmarks endure. Indeed, throughout the book, they become a comforting metaphor for all that is eternal in the human spirit.
Stone Lands is an eloquent, moving memoir about love, loss, and healing.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
