The Book of I
by David Greig
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Pub Date Sep 09 2025 | Archive Date Sep 09 2025
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Description
A brilliant Scottish debut, shortlisted for the Highland Book Prize and the Bookmark Book Festival Book of the Year.
The year is 825 CE. In the aftermath of a vicious attack by raiders from the north, an unlikely trio finds themselves the lone survivors on a remote Scottish isle. Still breathing are young Brother Martin, the only resident of the local monastery to escape martyrdom; Una, a beekeeper and mead maker who has been relieved of her violent husband during the slaughter; and Grimur, an aging Norseman who claws his way out of the hasty grave his fellow raiders left him in, thinking him dead.
As the seasons pass in this wild and lonely setting, their inherent distrust of each other melts into a complex meditation on the distances and bonds between them. Told with humor and alive with sharply exquisite dialogue, David Greig deftly lifts the curtain between our world and the past. The Book of I is an entirely unique novel that serves as a philosophical commentary on guilt and redemption, but also humanity, love, and the things we choose to believe in.
A Note From the Publisher
- Fans of atmospheric historical fiction, literary fiction, philosophy, and humorous introspection
- Readers who enjoy unconventional friendships between very different people
- Fans of historical fiction that reduces the distance from past to present
- People who enjoy authors like Carys Davies, Mark Haddon, Lauren Groff, James Everett, Samantha Harvey
- Readers interested in themes of reevaluated belief and identity, as well as the desire to not only survive, but belong
- Books like Matrix by Lauren Groff, North Woods by Daniel Mason, Playground by Richard Powers, Good Omens by Terry Pratchett; The Darkland Tales Series.
KEY SELLING POINTS
- Debut novel by a fresh Scottish voice; David Greig is a successful playwright and this book was shortlisted for the Highland Book Prize and the Bookmark Book Festival Book of the Year
- Seamlessly blends a very real historical place (the isle of Iona and the monastery that was once there) with fiction, in a voice that wields humor, horror, and heart equally.
- A complex commentary on philosophy, spirituality, and humanity as a whole.
- A relatively short novel with expert dialogue
Advance Praise
“[The Book of I] is written with a vividness that reduces the distance between AD825 and our time to what feels like a thin curtain – a curtain not unlike the one David Greig’s characters are tugging at, hoping to get a glimpse of the mysteries.”—Times Literary Supplement
“This is a jewel of a book, sparkling like the seas around the island. Each word vivifies the island, its natural life, and the inner lives of its inhabitants... The humor renders characters relatable, highlighting issues we all recognize.”—Historical Novel Society
“An utterly unique and thrilling read.”—Books from Scotland
“A brilliantly funny and visceral first novel... There are distinct echoes of George Mackay Brown but Greig has always been an original. [The Book of I] is a brilliant start to his career in prose.”—Cameron Wyllie, Author of Is There a Pigeon in the Room
“A surprisingly humorous take on a Viking massacre on the island [of Iona], the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland... spans themes of love, death and faith while unpacking the brutality of the mythologised Norsemen with comedy and romance.”—Scotland on Sunday
Marketing Plan
Marketing & Publicity
- Print & e-galleys available
- National and regional media
Marketing & Publicity
- Print & e-galleys available
- National and regional media
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9798889661276 |
| PRICE | $24.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 160 |
