The Water of Life (Uisge beatha)
by Daniel Marchildon
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Pub Date Jul 27 2015 | Archive Date Jul 09 2016
Description
Uisge beatha, Scottish Gaelic for ‘whisky’, is literally ‘the water of life’. However, it also frequently proves lethal.
Driven by a mysterious voice, Elizabeth Legrand plunges headlong into an insane project: opening a distillery in her small, isolated Canadian community in Georgian Bay. Using ancient reserves of Glen Dubh, a mythical Scotch thought lost to the world, she hopes to create a single-malt whisky better than anything distilled in Scotland. However, the only thing that could prove worse than failing to revive the Glen Dubh is if she succeeds.
The water of life, incarnated in the Fearmòr clan’s whisky for over five centuries, is tainted by the dramatic and sometimes fatal struggles of the distillers. It bends the will of those it touches: guiding them or condemning them to their fate.
This turbulent family saga spans two continents and several generations of three lineages, climaxing with the tragic arrival of the whisky in Lake Huron. The present-day descendants of the bloodlines are about to meet, and so will begin yet another tumultuous chapter in the odyssey of “the water of life”, mixing the captivating tale of Scotch whisky with the stories of the challenging Georgian Bay coastal life.
Advance Praise
“Daniel Marchildon’s novel stand outs by its originality, the quality of his writing and depth of his research. It rapidly draws the reader into a strange realm where the characters dream of achieving a life of happiness, peace, and love.”
Winner of the 2009 Émile-Ollivier literary prize, awarded by the Conseil supérieur de la langue française du Québec
“This book is a remarkable literary expedition that keeps you breathless up until the very last page … a must read—with a glass in hand.”
Yves Dubuc, CBON FM Radio-Canada website: 100 must read Canadian novels
“Quite a fictional story built on the real history of single malt. Surprising, entertaining, and well researched.”
Martine Nouet, Whisky Magazine (French edition)
“Daniel Marchildon knows how to distill life … His new book fabulously combines his two passions … He meshes a good story with a good History while recounting a turbulent family saga stretching across two continents …”
Paul-François Sylvestre, L’express de Toronto
“… a whisky story accessible to all … to be savoured very quickly! There’s no risk, as far as I can see, of being disappointed by the author’s knowledge of Scotch: he knows his stuff!”
The UP Berry whisky club blog
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781922200266 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Tracey B, Reviewer
A dark and stormy tale.. This was a very well-written and well- researched book. The story transitioned very well between the past and present, and was very descriptive. I could vividly see each location in which the story took place. I did not know much about the process of distilling whisky, but learned quite a bit from this book as well as being entertained by a great story. It made me want to give whisky another try; I am thinking maybe I didn't give it a fair chance the first time I tried it. The ending disappointed me a little, but it fit well within the story and was a realistic end.
Maggie M, Reviewer
Whisky- especially good Speyside malt whisky, being my favourite tipple I was instantly drawn to the title of this book. Spanning centuries it tells the story of Glean Dubh whisky and the people involved in its creation. It was a fascinating family saga with a strong theme running through the narrative. I think it has an appeal for many readers and think it well worth four stars.
Thanks to Netgallery for giving me the chance to read and review it.
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