A Crofter's Tale

Set in Speyside in the mid-eighteenth century, A Crofter's Tale relates events that overtake four young people during the Jacobite uprising of 1745-1746. Robbie Buchanan, a brave and handsome young highlander, abandons his new wife Kirstie to fight for the rightful King, James Francis Stuart. He meets with powerful men during his adventures and is drawn into their political quarrels and the awful disaster that results at Culloden. His wife, Kirstie is forced to plead for her husband's life at the hands of Black Malcolm, her lecherous uncle and close friend of Butcher Cumberland, who pursues a wicked agenda of his own. Jeannie Sinclair, daughter of the local rector, is different from other girls. She is in love with her friend but denies her feelings and supports Robbie and Kirstie through a terrible ordeal. Meanwhile she is pursued relentlessly by local blacksmith Angus McDonald, who is dangerously obsessed with her. His jealousy leads to tragedy too but will Robbie, Kirstie and Jeannie salvage anything from the ashes of all their dreams? This Tale of the 45 is told from the dual perspectives of Lord George Murray and a group of ordinary young people who are caught up in the madness and the ensuing genocide inflicted on the highlands by Butcher Cumberland. It contains some graphic descriptions of war and 18th century life as well as an unusual romantic interest that will appeal to readers of lesbian romance.