The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter
The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter, published in 2022, is Christine's second novel. It was published by Luath Press and is written in both English and Shetlandic.
A fictionalised true story set in Waas, Shetland in the 1770s, it tells of the unexpected arrival in October of a shipload of poor, storm-struck Caithness emigrants bound for North Carolina. Life in Waas, a poor crofting-fishing community - and Mary's life in particular - is about to take a dramatic turn.
There are parallels with today's migrations: people trying to escape, not just poverty, but lives dominated by small, powerful elites; and finding themselves washed up on shores, at the mercy of strangers whose culture and tongue are unfamiliar.
Purchase the book
The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter can be purchased directly from the publisher, Luath Press or from bookshops.
Reviews
- "...a story which will appeal to both Shetlandic speakers and others"Linda Riddell, Shetland Family History Society, Coontin Kin, Hairst 2022
- "the dialog is a place where truth and pleasure meet"Jeff Smith, Cincinnati, USA, June 2023
- "De Luca's book is something of a love letter to her home village of Waas, one we are all invited to read and take into our hearts"Jordan Ogg, Promote Shetland, October 2022