Awards

• Long-listed for Highland Book Prize 2023
• Short-listed for Bookmark Book Festival Book of the Year 2024

Overview

The Isle of Iona, 825. In a bloody, brutal raid, Abbot Blathmac is slain on the steps of his monastery for refusing to give away the location of the sacred relics of St Columba, the missionary who first brought Christianity to Scotland. Following a night of rampage and mayhem, one Viking wakes up the next morning to find himself alone, hungover, and abandoned by his crew mates. He can't swim, there are no boats, and the only surviving monk on the island has taken his sword. With only his wits, he must survive long enough not only to rejoin his Viking comrades, but also to find the location of the elusive relics that brought him here in the first place. Rooted in the real history of Iona and its early monks, Columba's Bones is an utterly unique and thrilling read, exploring the clash of early Christianity and paganism, and expanding into a sharp, witty meditation on philosophy, redemption, shame, violence, love, transcendence and reality. 'Stupendously earthy, laugh out loud funny in places, visceral writing.' — Sally Magnusson 'One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation.’ — Daily Telegraph

Full Product Details

9781846976261

Table of Contents

Reviews

'As violent as a Tarantino movie… echoes of the Norse Sagas in all their ferocious and poetic intensity while at the same time, he captures the spirit of Celtic Christianity and the beauties of the Celtic Church. The narrative is both light and rapid... evokes memories of that great Orcadian writer George Mackay Brown' -- Allan Massie, * The Scotsman * '[Greig] has succeeded brilliantly. What an amazing first novel' * Ullapool News * 'One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation' * Daily Telegraph *  'transforms the events surrounding early Christianity's encounter with paganism into a witty thriller' * The Bookseller * 'Stupendously earthy, laugh out loud funny in places, visceral writing' -- Sally Magnusson 'Was it enjoyable? Was it funny? Did it make me feel stuff? Absolutely, riotously, and with ease. I laughed, I cried, I pondered... I also wanted to learn' -- Alex Woolston-Rudolph * Scottish Literature Society of the University of Glasgow * 'The best novel I've read in some considerable time. They say that good things come in small packages and if you want a perfect demonstration of that, then look no further... a highly accomplished and polished novel that displays a real sureness of touch on the part of its author... This really is a remarkable book' * Undiscovered Scotland * 'Thrilling events in an authentic setting with visually stunning scenes make Greig’s debut novel – based on his own 2022 walking adventure – unlikely to be his last' * Inverness Courier, Star Book * 'Read Columba's Bones by David Greig in 1 sitting and hope he writes more novels and turns this into a play, great characters and story re an old Viking, middle age woman and young monk that crafts bawdy humour with clash of beliefs in 9th century Scotland. Have always wanted to visit Iona, now I must' -- Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home affairs

'As violent as a Tarantino movie… echoes of the Norse Sagas in all their ferocious and poetic intensity while at the same time, he captures the spirit of Celtic Christianity and the beauties of the Celtic Church. The narrative is both light and rapid... evokes memories of that great Orcadian writer George Mackay Brown' -- Allan Massie, * The Scotsman * '[Greig] has succeeded brilliantly. What an amazing first novel' * Ullapool News * 'One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation' * Daily Telegraph *  'transforms the events surrounding early Christianity's encounter with paganism into a witty thriller' * The Bookseller * 'Stupendously earthy, laugh out loud funny in places, visceral writing' -- Sally Magnusson 'Was it enjoyable? Was it funny? Did it make me feel stuff? Absolutely, riotously, and with ease. I laughed, I cried, I pondered... I also wanted to learn' -- Alex Woolston-Rudolph * Scottish Literature Society of the University of Glasgow * 'The best novel I've read in some considerable time. They say that good things come in small packages and if you want a perfect demonstration of that, then look no further... a highly accomplished and polished novel that displays a real sureness of touch on the part of its author... This really is a remarkable book' * Undiscovered Scotland * 'Thrilling events in an authentic setting with visually stunning scenes make Greig’s debut novel – based on his own 2022 walking adventure – unlikely to be his last' * Inverness Courier, Star Book * 'Read Columba's Bones by David Greig in 1 sitting and hope he writes more novels and turns this into a play, great characters and story re an old Viking, middle age woman and young monk that crafts bawdy humour with clash of beliefs in 9th century Scotland. Have always wanted to visit Iona, now I must' -- Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home affairs 'a well-researched, engaging fiction which contemplates a fascinating culture clash between Nordic paganism and Christianity, both of which boast devout adherents. -- Mark Brown * The National * 'Beautifully written and drawn, its characters are credible and its plot is clever' -- Roger Hutchinson * West Highland Free Press *

'As violent as a Tarantino movie… echoes of the Norse Sagas in all their ferocious and poetic intensity while at the same time, he captures the spirit of Celtic Christianity and the beauties of the Celtic Church. The narrative is both light and rapid... evokes memories of that great Orcadian writer George Mackay Brown' -- Allan Massie, * The Scotsman * '[Greig] has succeeded brilliantly. What an amazing first novel' * Ullapool News * 'One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation' * Daily Telegraph *  'transforms the events surrounding early Christianity's encounter with paganism into a witty thriller' * The Bookseller * 'Stupendously earthy, laugh out loud funny in places, visceral writing' -- Sally Magnusson 'Was it enjoyable? Was it funny? Did it make me feel stuff? Absolutely, riotously, and with ease. I laughed, I cried, I pondered... I also wanted to learn' -- Alex Woolston-Rudolph * Scottish Literature Society of the University of Glasgow * 'The best novel I've read in some considerable time. They say that good things come in small packages and if you want a perfect demonstration of that, then look no further... a highly accomplished and polished novel that displays a real sureness of touch on the part of its author... This really is a remarkable book' * Undiscovered Scotland * 'Thrilling events in an authentic setting with visually stunning scenes make Greig’s debut novel – based on his own 2022 walking adventure – unlikely to be his last' * Inverness Courier, Star Book * 'Read Columba's Bones by David Greig in 1 sitting and hope he writes more novels and turns this into a play, great characters and story re an old Viking, middle age woman and young monk that crafts bawdy humour with clash of beliefs in 9th century Scotland. Have always wanted to visit Iona, now I must' -- Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home affairs 'a well-researched, engaging fiction which contemplates a fascinating culture clash between Nordic paganism and Christianity, both of which boast devout adherents. -- Mark Brown * The National *

'[Greig] has succeeded brilliantly. What an amazing first novel' * Ullapool News * 'One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation' * Daily Telegraph *  'transforms the events surrounding early Christianity's encounter with paganism into a witty thriller' * The Bookseller * 'Stupendously earthy, laugh out loud funny in places, visceral writing' -- Sally Magnusson

'One of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation' * Daily Telegraph *

Author Information

David Greig is a Scottish playwright who studied Drama and English at Bristol University. Since setting up the Suspect Culture theatre company in the 1990s, his plays have been performed widely in Scotland and around the world, including Midsummer, The Events, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Local Hero, and The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. He is currently the Artistic Director at Edinburgh's Lyceum Theatre. Columba's Bones is his first book.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available