Title: And The Hills Replied
Author: Sparhawk Hutchins
Publisher: WP Lighthouse
ISBN: 979-8895184363
Pages: 285
Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy
Reviewer: Lee Brown
Hollywood Book Reviews
And The Hills Replied is a book which will please both fantasy fans and lovers of historical fiction. It’s an intoxicating and often surprising read that takes us away from the present day and into the long-distant past. The novel opens with a first-person narration from the American author who places himself into the story. He speaks of his childhood and the surprising revelation from his mother that his ancestral line stems all the way back to Scottish royalty. One such royal, he discovers, was Elizabeth de Burgh, the Queen consort of Robert the Bruce who tragically died at the age of 38 after falling from her horse.
Following the prologue, it’s Elizabeth who takes centre-stage in the book, though what we read is no simple history lesson about her life and untimely demise. Hutchins’ account of the former Queen of Scotland veers from historical truth as he imagines the legendary queen on a series of time-travelling adventures wherein she encounters various real-life figures. In one of the early chapters, for example, she meets the Biblical figure of Moses when she inexplicably finds herself in Old Testament-era Egypt.
Of course, Queen Elizabeth didn’t really travel back through history. But Hutchins’ forays into the fantastical serve as a plot device to explore his own fascination with his ancestral past, as well as events that tie into Scottish mythology, most notably the supposed origins of the Stone of Destiny (an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy, also known as the Stone of Scone) which has been famously used at coronation events up to the present day.
Those with an interest in the legendary stone and Scottish history in general will be particularly entranced by Hutchins’ book, as it’s an educational read, despite the frequent sojourns into the realms of fantasy. Famous historical characters are brought vividly to life as the author moves from era to era, with comprehensive descriptions of time and place that will transport you back into the past. While not all of what we read can be guaranteed as truth, the book still maintains some level of historical accuracy.
And The Hills Replied is an entertaining and often fascinating novel, rich in detail in its descriptions of the places and people of Scotland’s history. Hutchins’ ability to bring the past to life is impressive, giving this book special resonance to those who share his interests in Scottish mythology and historical fact. It’s an easy but thought-provoking read which might give you cause to research both Scotland’s past and your own genealogy.