The Ninth Child
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The Ninth Child
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By:
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Sally Magnusson
About this listen
A spell-binding novel combining Scottish folklore with hidden history, by the Sunday Times best-selling author Sally Magnusson.
Loch Katrine waterworks, 1856. A Highland wilderness fast becoming an industrial wasteland. No place for a lady.
Isabel Aird is aghast when her husband is appointed doctor to an extraordinary waterworks being built miles from the city. But Isabel, denied the motherhood role that is expected of her by a succession of miscarriages, finds unexpected consolations in a place where she can feel the presence of her unborn children and begin to work out what her life in Victorian society is for.
The hills echo with the gunpowder blasts of hundreds of navvies tunnelling day and night to bring clean water to diseased Glasgow 30 miles away - digging so deep that there are those who worry they are disturbing the land of faery itself. Here, just inside the Highland line, the membrane between the modern world and the ancient unseen places is very thin.
With new life quickening within her again, Isabel can only wait. But a darker presence has also emerged from the gunpowder smoke. And he is waiting, too.
Inspired by the mysterious death of the 17th-century minister Robert Kirke and set in a pivotal era two centuries later when engineering innovation flourished but women did not, The Ninth Child blends folklore with historical realism in a spell-binding narrative.
©2020 Sally Magnusson (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton LtdListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"I'm hooked.... It's wonderful. One never messes with the faeries." (Melanie Reid, The Times)
"Few books have this impact on me." (Michelle Gallen, Big Girl Small Town)
What listeners say about The Ninth Child
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jean Mc
- 21-05-20
Fact and folklore beautifully blended.
I loved this book historically accurate and practical but strangely magical, haunting and beautifully narrated by the cast.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- FJE BALL
- 10-05-20
Enchanting
A beautiful, enchanting story expertly told by wonderful narrators. I love Sally Magnusson’s work. It always keeps me enthralled til the very last word.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Boulton64
- 23-03-23
Heading
Excellent all round. Impossible to put down. Invoked beauty of Scotland and educated 're public health
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Elaine Gribben
- 09-09-23
A great listen!
I stumbled upon this book whilst looking for something else but I really enjoyed listening to it. The story was very well written, full of great characters, and was a lovely blend of historical fact and folklore. Each one of the narrators was excellent and brought life to their own particular characters. I will now look for more of Sally's books.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mhairi Gilchrist
- 07-10-22
Enchanting as Fairies
Wonderful story told in an enchanting way through the voices of the main protagonists. Isabella Aird, Kirsty McEarchern and the infamous Robert Kirk share their stories with us via the back drop of Victorian Glasgow and the Highlands. Isabella's husband Alexander is a devoted husband but is also devoted to his medicine and takes a job administering to the navvies and workers who are digging the new water system that will bring clean water to Glasgow. Robert Kirk appears after the first explosions for the new water works system are made, a strange dirty unsettling fellow. Isabella devastated as she loses baby after baby, finds comfort walking around the area near her new home called Faerie Knoll and is soon acquainted with the strange but interesting Robert Kirk. Kirsty McEarchern, wife to one of the Gaelic Navvies, is taken on as a ladies maid to Isabella , and tries persistently to warn Isabella of the danger she is in. An utterly enchanting and engrossing story well told
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- DB
- 11-01-21
Really enjoyed this
Well written, very clear and imaginative blending of history, public health initiatives and more and Highland folklore. The audio performances were superb.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 13-08-21
Wonderful
fascinating characters brought to life by excellent narration. First audio book to make me cry!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- JulieGibbons
- 19-05-20
Excellent production - an elegant tale
Tipping my hat to the narrators + the production first and foremost.
This is a tale worth the telling and Sally Magnusson continues to appeal with her latest novel of intrigue.
Kirsty was my favourite character and was so wonderfully brought to life in this audio version, as were all of the characters.
Combining folklore and tradition, the tale also retells a historical event and gives good insight into the social conditions and inequalities of mid 19th century Scotland - so many parallels with today, truth be told.
I was disappointed that it had to end - it was so enjoyable.
(My only niggle is to say I’d happily have done without the first person contribution of the Prince in favour of time given over to any of the other characters. A plot intrigue, I understand, but not necessary to my mind. Haven’t we enough written about the monarchy?)
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- judi painter
- 23-01-23
Amazing
What a wonderful book, I never wanted it to end, such atmosphere, hope to visit all the places mentioned in the near future
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Shelagh
- 24-04-20
Love, foreboding & that's just me!
I found the story enthralling, love, misunderstanding, tragedy, grief; like life itself, all came . . .
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