Sunset Song. One if the finest Scottish novels ever writtens

[SammyScrounge]

BBC 4 tonight 9pm. The first three parts of the adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's lyrical novel set around the disturbance brought to a farming community in the north of Scotland by the First World War. Through the eyes of the heroine, Chrissie, we see the upheaval and conflicts which emerge when the war breaks out.

Thank you! It’s an incredible trilogy. I remember going around the Howe of the Mearns after reading the books just to try and absorb how Chris Guthrie felt. It is such a hauntingly beautiful part of Scotland. There was a small museum dedicated to the author also an inn which had photos of the cast in action (1971 adaptation). An old graveyard had a huge number of people who had lived 90 years old and over, many over 100 and is final resting place of Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

Is this the original one with Vivien Heilbron or a newer adaptation?

Oh thanks I hadn't noticed it was on tonight. Loved reading Sunset Song in Higher English at school.

Ooh I love Sunset Song! Thank you for this.

Thanks for highlighting this @SammyScrounge , I've added it to my iPlayer watchlist.
I read the book 4 decades ago and it's stayed with me ever since.

Just watched Clay, Smeddum and Greenden, a Play For Today, also based on stories by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. It's available on iPlayer till Friday.

It's the original! Wonderful performance from Heilbron!

I didn't notice that. I'll have a look, thanks.

I remember reading 'Smeddum' at school and realising that Grassic Gibbon was the only male I had read to date to write women well. His female characters were so real.

I think I need to reread A Scots Quair now!

Just bought the trilogy for £1.99 on Kindle! Looking forward to reaquainting myself with "roaring and greeting" and "Don't blether!"

I had.a piece of extraordinary luck.just after Christmas @3beesinmybonnet I.was glancing at Tesco"s library for charity : any book you want for £1. There I saw A Scots Quairfor £1. Mint condition. I thought it had never even been opened as the spine of the book had no creases. I have only read 2 volumes - the third awaits me!

We've been enjoying this a lot. We're 4 episodes in on iPlayer. I'd not seen it before nor read the book but I'm from the north east of Scotland and my mum grew up on a Croft in moray the 1930s so a similar set up. It was her favourite book and although she grew up in a very happy (and large) family I know times were hard for them. Our vocabulary has been peppered with coarse quines, loons and tinks since we started watching :-)
Some really strong performances and a beautiful setting.

It’s wonderful isn’t it? I’ve not read the book, just seen the first series. Incredible film making, the music is a bit intrusive but the pace, the dialogue all feel very undated.

@Lamelie Great as the tv version is , I can recommend the book as even greater. It is lyrical. You can fall to dreaming over it.

I loved the sound of these Scottish words too!

I'm loving watching Sunset Song right now, I'm amazed at how much of the dialogue I remembered.

Cloud Howe was my favourite book of the quair, and It's also on iPlayer as is Grey Granite. that's my viewing sorted out for a while.