NAVIGATIO

Join James Cowan and me for the launch of Navigatio on the 30th of October at Avid Reader (6pm-8pm). More here

Navigatio tells the story of Saint Brendan of Clonfert, a sixth century monk and adventurer, and his legendary quest for the Isle of the Blessed via a gauntlet of monsters, devils, angels, prophets and beautiful maidens. Brendan's battles with the sea and the cosmos bear out what William Faulkner once called ‘the human heart in conflict with itself’. This haunting parable of darkness and light, of temptation and belief, of voice and silence, is told with the utmost economy of words, making it a small masterpiece of compassionate perception.

'This is the spirit under sail. A beautiful mediation on losing one way and finding another. It is sensual and soulful. A rich and mellow book, one to take time over and savour in its many moods.' Michael McGirr, author of Things You Get For Free and Bypass

'Part myth, part confabulation, Holland's spare prose takes us on a voyage to the outer isles of consciousness.He has made the simple story of St Brendan and his voyage in search of the Island of the Blessed into a recapitulation of the verities that lie at the heart of the transcendent nature of story. He should be commendedfor taking us there, and for his courage. We are enchanted.'
James Cowanauthor of 'A Mapmaker's Dream' and 'Fleeing Herod.'