“Here Burns My Candle” belongs to the enthralling genre of historical fiction. I have always been partial to the narrated allure of times long gone and the opportunity it gives me to peek into the lives of people who lived in the age of royalty and aristocracy. This story, which mirrors the Biblical account of Naomi and Ruth, has captivated me for its portrayal of remarkable characters caught in the political turmoil of 18thcentury Scotland. The author has brought to life a family of aristocrats in the city of Edinburgh that lived a privileged life but with each member bogged down by his/her own fallibilities. This novel pulls you back in time and brings you to a riveting journey with its characters as they lived an almost boring existence until they decided to veer off course which brought everything to a tailspin. It was an easy but fascinating read for its ingenuous plot and the masterful way the author brought to light the intricacies of Scottish life as lived by the all too-human Kerr family and the choices that brought their fall from grace.
Marjorie Kerr was the family matriarch, a dowager whose two grown-up sons became the center of her life after the death of her husband, a Lord of the realm. She valued her place in society as much as her purses of gold that were safely stashed away beneath her chamber floor. She was stern and haughty and treated Elizabeth, the wife of her first born and a highlander, less amiably than Janet, who was her choice for her younger son and who was an aristocrat herself. Lord Donald Kerr was the handsome older son who inherited the Kerr title and landholdings but was irresistibly attracted to women despite his genuine love for his wife. Andrew, his brother, although not titled like him, lived a life of luxury until the two of them made the decision to fight for the Jacobite cause. That choice propelled their life into an untenable nightmare no one among them had the wisdom to foresee.
Elizabeth was the Ruth of the Bible’s parallel. Beautiful, strong and loyal, she emerged as the epitome of a true heroine despite her belief in an ancient religion that she practiced in secret. As she grappled to uncover the reality of the unknown deity she worshipped, she was drawn to the unmistakable recognition on the existence of the one true God who was mindful of her and who guided her destiny. Elizabeth’s true strength was manifested, not in the agony of pain after her husband’s death, but when she spoke the three words, “I forgive you” as a parting gift to the man she loved with her heart and soul. Her decision to follow her mother-in-law and take care of her regardless of what the future might hold was a touching finale to a story that meandered through the peaks and deep valleys in the life of this Scottish family that Liz Curtis Higgs has woven skillfully in this fascinating story.
I highly recommend this book which I received free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher, WaterBrookMultnomah.com.
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