What You Call Free

Flora Johnston, MA 1993

‘In this wonderful debut novel, Flora Johnston prises open a forgotten window to give a rare view onto the lives of women in one of the darkest periods in Scotland’s history.’

James Robertson Scotland, 1687. An unforgiving place for those who won’t conform. Pregnant and betrayed, eighteen-year-old Jonet believes nothing could be worse than her weekly public humiliation in sackcloth. But soon she discovers that a darker fate awaits her.

Desperate to escape, she takes refuge among an outlawed group of religious dissidents. Here Widow Helen offers friendship and understanding, but Helen’s own beliefs have already seen her imprisoned once. Can she escape the authorities a second time?

From the exposed Pentland hills to the narrow closes of Edinburgh, both Helen and Jonet find their fate becomes inextricably linked with that of fugitive preacher James Renwick. As the net closes on him, they too risk everything. What does it mean to be free?

Flora Johnston's love of Scottish History began when studying the subject at St Andrews University. She has spent many years telling Scotland's stories through exhibitions, publications and digital media and is delighted now to be doing this in the way she loves best, through fiction.

ISBN: 978-1-901514-96-4