Dealan-Dè

by Seonag Monk

Leis an Dàrna Cogadh air aire a’ mhòr-shluaigh, tha boireannach òg a’ leantainn a caraid gu tìr-mòr airson beatha agus fèin-aithne ùr a ghabhail, mar dhealan-dè, ’s i a’ fàgail a cochall às a dèidh.

Chan eil sgeul a-nis air Flòraidh chiallach à Barraigh; seo a-nis Laura chealgach à Dùn Èideann.

Tha i fhèin agus a caraid Lavinia a’ dol an lùib a’ chogaidh, le Lavinia a’ fosgladh sùilean Laura gu saoghal nas motha na Barraigh agus iad a’ dèanamh an slighe le chèile suas rangan an airm. A’ cur eòlas air rudan annasach mar garlic is gin, an tèatar agus an Savoy, tha Flòraidh beò ann an saoghal eile, ach an tig foill Laura am bàrr?

Agus cò dìreach a th’ ann an Lavinia Cavendish?

In 1940, in Barra in the Outer Hebrides, an 18-year-old woman, Flòraidh, is persuaded to leave her island home when she learns that her stepmother intends to marry her off to the local shopkeeper. She follows her enigmatic friend Lavinia to the city and changes her identity to Laura, like a butterfly, leaving her chrysalis behind, as they join the war effort.

Lavinia opens Laura’s eyes to the world beyond Barra as they also work their way up through the ranks. Laura is amazed by all the new things she learns – from garlic to gin to the theatre to the Ritz; her whole world expands. However, with Flòraidh becoming a distant memory, will Laura’s true identity be revealed?

And who really is her dear friend Lavinia Cavendish?