Clear by Carys Davies has been on my reading radar for while, and I absolutely urge you to read her work! Here’s a little background into how I discovered her…

West

I set myself a little project in late 2023/early 2024 to read more novellas, and to save money I used my local libraries. While browsing alphabetically by author surname, I got to the Ds and found a copy of West.

West is set in early 1800s, and is about one man’s pilgrimage across America in his search for giants beasts, which he believes still roam the land. Cy Bellman is a widowed father, who leaves behind his young daughter to embark on his quest from Pennsylvania to Kentucky. The narrative transfers between the two as we follow his journey and learn what life is like for Bess back at home.

I was completely captivated by the story. Carys Davies is so economical with her writing. In just a few sentences she could convey hundreds of miles, changing landscapes and seasons. And yet, it never feels like plot jumping. You truly feel like you have travelled every mile. I highly recommend it, it’s a wonderful story.

Clear by Carys Davies

Having read West, I was really happy to see Clear publish in 2024. It’s been top of my list of book titles I keep in a note on my phone. I didn’t even know what it was about, but based on the strength of her writing, I didn’t care!

The title, Clear, is in reference to the Scottish Highland Clearances which took place from the late 18th to mid 19th century. During this time, thousands of poor, working class tenants were brutally evicted from their farms and homes, fracturing and disintegrating clan heritage. In this tale, penniless church minister John Ferguson accepts a job of evicting Ivar, the sole inhabitant of a remote Scottish island. It is an 800 mile journey that will take him a month, leaving behind his wife Mary. With the money from the job, John hopes to find a parish of his own.

In the final stages of his journey to the island, John suffers terrible injuries, and is rescued by Ivar. As Ivar nurses John back to health, the two develop a deep bond. Meanwhile, Mary, sensing something terrible might have happened to John, embarks on her own journey.

I found the story so tender. While I was somewhat ambivalent to John’s character, (this is not a criticism, as I think it is intentional), I loved Ivar and Mary. John is undoubtedly the connecting point between the two, but I cared more for them.

Ivar

Ivar is this big, hulking gentle giant, completely alone and isolated. The bond that he forms, first with Mary’s photograph, and then with John, is so touching. In a harsh landscape, he is kindly to his blind cow, and his horse Peggy. While his knitting yarn is practical, it soon becomes a love language. He haphazardly mends John’s coat sleeves and bestows him caring gestures of warm cap and socks. I worried about what would happen to him, and feared what lengths he would go to protect his home.

Mary

I felt such a sense of pride towards Mary. I had a lot of respect for so many of her life choices. As a societal spinster and then an older bride, she is full of pragmatism, intuition and quiet wisdom. I won’t spoil the outcome of the story, but I was honestly left thinking, ‘What a remarkable woman!’

There is so much to enjoy here. There is historical detail, beautiful rugged landscapes and intimate human connection, all captured in a slim novella. Clear is such a wonderful book, and Carys Davies is now firmly one of my favourite writers. I have now added her novel The Mission House to my list!