"Clear" by Carys Davies

A short (3hr) audio book.

1840s. John Ferguson (some sections are from his PoV), married to Mary (about 40), is now part of the break-away Free Church. Poor, he's doing a job for land-owner Strachen which will mean he's a month away from home. He arrives on a remote Scottish island in "the silvery murk of the afternoon" to evict Ivor, a loner who Strachen thinks is a simpleton. He brings eviction notes and a gun. He's taken language lessons - Ivor's only language is related to Shetland, and he may be its only speaker. John stays in the Barker's abandoned house. He has an accident and is unconscious for a day or so.

Ivor (some sections are from his PoV) finds John's photo of Mary and falls in love. He finds John unconscious, carries him to his hovel, and looks after him, falling in love with him instead. Ivor was ill last year. Now he fishes and knits. Peggy the horse is his best friend.

John learns Ivor's language - the many words for sea and cloud. Nouns first. Ivor finds John's gun and works out what's going on. Mary pawns her ring and follows him - to save him doing something unpleasant just for money, for her.

We're led to believe that intimacy takes place between the men. I don't think this is meant to surprise us. When Mary arrives she understands and suggests that both of the men return to the mainland with her. And Peggy too.

Other reviews

• Clare Clark (despite moments of affecting poignancy, too often it feels underwritten, even thin. ... John Ferguson is granted a mere four weeks on Ivar’s island, four weeks into which must be compressed not only his recovery but the slow unfurling of a deep and transformational friendship. It is not enough.)
• Stuart Kelly (a story about the hard-won acquisition of clarity.)