The Road Dance

A haunting Hebridean love story set on the eve of war — where hope, tradition and tragedy collide on a single fateful night.

On an island at the edge of the world, a young woman’s dreams are shattered as the Great War casts its long shadow.

About the Ebook

Life in the Scottish Hebrides can be harsh — the edge of the world, some call it. For the beautiful Kirsty Macleod, the love of Murdo and their shared dreams of America offer a glimmer of escape from the grind of the land, the strictures of the Church and the narrow path laid out before her.

But as the Great War looms, Murdo is conscripted. The villagers gather for a grand Road Dance to send their young men off to battle — a night of swirling music, celebration and sorrow.

As the dancers whirl and the drink flows, the wheels of tragedy begin to turn. What happens that night will change Kirsty’s life forever, casting a long shadow over the island and everyone who calls it home.

The Road Dance is a powerful, atmospheric and deeply moving story of love, loss, community and survival — the novel that inspired the acclaimed feature film.

Critical Praise

"Powerful, shocking, heartbreaking."
— Scottish Daily Mail

"Breathtaking."
— The Film Magazine

"[MacKay] has captured time, place and atmosphere superbly..."
— Sunday Herald

"A gripping plot that subtly twists and turns… vivid characterisation… an absorbing, powerful first novel."
— Scots Magazine

"One of the most powerful aspects of the book is the way it conjures up the atmosphere of fear that stalks a community where the church casts ‘sinners’ into the wilderness."
— Scotland on Sunday

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• A deeply emotional Hebridean drama rooted in place, tradition and community.
• A powerful love story set against the looming devastation of the Great War.
• Atmospheric, cinematic storytelling — the novel that inspired the major film.
• Richly drawn characters navigating faith, fear, hope and heartbreak.
• Perfect for fans of Scottish fiction, historical drama and island literature.

Also by John MacKay

Explore more fiction and non‑fiction by John MacKay:

• Notes of a Newsman
• Heartland
• Last of the Line
• The Road Dance — you are here
• Home

Or get everything in one place:

The Complete John MacKay Bundle

About the Author

John MacKay is a Scottish broadcast journalist and STV News presenter. As co‑anchor of STV News at Six and presenter of Scotland Tonight, he has covered many of the nation’s defining stories over the past three decades.

Drawing on the oral traditions of his Hebridean upbringing, MacKay has written a trilogy of bestselling novels set on the Isle of Lewis — including The Road Dance, which has been adapted for the big screen. His later novels continue to explore the themes of family, identity and island life.

His non‑fiction work Notes of a Newsman charts Scotland’s transformation through the eyes of a journalist at the heart of the nation’s news.

Publication Details

Publisher: Luath Press

Publication Date: 22/07/2013

Print Length: — (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781804250389

Format: Ebook

Language: English

Categories: Scottish Fiction / Historical Drama / Hebridean Literature

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