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Upon the Corner of the Moon, by Valerie Nieman

Cover for Upon the Corner of the Moon

Available now in Paperback, Hardcover, eBook and Audio

Valerie Nieman

Meet Valerie Nieman, the author

Why I wrote this book:

The murderous Macbeths became part of my life when I found Tales from Shakespeare, accessible even to a (too young) reader. My father often would quote Shakespeare, especially, “I have lived long enough; my way of life/ Is fall’n into the sear, the yellow leaf…” from Act V. He took me to see a touring production of Macbeth when I was a pre-teen, and I remember the dramatic lighting, the ragged garments of the witches, the fight scenes, but mostly the language.

When I learned that the Macbeth story I loved was a complete reversal of history, I had to keep digging. How did a rightful king who ruled for 17 years and was called by contemporaries “The Righteous” become a heinous villain? Was Gruach or “Lady Macbeth” tainted by the eons-old suspicion of powerful women, making them into madwomen and witches? Shakespeare had based his play on chronicles that reshaped Macbeth into a murderous usurper in order to please the king and plump up the bona fides of the dynasty.

I had to write the real story.

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Applause! Applause!

“…an impressive balance between the creatively literary and the historical…a compelling portrait of eleventh century Alba for readers of all backgrounds.”

Association for Scottish Literature

“The journey of the Macbeths is not the famed and false one of Shakespeare, but a mixture of both their true and imagined place in Scotland’s history… Highly recommended.”

Historical Novels Review

“Pagan rituals, visions and prophecies; commingling of myth, religion and history; poets, princes and perpetually plotting monarchs; sibling rivalry; siege and conquest. … It’s an amazing tour de force …”

Southern Literary Review

Talk a Little, Talk a Lot

All great reads, like this one, have themes or ideas, or just hints, for discussion topics in your book club. Here are a few ideas for you:

Why do you think the author decided to begin Upon the Corner of the Moon with the childhoods of the main characters?
Scotland is the setting for many historical novels and films. In what ways does this book meet your expectations—or completely change your understanding?
If you know the play, then you quickly recognize some names, but the characters and their motivations are quite different. How did that feel as you read? Did you hear Shakespeare as well?
Gruach is raised in an ancient tradition where women shape power both spiritual and secular. What are her strategies when she’s thrust into a patriarchal society?
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Or choose one of these topics:

Africa Alcoholism Anthology Art Atlanta Bicentennial Birds Book Banning Book clubs Brooklyn Chronic illness Early 1900s Ecology Family Relationships Faraway Places Historical Mystery Japanese Internment Jazz Legends Magic Medieval Mexico Midlife Native Americans Peace Corps Poetry Prostitution Scotland Siblings True Crime Women Sleuths Writers/Poets

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