Taking his inspiration from Scotland’s local folklore and links to Calvinism, Robertson creates settings which represent some of the most important themes in The Testament of Gideon Mack.
The novel takes place in a number of different, mostly rural, locations in Scotland between Gideon Mack’s birth in the late 1950s and his death in 2004.
Mack’s depiction of his childhood home in Ochtermill provides important clues about his religious upbringing and his relationship with his parents.
The unique features of Monimaskit’s local geography emphasise the mythical aura of the area and are closely connected to the significant events that transform Gideon’s life.
