Italian writer
Former Inveraray castle guide’s role acknowledged by author
A NOVELIST from Rome has penned a tale of a Dunadd king.
THE LINK between Mayan culture, the Samnites and a Pictish king is explored in the latest novel by an Italian author.
Persistenti Tracce di Antichi Dolori, which means Lingering Traces of Ancient Suffering, is three historical stories within one book by award-winning crime author Monica Bartolini.
The work, which features a first century king crowned at Dunadd, near Lochgilphead, is inspired by three artefacts from different peoples and times: an ancient bronze coin, also known as the aes grave for the Samnites, the famous houseshaped reliquary containing the Holy relics of St Columba for the Celts and the manufactured sheets made of vegetal fibre belonging to Maya people, also called the Codex Desdensis.
The Scottish segment of the tale is set in the year 806, at the time when Iona’s abbey was destroyed. It is about the fictional Gayle of Antrim who went to Dunadd in 792 to marry Caustantin Mac Fergus, the Picts’ king.
Ms Bartolini said: ‘By using Gale and her life as the centre point of the story, I was able to analyse and portray 20 years of Scottish history that represented a turning point for Celtic culture in Scotland.
Ms Bartolini, from Rome, already had the idea for the book when she met Italian tourist guide Laura Magugliani, from Kilmartin, at Inveraray Castle two years ago.
Ms Magugliani was surprised to meet another Italian who knew about Dunadd and the meeting became the start of a friendship sustained through email and a mutual interest.
Ms Magugliani said: ‘Monica has red hair and her nickname in Italy is ‘The red woman who writes yellow books’ as yellow books is the slang for crime stories. I send her books about standing stones and we regularly correspond. She is hoping to bring out the title as an ebook.’
Ms Magugliani, from Milan, moved to Argyll in 2003 after 15 years in Scandanavia. She is a blue badge guide, speaking five languages and does some voluntary guiding at Kilmartin museum. Later this month she will return to her homeland, where she is still in de- mand for tourist trips, to lead a tour of the Reubens exhibition in Milan.
Ms Bartolini added:
‘When I visited Argyll three years ago to see the places I have now written about, I was shocked by the small numbers of tourists at the historic site of Dunadd. It’s unbelievable.
Devoted
‘My friend Laura, from Lochgilphead, told me that public funds were devoted to increase the awareness of this marvellous yet unknown site because every single Scot should put their feet upon the carved stone of Dunadd’s hill.’
Ms Barolini has made her name in Italy as a crime writer but after a successful venture into short stories in 2011 has written her first historical novel.
Ms Bartolini added: ‘I hope the novel will be translated into English and thrill many more readers.’