The Chatelaine of Mallaig is now published in English

At last, the people of Mallaig and English-speaking readers around the world will be able to read The Chatelaine of Mallaig Castle, a wonderful piece of fiction which has already sold 300,000 copies.

This work by Diane Lacombe, first published in 2002 in the province of Quebec, Canada, was subsequently distributed in French-speaking countries in Europe and then in Germany, Spain and Turkey.

Diane visited Scotland and Mallaig in 2003 and 2006 with a group of fans and copies of the trilogy in French were presented to the local and school libraries.

Apparently, many French tourists had come looking in vain for the castle, which had, in fact, never existed. Staff at the visitor centre wondered where this information came from.

A few years after the publication, Diane was playing Scrabble online, using the user name “Mallaig”. Her opponent was Brenda Logue (user name “Lochaber”), who lives 60 miles from Mallaig and loves everything French.

The two became friends and Brenda, having read La Chatelaine de Mallaig, offered to translate it into English. They have been friends ever since.

Since then, this English version has been offered to many English publishers without success, so, Diane and her son Jean-Baptiste took matters into their own hands and it is now available as a hard copy.

Based in Scotland, in 1424, Gunelle Keith, the 19-year-old daughter of a prosperous merchant from Aberdeen is given in marriage to Iain MacNèil, from Mallaig.

It is a marriage which serves, above all, the economic interests of both clans.

Cultured and educated, Gunelle is thrust into the wild world of Mallaig where she feels utterly helpless.

In the space of a year, she learns a new language, battles against the indignity of a husband who rejects her, and endures the struggle between the clans.

As a woman of duty, will she manage to impose her values on her in-laws, to win their esteem and, finally, to tame and civilise her husband?

A captivating read, The Chatelaine of Mallaig Castle is full of strong and engaging characters. It is a thrilling human adventure coupled with a journey into medieval Scotland and the culture of the Highlands.