Audiobook of the Week
Naxos AudioBooks, well known for its excellent unabridged recordings of literary classics, has branched out with this recording of Alistair Moffat’s account of his ‘secular pilgrimage’ in the footsteps of Cuthbert, the 7th-century saint. Moffat follows Cuthbert from the Tweed at Melrose, where he was a monk, to the spirit-haunted island of Lindisfarne. Moffat is dedicated to interlacing history with place, and he has a quiverful of fine books about Scotland and the Borders to his credit. With To the Island of Tides he excels himself with evocative descriptions and provocative meditations. Aberdeen-born David Rintoul’s warm, reflective narration perfectly matches Moffat’s hard-learnt wisdoms.

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award
Narrator David Rintoul sweeps listeners into historian Alistair Moffat’s tapestry of memoir, journalism, and religious history relating to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The tidal island off the Northumbrian coast has a Celtic Christian identity that dates back more than a millennium. With subtle yet distinct modulations of pacing and tone, and – to convey Moffat’s sense of being an outsider – only an occasional Scottish accent, Rintoul communicates the author’s sensitivity to the place as one of personal discovery. As the author looks at the island from the perspective of his youth and from his current middle-aged perspective, Rintoul conveys his appreciation for its roles in local lives and those of pilgrims. This is a fine choice for walkers, nonreligious contemplatives, and armchair travellers, thanks to a perfect blend of narrator, author, production team, and unique subject.