The central character is a young woman, Chris Guthrie, growing up in a farming family in the fictional parish of Kinraddie in the Mearns at the start of the 20th century. Life is hard, and her family is … See more

Chris Guthrie's mother, broken by repeated childbirths and learning she is again pregnant, kills her baby twins and herself. Two younger children go to live with their aunt and … See more

The novel touches on several issues; the distinctive, not always positive character, of small rural communities in the North East of Scotland, the role of women, and the "peasant crisis" … See more

When it was first published, some readers were shocked by its realistic treatment of sex and childbirth, and its sometimes negative portrayals of family life. Some wondered if it had been written by a woman using a male pseudonym.
The novel is written … See more

In 1971 it was adapted for television as Sunset Song.
There are also a number of adaptations for the stage. The … See more

• 1971 BBC Scotland miniseries version of Sunset Song at IMDb
• Guide to a stage version of the novel
• Review of Cording's stage version See more