 Psalm 119 - Heather McRobie
WINNER of the 2007 Hélène du Coudray Undergraduate Novel Prize!
‘To stand with your peace-flag in front of
an army tank and be surprised when you get
shot at: this is all the joy of youth. To ask to
be fired upon and then have all your friends
be outraged for you: this is love.’
In the first years of this century, three young
people – Anne-Marie, David and Mohammed –
try to find their place in a changed world of
identity politics, religion, conflict and betrayal.
Set against the background first of student life
and then Palestine, Israel and the Balkans, this
beautifully written, original and powerful debut
novel draws on the poetry of the Song of Songs
and the Persian poet Rumi, and asks searching
questions about the nature of betrayal, loyalty
and identity, both in our personal lives and in
today’s troubled world.
'An inborn literary skill, a deftness of language,
a roving and enquiring mind – and funny with
it. If she keeps it up she’ll take her place
among the best in the land.' - Fay Weldon
'I began Psalm 119 late one night, and my first
realisation was that I was no longer tired; my
second was that I would not be going to bed
until the novel was good and ready to let me
go.' - Tobias Hill
About the Author
HEATHER McROBIE, a graduate of the University
of Oxford, is currently studying for an MA in
Arabic at the University of McGill in Canada. Psalm 119 is her first novel.
Publication date for Psalm 119: 24th July 2008
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