Old Mortality, Volume 1.

In the mist‑shrouded valleys of the Scottish Borders, a lone figure makes his rounds with a weathered shovel and a stack of weather‑worn stones. He is the eponymous “Old Mortality,” a devoted antiquarian who travels from parish to parish to repair the memorials of the Covenanters—those who dared to pray in defiance of royal decree. His quiet, reverent work introduces listeners to a landscape where history and legend sit shoulder to shoulder, and where the echoes of 17th‑century religious strife still reverberate through the hills.

As Old Mortality reaches the remote hamlet of Gandercleugh, he encounters a spirited young man eager to prove his loyalty to the Jacobite cause, and a mysterious dwarf whose reputation for uncanny strength precedes him. Their fates become intertwined with the pilgrim’s mission, drawing the traveler into local feuds, secret meetings, and the looming threat of a rising that could reshape the nation. The early chapters blend vivid description, heartfelt devotion, and a touch of Scottish humor, inviting listeners into a world where personal conviction meets the sweep of history.