The author of MEN OF NESS has gone a bit heavy footed and dull in this story of a casual journalist -- also casual in love -- who runs away from London and entangling alliances, goes to Scotland and becomes involved in spurious political matters and the candidacy of the National Party, fails in that and departs for Orkney, where he dramatizes the rural life and falls for the charms of rural beauty. A long book -- if that is a recommendation in these days.