Articles of Faith

Michael Cannon’s fifth novel is an extraordinary tour de force that examines the impact of faith and fanaticism on a community beleaguered by war. Set during the early part of the Second World War, Articles of Faith follows the fortunes of Campbell and Gig, two children who move to the shipbuilding town of Clydebank, with their alcoholic father. Both come within the orbit of Miss Aherne, their strict but charismatic primary school teacher, although she is particularly drawn to Gig. As the reader experiences life in the war-torn town as Campbell and Gig see it, meeting a fascinating cast of characters, each coping with the privations of conflict and poverty in their own way, it becomes clear that Miss Aherne is not all she seems. As an all-out aerial assault on the shipyards by the Luftwaffe draws near – the infamous Clydebank Blitz – tensions within the community rise. It’s left to Campbell and his friend Danny to expose Miss Aherne’s real agenda before tragedy befalls them all. Articles of Faith is Cannon’s greatest achievement to date, a beautifully rendered portrait of a community in crisis, exploring themes of love, loss and family, and the consequences of fanaticism for the innocent.