comment on theme

The central theme of the novel is History, which is symbolized by the presence in the town of the standing stones. Including the events described in the Prelude, the novel covers several centuries’ worth of events occurring on the land that became known as Kinraddie. During this vast expanse of history, the only constant feature of the landscape is the standing stones, which serve to remind the reader of the passing of time and how nature remains constant even as society rapidly changes around it.