Books
Queen’s birthday honours for Rankin and curlers
THE Queen’s birthday honours list includes a knighthoods for author Ian Rankin and shortbread maker James Walker, as well as awards for our Olympic-winning women’s curling team. The creator of detective John Rebus was made a knight bachelor for his services to literature and charity. A walk around Edinburgh’s literary landmarks with Rankin was the…
Read MoreDracula and his Scottish links are revealed
DRACULA and his links to Scotland are being marked tonight. Bram Stoker’s novel is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Stoker began writing Dracula while staying at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in Cruden Bay, with his signatures from its guestbook in 1894 and 1895 surviving to this day. Aberdeeshire Council is hosting a civic reception…
Read MoreJohn Sentamu opens Christian Aid 50th book sale
CHRISTIAN Aid welcomed former archbishop of York John Sentamu to Edinburgh on Saturday to open its 50th book sale. Scotland’s biggest charity book sale is hosted at St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church of Scotland on the capital’s George Street. The event has raised more than £1 million for the international development charity during…
Read MoreEdinburgh International Book Festival flits to new home
THE Edinburgh International Book Festival won’t return to its traditional home in the city’s Charlotte Square Gardens, but is instead moving into the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The book festival, which began in 1983, broadcast online sessions during 2020 and then moved into Edinburgh College of Art last year to hold hybrid events. The festival…
Read MoreBirlinn founder Hugh Andrew receives Shackleton medal
PUBLISHING house Birlinn founder Hugh Andrew has been presented with the Shackleton medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Andrew received the award for his “leadership and citizenship in publishing”. He was also made an honorary fellow of the society. Roger Crofts, former chair of the society, described Andrew as the “vital spark” of Scottish…
Read MoreAnnie Mac kicks off Glasgow’s Aye Write festival
FORMER Radio 1 presenter Annie Mac is tonight’s headline act in Glasgow as the city’s Aye Write book festival begins. The disc jockey – whose full name is Annie Macmanus – will be speaking about her novel Mother, Mother at the Mitchell Library at 18:30. Mac said: “It’s a total dream to be in Glasgow…
Read MoreEdinburgh’s book festival unveils schools events
COMICS, climate change, and knitting are all on the agenda for the schools programme at this summer’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. Every event is free and fully-hybrid, allowing primary and secondary school pupils around Scotland and around the world to tune-in, even if they can’t make it to Edinburgh. The programme – which runs between…
Read MoreKnights Templar beard advice goes online
KNIGHTS Templar guidance on the “superfluity” of beards and moustaches is among the rare medieval manuscripts now available online at the National Library of Scotland. The 12th century advice on why excessive facial hair wasn’t needed is part of 240 documents digitised by the library, thanks to a donation from Alexander Graham, the television producer…
Read MoreScottish Lion on Patrol is a military classic
With so many WWII books out there, it can be difficult to know where to begin. But this revised version of Scottish Lion on Patrol, a classic regimental tome (first published in 1950), is a great starting point. It is rather complex so requires a solid level of WWII knowledge, but its insights into some…
Read MoreShort stories from the creator of Sherlock Holmes
As Playing with Fire comes from the author who gifted us Sherlock Holmes, you know this is going to be good. Made up of 13 intriguing short stories, ranging from the supernatural to the downright outlandish, this is a further insight into the wonderful imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A favourite of mine is…
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