Books
Find out just who George Heriot was
The name George Heriot may be familiar from the stately school building on Edinburgh’s Lauriston Place or the sign mid-way down the rambling steps of Fleshmarket Close. However, Finlay’s pithy historical fiction about Queen Anne’s jeweller adds some substance to the name and spans Heriot’s remarkable adult life. It may take a moment to acclimatise…
Read MoreAn engrossing tribute to the River Truim
This is a meandering love letter comprised of thoughts, anecdotes, recollections and folklore, both those passed down through generations and those still unfolding. Terence Clifford-Amos follows in the footsteps of John Inglis Hall’s beloved book about the River Truim, How to Fish in a Highland Stream. You can feel the regard that Clifford-Amos holds for…
Read MoreThe return of Sherlock Holmes – in a special collection
Life is returning to normal following the COVID years, but what has been a constant during this time is our love of books. People have turned to much-loved authors and in particular crime books and this high level of interest is continuing. Sherlock Holmes remains a fascinating and enduring character in the history of British…
Read MoreA bygone Scotland captured in photography
This is a concise paperback edition of the bestselling Scottish photographic book. In the early 1960s, in the course of recording a Dunfermline mill building that was scheduled for demolition, RCAHMS surveyors discovered an incredible collection of over 800 glass plate negatives. Taken between 1880 and 1919, the photographs are a remarkable record of a…
Read MoreAn alternative look at Highland land reform
Prominent land reformer Jim Hunter has produced a compelling account of the modern-day Highlands. Here, there is a battle between environmentalists’ attempts to conserve the nature and landscapes, and the Highlanders themselves trying to preserve their way of life and their culture. This thought-provoking read considers both viewpoints: the Highlanders feel they have a better…
Read MoreAn immersive history on the creation of Scotland
‘The story of a “crucible of nations” is not of any single people, much less a modern nation-state. It’s about shared heritage and interaction, without ignoring these different voices.’ On one of Edinburgh’s many, many dreich days, there is nowhere better to be than rambling through the extensive collections on display at the National Museum…
Read MoreAye Write has Chris Tarrant, Celia Imrie and more
Organisers of Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival have launched their star-studded programme of events, which will run across three weekends this spring, between 6-22 May. Heralding its return to live events in venues across the city, the Aye Write line-up is as eclectic and exciting as ever. Guests, amongst many others, include: Olivier Award-winning actress…
Read MoreNeu Treasures at the National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland and Neu! Reekie! have commissioned 12 artists to respond to 12 collection items which will be displayed in the new Treasures exhibition space which habe opened to the public. Treasures of the National Library of Scotland is a new permanent thematic display, featuring objects from the extensive collection at the…
Read MoreMyths and legends from Scotland put in focus
One of my favourite features of mythology and folk tales is the ability to pinpoint the land that they originate from by examining the geography, history and local customs to be found in each piece. Angus, an underrated region of Scotland in my very humble opinion, is put on display through tales of wolves and…
Read MoreA celebration of field sports with fishing and shooting
Scotland has long had a love affair with sport. More famous as the birthplace of golf and for the popularity of sports like football and rugby, this passionate collection of essays brings to life our nation’s relationship with different kinds of sport – fishing and shooting. Lord James Percy grew up in the untamed landscapes…
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