Books
Weaving fact and fiction for St Andrews Castle siege
For his debut novel, The Castilians, author V E H Masters cleverly weaves fact with fiction in a detailed story of the siege of St Andrews Castle in 1546. Written in compelling prose, and packed full of gripping drama and a smattering of romance, the 16th-century streets of the Auld Grey Toon are brought to…
Read MoreDoric Books all ready to launch its next releases
An Aberdeenshire illustrator and storyteller have joined forces to create a publishing house that will print stories for all ages in Doric. North East artist Aaron Gale and storyteller Jackie Ross are launching Doric Books this month to develop and preserve the culture and heritage of the North East. The process began after Aaron was…
Read MoreA celebration of Scotland at the Olympics
Not only does this marvellous book, Scotland’s Track and Field Olympians tell us stories of the lives, successes and significance of Scots athletes, but it places them in the wider context of the Games. From the very beginning, it is plain to see that Keddie is Olympics mad: he delves into the history of Scotland’s…
Read MoreA fascinating read – whether you like a dram or not
Don’t worry – The Language of Whisky is not a book which takes an oaky sip of Scotland’s finest and turns it into a seven-verse poem. No, this is about the extraordinary journey of whisky: from the Scottish Highlands to New York and Tasmania. This surprising book also takes us to the origins of our…
Read MoreThe fascinating secrets we all carry in our bones
Think medical chat is dry? Never want to be seated next to a doctor at a dinner party? Swap those name places back and think again. From the renowned forensic anthropologist Sue Black comes a remarkable culmination of stories told by our bones. Skeletons may mark the absence of life, but Black turns this on…
Read MoreA sensitive look at Glasgow in the 20th century
It is remarkable to think that the late Eric Watt was considered an amateur photographer. Capturing the second half of the 20th century in Glasgow, his works are nostalgic, evocative and delicate, and bring his subjects to life. His observations of the Dear Green Place and its residents are sensitive, and cover everything from politics…
Read MoreEdinburgh’s most gruesome murders brought together
Calling all Edinburgh dwellers: ever wondered if someone was murdered on your street long, long ago? Jan Bondeson reveals all in their articulate account of Edinburgh’s most gruesome murders. From house to house, Bondeson sets the scene with scrupulous details of our victims to be and retells their macabre endings. Perhaps not one to read…
Read MoreJenni Fagan’s latest novel is the most compelling yet
Prize-winning author Jenni Fagan does not disappoint with her latest novel, Luckenbooth, which is easily her most compelling yet. In her usual poetic style, Fagan tells of a nine-storey Edinburgh tenement just off the Royal Mile that is creaking with secrets. Throughout this haunting novel, characters’ secrets and memories live on in the howling gales…
Read MoreMaps are the forgotten weapons of war
The basis of A History of the Second World War In 100 Maps is that maps are ‘indispensable instruments of war’. If anyone can convince us of this it is world-leading military and cartographic historian Jeremy Black, who has studied a huge range of maps from the Second World War in minute detail. In this…
Read MoreThe hunt for witches in the Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders in the 17th century was awash with unrest. The destruction of the monarchy, civil war and the plague all bubbled together to create the perfect potion for a witch hunt – and it’s not all pointy hats and black cats. As well as delving into the details of some brutal witch trials…
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