Reviews
The fascinating story of historic Dumfries House
Dumfries House holds a very special place in Scottish history. When the foundation stone was laid in 1754, it became the first home to be designed by John, Robert and James Adams, the architects whose practice became arguably the most famous in the UK. The house hit the headlines in 2007 when Prince Charles, the…
Read MoreA life less ordinary for a former policeman
Alex Lochrie has led a fascinating and fast paced life. After a stint in advertising, he joined the Glasgow police force, learnt to fly, attempted suicide and then spontaneously moved to Paris to join the French Foreign Legion, which took him all over the world. Lochrie’s engaging and honest style tells a gripping and insightful…
Read MoreA handy guide to the castles of the north
This is the first of four volumes on the history of fortification in the north of Scotland and is the product of eight years of research. This site-by-site study covers the Findhorn valley and Moray lowlands taking in family intrigue and local power-play alongside the national context of the time, from the invasion of the…
Read MoreA stunning look at the beautiful Hebrides
Hebrides is a beautiful book of narrative extracts from Peter May’s bestselling trilogy. The text features alongside specially commissioned photographs by David Wilson depicting the eerie mists, abandoned buildings and dramatic lighting of the Outer Hebrides. This book allows fans of May’s Lewis trilogy to experience the land that gave the writing and his characters…
Read MoreFascinating look at the 14th Duke of Hamilton
Scottish amateur boxing champion, Unionist MP, participant in the first flight over Mount Everest, the 14th Duke of Hamilton was an adventurous and popular man. But when World War II loomed, Hamilton was embroiled in an escalating rumour that he was a crypto-Facist. Mark Peel rectifies these slanders in this fascinating and detailed biography. The…
Read MoreA novel take on the five sisters of Robert the Bruce
Sisters of Bruce is a hefty novel, giving novel gives voice to the five sisters of Robert the Bruce, highlighting the challenges they faced as sisters of Scotland’s great hero. It is certainly refreshing to hear the female voice within history’s discourse of wars and battles that is so often dominated by men. The story…
Read MoreMary Queen of Scots put under the spotlight
Donald Smith’s third historical novel readdresses the conventional, biased readings of the enigmatic Mary Queen of Scots as either: a deceitful adultress or a pious martyr. The chronicler of the story is the personable character James Maitland, son of the Secretary of Scotland and the principal lady in waiting to Mary Queen of Scots. In…
Read MoreA very human story – in English and Gaelic
From the very first page of this poetic novel the reader can witness the story shimmer into life. Writing simultaneously in Gaelic and English, Campbell evokes the haunting beauty of the Western Highlands in this romantic tale of chance encounters and missed moments. When the narrator passes a girl on the staircase of a ferryboat,…
Read MoreHow the other half live in country houses
Country House Camera is a stunning glimpse into how the other half used to live. This collection of photographs taken at some of Britain’s grandest houses provides a fascinating insight into the advent of family photography. They are highly personal and revealing of a long gone but never to be forgotten way of life. Country…
Read MoreFantastic fourth in Edinburgh crime series
Nor Will He Sleep is the fourth instalment of the Inspector McLevy series, adapted from the BBC Radio 4 series. This is an accomplished murder mystery which effortlessly paints a vivid picture of the dark and often savage streets of Edinburgh in 1887. This story buzzes with a fascinating array of dastardly and heroic characters.…
Read More