Reviews
Charting Scotland’s long history through verse
An anthology of poetry charting Scotland’s journey through the high and low points of its history using the medium of verse. This unique poetic saunter through the centuries also includes a useful little explanation of the background and the events that led to the penning of each poem. This book is the perfect way to…
Read MoreWorld War I – as seen first hand in the trenches
Mud and Bodies is a fascinating collection of letters and extracts from the war diaries of Captain NAC Weir during the period 1914-1920. The diaries were found by his grandson shortly after his death and provide a first-hand account of the life of a young soldier on the Western Front during WW1. It includes an…
Read MoreCelebrating the life of activist the Gaelic Guerrilla
Roy Pederson tells the story of language activist John Angus Mackay who became known as ‘the Gaelic Guerrilla’ as a result of his tireless eff orts to successfully save the Gaelic tongue from extinction in Scotland. As someone who is not a particularly ardent enthusiast for books on language history, I struggled to make my…
Read MoreBe afraid, be very afraid, of the Woman in Black
The horror genre is one that’s always fascinated me from a young age. I was terrified by the Hammer Horror films, resulting in regular nightmares, as a result of too many views of Dracula: Prince of Darkness and The Devil Rides Out, but no matter how frightening I found them, I always came back for…
Read MoreLive, love and laugh with Doddie Weir’s book
They say you shouldn’t laugh at your own jokes, but when you’re Doddie Weir this doesn’t apply. There was barely a page which went by where I didn’t chuckle to myself. A rugby legend and determined MND campaigner, Doddie has a wealth of life lessons to share. Uplifting, sad, motivational, funny, and life-affirming, the book…
Read MoreThe biggest secrets of the Cairngorms revealed
I defy anyone to look at the front cover of the beautiful The Secret Life of the Cairngorms and not have a wee smile on their face. Illustrated with a stunning selection of Andy Howard’s photographs, the book celebrates the wildlife and landscape of the Cairngorms National Park in all its glory. Anyone who has visited…
Read MoreCelebrating the capital in words and pictures
Edinburgh means different things to many people. In this book, the product of a collaboration between photographer Allan Wright and poet Gerda Stevenson, the interaction of their dual perspectives on the capital makes for a different take on the traditional Edinburgh coffee table book. Eighty-seven photographs are accompanied by 22 new poems, some in Scots,…
Read MoreA handy guide to the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle Story: Bannockburn 1314 is a handy sized guide to one of the most significant battles between Scotland and England. Maps, images and time lines help to make this an extremely accessible read, while the profiles of leaders make an interesting addition to the story of the battle. A great account of the events of…
Read MoreMarking Scottish Opera’s first half century
50 Years of Scottish Opera: A Celebration is a hefty but well put together coffee table book spanning half a century of Scottish Opera. The book is, as you would expect, packed with fabulous photographs of the productions that have been put on over these five decades. These are punctuated by quotes, anecdotes, memories and…
Read MoreHow Scotland spread out to influence the world
Scotland’s Global Empire is a well-written and impeccably researched guide to some fascinating and lesser known characters and their magnificent achievements. I found the lack of images and the sheer weight of words within this chronicle a problem, making it difficult to get started on and impossible to pick up and devour in small chunks,…
Read More