Posts Tagged ‘author’
The hilarious exploits of life on a college campus
The Dean’s Diaries follows the activities, on and off campus, of the Dean of the ancient and illustrious St Andrew’s College. Curious errors in the press coverage of both the the Giant Squid incident and the antimatter explosion are corrected, and the Dean muses on subjects ranging from physics to Anglo American relations, via the…
Read MoreThe doomed Scottish colony in Central America
Darien, a jungle-clad province on the Panamanian isthmus, played a key role in the formation of Britain. The Company of Scotland’s attempt to establish a trading post and colony there in the late seventeenth century incurred massive debts that would become intrinsic to the negotiation of the Act of Union between England and Scotland in…
Read MoreA Scots division and their role in the Great War
Historian and author Colin Campbell has sewn together an expert guide to the role of the 51st (Highland) Division who ended the First World War. It was one of the best and widely recognised divisions on the Western Front. This book is perfect for those interested in the lives of Scottish soldiers as it details…
Read MoreExamining the people accused of witchcraft
Remembering Scotland’s Witches is an all-day public event being held later this month. The talk, on Sunday 19 May, chaired by writer and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, will combine the academic knowledge of Julian Goodare and Louise Yeoman (co-authors of the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft), author Dr Lizanne Henderson (author of Witchcraft and Folklore in the…
Read MorePolitical intrigue led to Scotland’s most notorious duel
When the euphoria that followed the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 had subsided, Britain experienced a period of financial depression and crop failure that led to intense political unrest. The Whig party agitated for parliamentary reform, which was resisted by the Tories, who had held power for many years and were terrified of…
Read MoreCelebrating salmon and fishing on the Tweed
Arguably the greatest salmon fishing system in Europe, the River Tweed is well known for its 98-mile long stretch of water that is perfect for the sport. While many writers such as William Scrope and Tom Stoddart have previously written about salmon fishing on the River Tweed, none have managed to cover the stretch in…
Read MoreDaring to dream to discover more of Gavin Maxwell
Being offered a position as warden of Kyleakin Lighthouse Island, the last home of Ring of Bright Water author Gavin Maxwell, was a dream come true for Dan Boothby. This book tells of his time living on this tiny island on the Western seaboard of the Highlands; the people he met, and the history that…
Read MoreMcIlvanney was the godfather of tartan noir
Long before Rankin or Welsh had ever picked up a pen, William McIlvanney had already created some of the most iconic hard men in Scottish literature. The writer, who died in December 2015, casts a shadow over the literary world in Scotland even today, and his memory lives on with a prize named after him…
Read MoreSports stars headline Borders Book Festival
Scottish sporting legends David Coulthard, Stephen Hendry and Gregor Townsend are just some of the highlights at this summer’s Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival. Along with inspiring women Kate Humble, Ruth Davidson and Susan Calman, and jockey Bob Champion, they will attend the prestigious event. The full-line up of over 100 events is announced today…
Read MoreA history of Scotland is brought to book
Scotland: A history from the earliest times from popular historian Alistair Moffat presents the story of Scotland from the Ice Age right through to today. Moffat vividly brings the story of this extraordinary nation to life, from the dawn of prehistory right up to the momentous events of the 2014 independence referendum and subsequent general…
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