Posts Tagged ‘book review’
Book review: Alexander Henry – Rifle Maker, by Donald Dallas
The fascinating story of an acclaimed Scots rifle maker is chronicled in a fascinating new biography. Released as a private publication for Donald Dallas, this book gives an in depth history of Edinburgh rifle maker Alexander Henry. Alexander Henry (1818–1894) was in business in Edinburgh for only a short period, 42 years, but in that…
Read MoreBook review: Follow The Dead by Lin Anderson
Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod returns in the 12th book of her series by the exquisite Lin Anderson. Follow the Dead takes her to the Cairngorms, joining a mountain rescue team after a mysterious plane has crash-landed, while one person is missing and three are dead on a climbing trip nearby. As if that wasn’t enough,…
Read MoreBook review: The Whisky Dictionary by Iain Hector Ross
At first glance, the thought of a dictionary of whisky isnt’t the most gripping. However, appearances can be deceptive, and there’s plenty of humour throughout. Ross has brought together all aspects of the process into the one book, with absciscic acid and zephyr, featuring everything in between. Ben Averis’ illustrations break up the content, which…
Read MoreBook review – The Tweed Dales: Journeys and Excavations
What’s the story? In an interesting hybrid of historical writing, folklore and travel writing, Elspeth Turner and Donald Smith attempt to take their reader on both a literary and physical journey through the Scottish Borders. The atmosphere of each of the six journeys they discuss is evoked through stories, myths and true past events all…
Read MoreBook review – Secret Peebles by Liz Hanson
For a town of 8376 people, Peebles has one heck of a history. Liz Hanson’s Secret Peebles brings it to life through a combination of facts, anecdotes, photographs and older illustrations, which fully capture the feel of the area. It’s very much a complete history with everything you could possibly want to know, from the…
Read MoreBook review – Skye: A Photographic Communion
Allan Wright’s book Skye: A Photographic Communion captures the nature and topography of the island in more than 100 images, from majestic landscapes to magical Fairy Pools and the endless captivating shorelines. The book also includes narrative about each of the main regions of the island, highlighting famous landmarks such as Talisker distillery and Dunvegan Castle.…
Read MoreBook review – The Island in Imagination and Experience
From Treasure Island to Robin Island, islands have long proved irresistible to mankind’s imagination. In this book, self-confessed island obsessive Barry Smith explores how islands attract us and examines the kind of human experiences that islands inspire. He has spent much of his 60-odd years at work, rest and play on islands all around the…
Read MoreBook review: The Hebrides by Paul Murton
Paul Murton has been exploring since he was a teenager. Inspired by his copy of WH Murray’s Mountaineering in Scotland, the boy from Argyll, before even reaching the age of 16, set out hitchhiking to Glen Coe and Skye, ascending Cuilin’s famous Cioch, and hitched to Switzerland to attempt to scale the infamous Eiger’s North…
Read MoreBook review: The White Stag Adventure
Youngsters who grew up in the 1980s, or indeed their parents, may fondly remember the Clan series. Set in central Scotland, a group of children, Gavin, Clare, Michael and Mot, who have created their own outdoor adventures and become involved in stopping adult criminals. It’s a refreshing reminder of times when children had freedom to…
Read MoreBook review: Whiskies Galore – A Tour of Scotland’s Island Distilleries
With nearly 30 years of experience in and around the whisky industry, Ian Buxton is well-placed when it comes to going on a tour of Scotland’s island distilleries. From Arran to Orkney, he brings together his expert knowledge with entertaining travelogues, to make for a read that should appeal to more than just the connoisseurs of…
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