Turning back the clock to Dundee’s tram years

I love looking at old photos that are full of character, and Lost Tramways of Scotland: Dundee is full of them. Dusting down historic images of Dundee’s tramways – which survived from the late-1800s until the mid-1950s, when their removal met substantial opposition – Waller’s book is largely a photographic record of the beautiful trams…

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A real celebration of Scotland’s women of note

An unwillingness to acknowledge women or their achievements is a thread woven through history in every corner of the globe. It’s with this in mind that Stevenson has written a collection of poems which celebrate and pay tribute to the many women who have contributed to Scottish history, from queens and scientists to salt-sellers and…

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Anecdotes of Ages Collection is an instant classic

The Macallan has unveiled the Anecdotes of Ages Collection, an art and whisky collaboration with globally renowned British pop artist, Sir Peter Blake. The collaboration, which is The Macallan’s third with the iconic artist and is part of a relationship which has spanned more than three decades, celebrates The Macallan’s rich legacy and Sir Peter…

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A gripping read with a contemporary feel

Stay Mad, Sweetheart’s synopsis didn’t sell it to me. Exploring issues of workplace discrimination and ‘the grey areas of consent’, Kist’s book is highly addictive thanks to a plot full of suspense and fascinating protagonists who face uphill struggles with gender inequality. Laura, a skilled yet modest data scientist, decides to put her technological know-how…

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An adventurous tale to appeal to early teens

Using Smailholm’s natural beauty as the backdrop to a secret, magical world, Williams’ 16th-century tale is full of imagination. Wynn, daughter of Laird and Lady Hoppringle, uncovers a miniature world unfurling beneath the brambles at Smailholm Tower – a scene reminiscent of The Borrowers and Alice in Wonderland – and works to break the curse…

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Taking a look round a grave matter in Edinburgh

Across the centuries, countless notable (and less so) Scottish figures have been laid to rest in the capital. Golledge, a local historian, explores the individual history of sites such as St Cuthbert’s, Greyfriars Kirkyard and Old Calton Burial Ground, revealing both how losses were mourned and lives celebrated. An interesting insight into the connection between…

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The Wigtown Poetry Prize is launched for 2021

The Wigtown Poetry Prize, an annual celebration of poets and poems in the country’s three indigenous languages, has had its first ever digital launch. The decision follows the success of last year’s online prizegiving ceremony (which was part of the Wigtown Book Festival) in reaching a larger, worldwide audience. It is hoped there will be…

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Three women linked through time by prejudice

Anchored by the presence of the iconic Bass Rock, this novel by Evie Wyld is a catalogue of brutal male dominance, following the lives of three women separated by centuries but linked by prejudice. And while countless authors have written of female victims and male villains, Wyld’s thought-provoking plots separate this book from many others…

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The man behind ‘think global, act local’ in focus

Author Patrick Stephen is incredibly well versed on the life of Patrick Geddes, the biologist, sociologist and town planner behind the ‘think global, act local’ concept. The author’s contention is that there’s much to learn from the sage, particularly with reference to the current climate emergency. Geddes, who would ‘see the problem and throw himself…

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A delicious foccia to make at home

As lockdown continues, we are all looking to find things to keep us busy. Thanks to Katia Crolla, owner of the East Coast, a restaurant in Musselburgh, East Lothian, we can try making a delicious bread. The East Coast is the next chapter for the Crolla family, who have been serving the folk of Musselburgh…

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