Book review: Flodden by Gary Mill

What’s the story? Flodden is a fantastic mixture of Scottish history and thoughtfully constructed fiction. The novel focuses on the epic battle between Scotland and England which took place on the slopes of Branxton Hill in Northumbria in 1513. It tells the story of King James IV of Scotland and a young arrow maker named…

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Learn about Muriel Spark from one of her closest friends

The centenary of Dame Muriel Spark later this month with a special talk given by the world-famous Scottish author’s close friend and journalist, Alan Taylor. Hosted by Aberdeen City Libraries, the event, entitled A Friendship with Muriel Spark, charts Alan’s friendship with Dame Muriel from the time he first interviewed her at home in Tuscany…

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It’s 40 years since Mull of Kintyre topped the charts

As the Christmas number one is set to be revealed, this year marks the 40th anniversary of a distinctly Scottish-sounding song. Paul McCartney’s Mull of Kintyre, co-written with Denny Laine and featuring the Campbeltown Pipe Band, topped the charts, and for a number of years was the biggest-selling single of all time – and also…

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Dreaming of a Christmas hit with Gaelic school choir

A group of Scottish schoolchildren are hoping to have a Christmas hit on their hands. ’S e Nollaig a th’ ann! (It’s Christmas!) is the title of the new Gaelic Christmas song recorded by Làn Chomais, a rock band of pupils from Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld with the backing of almost 1000 young voices…

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