Posts Tagged ‘review’
The perfect book for the Scottish film buff
The evolution of Scottish film culture resides in industrial, creative and critical changes since the 1970s. Reconsidering well-known films, such as The Last King of Scotland, as well as uncovering the overlooked, this refreshingly readable, if surprisingly expensive, book explores the diversity of Scottish culture portrayed in film. An essential for any student of British…
Read MoreThe perfect book for the deer stalker
Ingeniously combining facts, trivia, advice and personal observation with fictional short stories, this is the perfect book for every deer stalking enthusiast. Covering everything from recipes to stalking techniques this book will surprise even the most well-versed deer aficionado while being easy going enough for the newly enthused novice. The Deerstalker’s Bedside Book, by Charles Smith-Jones,…
Read MoreEmbrace the darkness with Britain at night
Dixe Wills embraces the darkness that is brought at sun-down by exploring Britain and sharing his thoughtful, and often riveting, experiences after sunset. From seeking supernatural thrills in the fables of mythical creatures to encountering the natural nocturnal habits of some of Scotland’s most spectacular wildlife, Dixe illuminates the darkness and invites us to join…
Read MoreCelebrating the nation’s micro-distilleries
Distillation is a sort of magic that involves taking humble grains and turning them into wonderfully intoxicating spirits. Industrialisation has sucked the magic from the trade but the micro-distiller exists to keep the dream alive. This book explores 75 artisan micro-distilleries – their history, where you can buy their produce and, most importantly, what it…
Read MoreCelebrating the Gaelic experience
A forgotten and marginalised culture, the Gaelic experience is exposed as it was, is and all it might be. Written in both English and Gaelic, Shore to Shore, is an anthology of Gaelic raps, secular poems and aphorisms artistically and vividly bringing the Gaelic world to life. Descendants of Gaels now reside in every corner…
Read MoreA historical novel that’s so intense it feels real
Rosemary Goring’s powerful sequel to her critically acclaimed debut After Flodden is set in the tumultuous borderlands of Scotland and England. Dacre’s War is a story of personal and political vengeance at the heart of the power struggle. It has been a decade since the battle at Flodden and the unrest is rife in the…
Read MoreThe Scotsman who shot President Lincoln
From Joe Rosenthal’s striking image of the moment the American flag was raised on Iwo Jima – the most reproduced image of all time – to Nick Ut’s heart-wrenching Pulitzer-winning photograph of burning children fleeing a napalm bomb in Vietnam, photographs of war represent some of the most memorable images of modern times. Among the…
Read MoreA handy guide to Scotland’s monsters and creatures
From unicorns and dragons to the Ghillie Dhu and Morag of Morhobhar, The Book of Beasties: A Scottish Bestiary of Old is a beautifully illustrated gift book certain to inspire innocently belief-filled questions from children. Posing as the long-lost sketchbook of The Great Clan Chief seems inauthentic but despite this the book maintains a certain…
Read MoreWhen gambling debts lead to a kidnapping
Middle-class parents Victoria and Nicholas Foulkes are distraught when their children are kidnapped against Nicholas’ gambling debts. Penniless and desperate, the couple turn to crime as a way to raise the ransom. Can they save their children before time runs out? New talent Smith delivers a fast-paced page turner in this brilliant and believable debut…
Read MoreThe Scots who hunted for seabirds to eat
At one stage the sea-bird was commonplace on the Scottish dinner plate; from the puffin to the cormorant. Every year, ten men from Ness on the northern tip of Lewis sail the perilous voyage to Sula Sgeir, and for a fortnight they live and hunt baby gannets on this remote rock. Murray tells their story,…
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