Posts Tagged ‘reviews’
Historical adventures after Culloden
I’m normally a fan of historical novels so Son of a Jacobite sounded right up my street. Beginning at Culloden in 1746, Thomas Lovat enters the world on the same day that his father is killed in action. Inspired by the author’s family heritage to the Clan Fraser of Lovat, the novel takes its protagonist…
Read MoreThe perfect book for Scottish lighthouse fans
If, like Sarah Kerr, you are an avid pharologist (the technical term for lighthouse enthusiasts) then this guide is the perfect purchase for you. It’s the only one of its kind to provide a comprehensive listing of more than 600 lighthouses in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands. The…
Read MoreCharting Scotland’s long history through verse
An anthology of poetry charting Scotland’s journey through the high and low points of its history using the medium of verse. This unique poetic saunter through the centuries also includes a useful little explanation of the background and the events that led to the penning of each poem. This book is the perfect way to…
Read MoreWorld War I – as seen first hand in the trenches
Mud and Bodies is a fascinating collection of letters and extracts from the war diaries of Captain NAC Weir during the period 1914-1920. The diaries were found by his grandson shortly after his death and provide a first-hand account of the life of a young soldier on the Western Front during WW1. It includes an…
Read MoreCelebrating the capital in words and pictures
Edinburgh means different things to many people. In this book, the product of a collaboration between photographer Allan Wright and poet Gerda Stevenson, the interaction of their dual perspectives on the capital makes for a different take on the traditional Edinburgh coffee table book. Eighty-seven photographs are accompanied by 22 new poems, some in Scots,…
Read MoreA delicious book to awaken the tastebuds
Mezze – Small Plates to Share is a delightfully appetising recipe book. It explores the taste of the Middle East and the Mediterranean through a vast selection of scrumptious mezze dishes, made from fresh and healthy ingredients which can be enjoyed at any time of the day. This vibrant book, which features beautiful photography by Jan Baldwin,…
Read MoreTaking a look at golf in unexpected places
From the hills of Northumberland, through Border Reiver country and up to Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, the journey taken in this book explores the possibilities for playing golf in remote, beautiful and unexpected places. This ideal golfer’s guide showcases a selection of nine-hole courses in spectacular settings in a book that is sure to go…
Read MoreHow a Scotsman took cricket to South Africa
In 1877, young Scotsman James Douglas Logan emigrated to South Africa. Within a few years he had made his fortune through business, politics and his association with the most favoured of imperial pastimes – cricket. This is the fascinating story of how Logan, the son of a Borders railwayman, was instrumental in the development of…
Read MoreA festive celebration – written in Scots
The 12 Days O Yule is the perfect children’s book to sing along to. This is a beautifully illustrated Scots version of the original Christmas rhyme. Inspired by the traditional verse, this lovely adaptation features Scots words and animals that are easy to understand and pronounce. It describes the journey through the twelve days of…
Read MoreBoswell Book Festival returns for its 10th outing
The 10th Boswell Book Festival will take place at Dumfries House in Ayrshire later this year. Running from 8-10 May, the event was founded to celebrate the life and work of the great writer and long recognised inventor of modern biography, James Boswell of Auchinleck. Set in the beautifully restored house, saved for the nation…
Read More