Posts Tagged ‘Sir Walter Scott’
Sir Walter Scott’s lasting legacy for the whole nation
No author has ever had as much influence and impact as Sir Walter Scott. With his narrative poems and his series of stories, latterly called the Waverley Novels, he did not just change what the world thought of Scotland, he radically transformed literary culture. When I wrote about his long shadow in my book Scott-Land,…
Read MoreTen famous places from books set in Scotland
Scotland has inspired countless authors from JK Rowling to Arthur Conan Doyle. With our fantastic architecture and natural wonders, it’s no wonder it has been so inspiring to the literary greats. Here are just a few places recounted in our favourite Scottish novels. 1. The Oxford Bar, Edinburgh Famous for its literary connections, The Oxford…
Read MoreFrederick Douglass spoke on his abolition mission
Frederick Douglass, the pioneering abolitionist, former slave, writer, and the first African American to run for high office, had a relationship with Scotland long before he ever set foot on these shores. At a Burns Supper in 1849 when he returned to New York, he pronounced ‘though I am not a Scotchman, and have a…
Read MoreEnjoy the wonders of nature in the winter
A celebration of the winter wonders of the natural world is taking place this Sunday. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, is throwing open its doors on George Street on Sunday afternoon, 9 December, with a free afternoon of talks, storytelling, film screenings and a special Festive café and again on 10…
Read MoreScotland’s natural wonder with a colourful past
The beauty of Beauly and Strathglass first attracted the attentions of royalty and high society centuries ago – and it still continues to dazzle visitors today. Believed to have been founded in the 13th century by John Byset, Lord of the Aird, for Valliscaulian monks, the Beauly Priory is now a ruin. The roofless red…
Read MoreSilent Rob Roy film from 1922 to get rare screening
Tickets to a rare screening of the Rob Roy film from 1922 are to go on sale on St Andrew’s Day. The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest) has announced that it will open its 2019 programme with a rare screening of Rob Roy accompanied by a new score composed and performed by multi-instrumentalist David Allison.…
Read MoreA love affair that has lasted over 500 years
The origins of the Palace of Holyroodhouse lie in the religious, or monastic, setting of the Holy Rood, which is said to have been a fragment of the cross of Jesus Christ which found its way from the Holy Land to Edinburgh. There is also the tale of David I of Scotland (1124-1153) having a…
Read MoreThe love story that produced beautiful Paxton House
Unusually for Scotland, Paxton House, situated on the banks of the meandering River Tweed in Berwickshire, has its origins in a love story. It began when Patrick Home met and fell in love with Prussian heiress Sophie de Brandt whilst at Leipzig University in 1750, and continued when, being affable and charming, he eased his…
Read MoreMagnificent mansion once owned by Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott’s favourite home, a magnificent A-listed mansion set above the River Tweed, is currently on the property market. Ashiestiel House, in Clovenfords, Selkirkshire, is presented for sale by Savills, this magnificent home has four reception rooms, seven bedrooms, seven bath/shower rooms, two secondary bedrooms, a gardener’s cottage, outbuildings, a garage, gardens and parkland.…
Read MoreScots casualties at the Battle of The Alamo
The Alamo is known as ‘the Shrine of Texas Liberty’. Ever since the victory at San Jacinto in 1836, Texans and other Americans have shouted ‘Remember the Alamo’ as they charged into battle. But 80% of the men who died at the Alamo in 1836 were Scots or of Scots descent – and all of…
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