Books
Book review: An Enormous Reckless Blunder
An Enormous Reckless Blunder tells the little-known story of the Lewis Chemical Works. In 1844, James Matheson purchased the Isle of Lewis with the fortune had had made from trading in the far east. He hoped to exploit peat deposits, which led to him creating the Lewis Chemical Works, to produce lighting oil and paraffin…
Read MoreBook review: Giants of the Clyde
The River Clyde in Glasgow was known internationally and recognised as the ultimate shipbuilding accolade. By as late as the 1950s around a seventh of the world’s total sea-going tonnage was built on the Clyde. It’s certainly no Mississippi or Amazon in size – but its history is legendary. From the many yards on its…
Read MoreBook Review: Highland Retreats
The north of Scotland is famous for its large country homes – so many great buildings, hidden away in quiet corners, surrounded by acres of rolling woodland. Mary Miers has brought together a collection of stunning images and informative text which tells the story of how, in the days long before inter-continental travel became an…
Read MoreBook review: The Haldanes of Gleneagles
In an age when celebrity names come and go in the blinking of an eyelid, there’s a Scottish family that has endured for over 900 years. The Haldanes played their part in Bruce’s Wars of Independence, religious struggles in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Act of Union and the Jacobite rebellion – showing just…
Read MoreAge is no barrier as Scots OAP writes his first book – in his 90s
They say that everyone has a book in them – and for one Scot, it’s just taken that little bit longer to put pen to paper. A 96-year-old Glaswegian has just published his first novel – which centres on a fight between South American drug barons. William Glen, a tenant at Bield’s Carntyne Gardens retirement…
Read MoreForgotten Scots author is resurrected to celebrate literary heritage
A celebration of female writers is being marked in the skies of Edinburgh. Message from the Skies, co-commissioned between Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, will continue to animate Edinburgh’s dark nights through to Burns Night on 25 January. Val McDermid has written a short story, New Year’s Resurrection, the first in a…
Read MoreFully booked for Christmas presents this year
The majority of people in Scotland plan to give books as Christmas presents this year. More than two-thirds of people in Scotland intend to give books as gifts, according to a new poll commissioned for Book Week Scotland. A huge 69% of people surveyed said they will buy books or book tokens for family and…
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