Books
14th-century woman’s face revealed by Whithorn Priory
THE face of a 14th-century woman buried on a bed of seashells at Whithorn Priory will be revealed today as part of Wigtown Book Festival. The woman’s features have been recreated in a three-dimensionial (3D) animation, with sound. Her face is being unveiled ahead of “Bishops, Bones, and Burials”, a Whithorn Trust event that will…
Read MoreWigtown Book Festival welcomes fiddlers
MUSICIANS from throughout Dumfries & Galloway joined members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra (SFO) for a concert yesterday lunchtime at Wigtown Book Festival. Beth Porter of The Bookshop Band was among the fiddlers taking part, along with her baby, Emmy Please. The SFO was co-founded by the late John Mason, who spent much of his…
Read MoreNational Theatre of Scotland sets sail with Kidnapped
THE National Theatre of Scotland has unveiled its retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella, Kidnapped. The show will have its world premiere at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on 31 March. It will then go on tour to the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Eden Court in Inverness, Perth Theatre, and Northern Stage…
Read MoreBook Festival sends ‘Outriders’ on their way
FOUR Scottish writers are teaming up with a quartet of their European contemporaries for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s third “Outriders” project. The programme was launched in 2017, with Scottish writers pairing up with international peers to travel through the Americas and Africa. The writers share stories from their trips at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.…
Read MoreWigtown Book Festival inspires Irish book town
IRELAND could soon get its first “book town” thanks to inspiration from Wigtown Book Festival. Granard in County Longford aims to raise £20,000 for its inaugural literary festival. Wigtown has been hailed as the “perfect model for arts-based economic regeneration”. The Galloway community became “Scotland’s National Book Town” in 1998. Its ten-day Wigtown Book Festival…
Read MoreWinners revealed at Bloody Scotland book festival
TWO crime writers carried off the top prizes last night as the Bloody Scotland book festival got underway in Stirling. Alan Parks won the McIlvanney Prize for May God Forgive, while Tariq Ashkanani took the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize with Welcome to Cooper. Ayo Onatade, chair of the McIlvanney Prize judges, described May God Forgive…
Read MoreHost named for Outlander author Diana Gabaldon event
THE host has been named for an event in Inverness with Outlander author Diana Gabaldon. Local historian and author Sarah Fraser will interview the writer on stage at Eden Court theatre on 15 October. Fraser appeared in the Men in Kilts television series alongside Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham MacTavish “I am very excited…
Read MoreDoric scriever starts residency
DORIC writer Shane Strachan has been named as the next Scots scriever by the National Library of Scotland. The role involves promoting the Scots language by carrying out research at the library and producing original work. Strachan said: “I’m fair trickit tae be this year’s Scots scriever, especially gettin tae promote the Doric o my…
Read MoreThe Portobello Bookshop launches books by post
A SUBSCRIPTION service for book lovers has been unveiled by The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh. “Porty by Post” provides a fiction or non-fiction book each month, along with an interview with an author in an accompanying booklet. Gifts from fellow independently-owned local businesses are also included in the pack, along with a bookmark and a…
Read MoreLady Glenconner at Royal Scots Club lunch
THE Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh is preparing to host Lady Glenconner for its next literary lunch. Lady Glenconner, 90, was maid of honour at the Queen’s coronation and was appointed as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret in 1971. Her memoir, Lady in Waiting, was published in 2019 and became a best-seller, with Lady Glenconner…
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