Books
A fascinating read that will keep you smiling
Despite what you might think, Your Inner Hedgehog is not a story about hedgehogs. Instead, it follows the story of the hilarious German professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld as he navigates life at his workplace, the University of Regensburg. Written by the best-selling author of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith, this is…
Read MoreFascinating tales from a shipwreck hunter
Treasure Islands: True Tales of a Shipwreck Hunter is a thrilling memoir. Alec Crawford recalls some of his most memorable dives from his time as a deep-water salvager, exploring shipwrecks off the coast. One particularly interesting exploration is that of the White Star liner Oceanic, which was the largest ship in the world at the…
Read MoreWhen lairds had their private railway stations
When compared to other books of its kind, Lairds in Waiting stands out. It focuses on the private railway stations and waiting rooms situated along the Highland route and the families and lairds who used them. (Think VIP lounges at the airport, reserved for high-flying A-listers). Paterson highlights the history of villages such as Fochabers…
Read MoreLonglist revealed for Bloody Scotland prize
Five years ago the Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award was renamed the McIlvanney Prize in memory of William McIlvanney. This year his final book, The Dark Remains, which was completed with the help of Ian Rankin, will be published on 2 September coinciding with the announcement of the McIlvanney Prize shortlist. The longlist…
Read MoreBoswell Book Festival is an international hit
People from across the world tuned in to the Boswell Book Festival’s virtual events last week with viewers from the UK, America, Italy, Canada, Australia, China and Norway amongst other countries. The Schools and Families programme saw over 40 schools signing up. The festival delivered a star-studded cast including broadcaster Andrew Marr, Andrew Cotter with…
Read MoreA look at Scotland’s oldest mountain refuge
As most Scots will know, Corrour Bothy is a staple in the Cairngorms landscape. Known as the oldest and most famous bothy in Scotland, Storer explores the history of this mountain refuge. This is a surprisingly fascinating and humorous book considering it is centered around such a small bolthole. This is mainly due to the…
Read MoreA celebration of the boutique Fife Arms Hotel
Located in the quaint village of Braemar, The Fife Arms is a boutique hotel like no other. This book provides a visual tour of the historic hotel after its stunning renovation beginning in 2015, detailing the craftmanship and hard work that went into its rejuvenation. The interior has been meticulously considered – each room tells…
Read MoreHilary Mantel wins Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
Hilary Mantel has won the 2021 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for The Mirror and the Light. This is the final novel in her Thomas Cromwell trilogy, eleven years after the first of the trilogy, Wolf Hall, won the inaugural Walter Scott Prize in 2010. She receives £25,000, and will take part in a…
Read MorePutting Scotland on the road to being transformed
I was a bit apprehensive about Old Ways New Roads: Travel in Scotland 1720-1832 first landed on my desk but my feelings were greatly misplaced. It details the 1725 military road and bridge-building programme implemented by the British military leader General Wade that went on to transform 18th-century Scotland. However, this description alone does not…
Read MoreA fascinating study of an important Scots figure
Mary Queen of Scots’ Secretary: William Maitland is a long overdue account of a man left out of the history books. William Maitland was a politician who played a crucial role in defending Mary, Queen of Scots’ throne and was behind the Scottish Reformation, altering the future of the country drastically and permanently. Stedall explores…
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