Books
Another success from Alexander McCall Smith
It is a rarity to find each book in a long series as enjoyable as the last, and yet McCall Smith’s 21st instalment of his much adored No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency has captured the imagination once more. Grabbing the attention from the get-go in a stifling Gaborone setting, McCall Smith’s intelligent yarn is woven with…
Read MoreOpening our eyes to the wonders of the past
To see the world through the eyes of acclaimed archaeologist and television presenter Neil Oliver, if only for a day, would be a true gift – and this tome is about as close as it gets. It pays testament to Oliver’s enthusiasm for the history woven into every square inch of Scotland’s romantic landscapes, and…
Read MoreScandis and Americans join Scots for Granite Noir
AUTHORS from Scotland, Scandinavia and the United States will star in next month’s online Granite Noir book festival. Aberdeen’s international crime writing extravaganza will include appearances by Camilla Läckberg and Attica Locke. Well-kent faces popping up on screen include David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Val McDermid, Jo Nesbo, and Ian Rankin. The festival will…
Read MoreStanza poetry festival approaches
STANZA, Scotland’s international poetry festival, is just a few weeks away, with excitement building for the launch of the first ever hybrid event. The past 12 months have been incredibly challenging for the cultural sector, so to be hosting a festival in this climate in any form is a bonus. Stanza 2021 will, of course,…
Read MoreEdinburgh’s book festival flits to new home
THE Edinburgh International Book Festival is moving from its traditional home in Charlotte Square Gardens to the University of Edinburgh’s College of Art. This year’s festival will take place from Saturday 14 August to Monday 30 August at the college. The festival plans to use both indoor and outdoor spaces at the Lauriston Place site.…
Read MoreAlexander McCall Smith wins Edinburgh Award
THIS year’s Edinburgh Award will be presented to author and academic Alexander McCall Smith. The emeritus professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh will receive the honour in recognition of legal career and writing success. McCall Smith has become a hugely successful novelist through his The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, The Sunday…
Read MoreBook marks Bonnie Prince Charlie’s 300th birthday
A BOOK published to mark the 300th anniversary tomorrow of the birth of Prince Charles Edward Stuart calls for a reappraisal of his character and career. Reminiscences of a Jacobite by Michael Nevin, chairman of The 1745 Association, draws on Bonnie Prince Charlie’s previously unpublished words, as well as a number of other first-hand accounts.…
Read MoreBy the sea shore: The Seafood Shack cookbook
A trip to the coast is a free pass to indulge in the simple pleasures. Some collect seashells, others build sandcastles, and the day simply isn’t complete without sampling the Great Scottish Fruits de Mer. Thanks to local lasses Kirsty Scobie and Fenella Renwick, such fabulous fare is not hard to come by in Ullapool.…
Read MoreIan Rankin delves into his archive for online event
THE UK’s best-selling crime novellist, Ian Rankin, will lift the lid tomorrow on his literary archive. Rankin donated his archive to the National Library of Scotland last year. He also donated money towards creating a post to catalogue each item for the library, which was carried out by curator Rosemary Hall. Rankin and Hall will…
Read MoreAlexander McCall Smith’s Thursday festive conversation
NOVELIST Alexander McCall Smith will take part in an online festive conversation on Thursday night hosted by the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre. The author, who is also a Scottish Field columnist, will speak to Lance Butler, the centre’s new chair, via Zoom. The pair will discuss Christmas themes, including “compassion, altruism and hope” and…
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