Books
Royal Celtic Society’s history brought to book
The history of the first 200 years of the Royal Celtic Society has been marked in a new book. Priscilla Scott has chronicled the history in The Royal Celtic Society 1820–2020, a lavishly illustrated history of this little-known organisation, published to celebrate its bicentenary. The society (which did not become ‘Royal’ until 1873) was founded…
Read MoreCasting a Gaelic eye over Scotland’s place names
A comprehensive field guide to Scotland’s Gaelic landscape has been released, in an expanded and updated second edition. Reading the Gaelic Landscape, by John Murray, helps people to interpret the Highland landscape through place names, while the landscape character and history are perceived through a Gaelic lens. Following the success of the first edition, this…
Read MoreA dog’s tail is a heartwarming story for wee ones
After his mother’s death, Josh is sent to live with his uncle on a farm on a remote Scottish island. One day he comes across an abandoned border collie puppy. Josh breaks his uncle’s strict no-pets policy by keeping the puppy in secret. When his deceit is discovered, it threatens everything. Perfect for younger readers,…
Read MoreThis gripping novel will hook you until the end
Psychologist Dr Angie Lawrence, director of the new Hazelnut Assessment Centre for difficult adolescents in Orkney, is known for her odd yet effective methods. As her husband becomes increasingly worried about these methods, Angie’s tragic past starts to come to light. This is a gripping novel that will keep your attention. The Crazy Psychologist, by…
Read MoreEdinburgh’s old town in prose, poetry and photos
Renowned storyteller John Fee offers a unique insight into Edinburgh’s Old Town. This is a book that blends prose, poetry and photography to bring to life this famous part of Edinburgh. A lot of effort has clearly gone into collecting the various stories, making this an enlightening read even for locals who’ve lived here all…
Read MoreThe perfect guide to Scotland’s various islands
The Scottish Islands is an incredibly detailed guide to all of the Scottish islands, large and small. The author has an extensive knowledge of the topic gained from a lifetime of sailing the waters of Scotland’s coasts, and he provides insights into everything from geology to history and how to get there. The Scottish Islands:…
Read MoreBringing seaweed into every day cooking
Most of us have eaten food containing seaweed, but few of us will have actually cooked with it, something that BBC Masterchef finalist Fiona Bird is looking to change. Living in the Hebrides, Bird sources the finest natural produce for all of her recipes. The book combines Bird’s foraging skills with her imaginative recipes to…
Read MoreA pagan icon is found in dramatic novel
The deeply unpopular Reverend Burnett gets hold of a pagan icon that has been unearthed in his village, in Silma Hill. When the person who discovered the icon is found dead, the local villagers, fuelled by their hatred of the minister, blame his daughter and accuse her of witchcraft. To save his daughter he’ll have…
Read MoreBarney Thomson – the barber a cut above the rest
Scots-born author Douglas Lindsay had written seven novels about Barney Thomson before Hollywood took note and propelled his character onto the big screen in a major motion picture starring Emma Thompson, Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone. The Legend of Barney Thomson tells the story of a socially inept barber whose life, through a series of…
Read MoreFantastic beasts (but not where to find them)
This book vividly brings to life the mythical creatures from a wide range of Scottish legends and folklore. It beautifully engages the imagination thanks to both the stories and the incredible illustrations that accompany them. This picture book has everything – the Loch Ness Monster is here, of course, but so are the less well-known…
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