Books
Discover who was the scourge of King Henry VIII
Whilst Mary, Queen of Scots is a familiar historical figure her mother, Marie de Guise, is relatively unknown. The historian and blogger Melanie Clegg delves into the relationship de Guise had with her French family, The Lorraines, with imaginative fervour which sees this lively biography often stray into the realms of fiction. Scourge of Henry…
Read MoreTravelling across Scotland is the wheel deal
Alan Brown’s love of biking leads him on a solo adventure from one side of the Scottish Highlands to another in Overlander: Bikepacking Coast to Coast across the Heart of the Highlands. That makes this the perfect read for cycling and adventure lovers. Focusing on the benefits of cycling to his physical and mental health,…
Read MoreBook club all ready to hold its very first event
A book club’s first launch with a bestselling author is taking place later this month. Rachel Wood, founder of Rare Birds Book Club is to host her first book launch event in collaboration with Sunday Times bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane. The event celebrating the launch of Don’t You Forget About Me is set to take…
Read MoreA life on the ocean wave for the Scottish pirates
Pirates and Privateers in the 18th Century provides an interesting account of pirates – a surprising number of whom were Scots in real life. They have been portrayed on the big screen, in plays and books as heroes, romanticising the reality of these criminals of the sea. This book destroys the myth of buried treasure…
Read MoreThe former Queen of Scots with a famous brother
Margaret Tudor: The Life of Henry VIII’s Sister is brilliantly researched novel which transports the reader back to the 15th century. At times, this allows them to forget they’re reading non-fiction as they delve into the great and often hard life of a once Queen of Scots. Focused on Margaret Tudor, who is often overlooked…
Read MoreA history of the estates in the Lochaber area
This study of Lochaber, Clanship to Capitalism, is conducted by Richard Sidgwick who has had a lifelong connection with land management in the area. The knowledge he has gleaned from this has undoubtedly aided him in creating this fascinating history of the Western Highlands, complete with previously unseen illustrations and maps. The limited edition is…
Read MoreScottish myths and legends for children
East Lothian Folk Tales for Children weave the heritage of Scotland and storytelling together to tell some of the area’s most mysterious myths and stories. Learn the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, from an old tree and discover the Skeleton Boy who made his fortune selling art. This book is packed with anecdotes perfect…
Read MoreShining a light on Glasgow’s colourful past
Scotland’s second city deserves a book devoted to its colourful past and Alan Taylor demonstrates that there is much more to the ‘no mean city’ than meets the eye in Glasgow – The Autobiography. He strides across centuries and delves into numerous sources for these incisive anecdotes from natives such as Liz Lochead and Tartan…
Read MoreScottish fable given new life in the 21st century
Originally a Scottish fable written in 1440 by Richard Holland, The Book of the Howlat is re-imagining of one of the poetic gems of medieval Scotland. It tells the moral story of being true to one’s own nature. Similar to the Ugly Duckling tale, this children’s book introduces the Howlat, a body-conscious young owl who…
Read MoreWhisky yearbook goes perfectly with a dram
Ingvar Ronde undoubtedly knows his stuff when it comes to our country’s national drink. This year’s whisky yearbook not only introduces the reader to a broad number of distilleries from all over Scotland, but also educated the reader on distilleries in Japan. This is a great little reference book for anyone with a passion for…
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