Books
Inspirational women of Scotland at heart of book
Renowned journalist Rosemary Goring delves deep into Scotland’s rich history in Scotland – Her Story, with the acutely perspective of what life was like for some of the country’s most inspirational women. From the outset Goring states that the exclusion of women from history means that ‘far too much history has been forever lost’ which she…
Read MoreCelebrating 12 parks in Scotland’s dear green place
John Cairney, a native Weegie, pays a personal tribute to 12 of Glasgow’s dear green spaces in A Walk in the Park. It’s a reminder that there’s much more to the city than its tenements and skyscrapers. Cairney concludes his survey of these parks with an exhortation to those people who are fixated by social…
Read MoreThe story of Scotland’s islands are all mapped out
Scotland: Mapping the Islands is a beautifully presented book which reproduces maps from the National Library of Scotland’s collection using the most up-to-date digital mapping techniques. Structured by themes such as people, naming, navigating, improving and escaping, this fascinating publication reveals the stories of Scotland’s islands, its people and the history of how they came…
Read MoreThe tough battle to keep a railway route on track
In Highland Survivor, David Spaven picks up on his father’s relentless quest to keep Britain’s most northerly and longest rural railway line operational. In this survey of the Far North Line, he details how the campaign to prevent the closure of the line proposed by the Beeching Report succeeded by examining eyewitness accounts from public…
Read MoreCapturing a turbulent period in Scottish history
It’s 1679 in Scotland and the king’s power is increasing with regard to the church – this is the dawn of Protestantism. In Changed Times, Ethyl Smith vividly evokes how life was during this significant historical period by using the auld Scottish dialect. The characters come alive with the vibrancy of these evocative accents in…
Read MoreFrom glass to plate in delicious combinations
For those who love a dram, Á Table: Whisky From Glass To Plate by the Islay-based, French food and drink journalist, Martine Nouet is not only a wonderful collection of whisky-based recipes, but a fascinating insight into the spirit’s history. She matches the perfect dram to all of her easy-to-follow recipes. Starters include Scottish Sushi…
Read MoreHighs and the lows of Scottish life from 1976-99
The Broken Journey is the second volume in Kenneth Roy’s collection on life in Scotland after the tragic events of World War II. His first volume The Invisible Spirit: A Life of Post-War Scotland 1945-75 was hugely successful, making this sequel a highly anticipated piece of work. The Broken Journey certainly lives up to expectations and…
Read MoreFather and son in the footsteps of the Romans
In its day, the Marches acted as a frontier between the Roman Empire and the unconquered lands of North Britain, two rival kingdoms. To enforce this separation, the Romans started the construction of Hadrian’s Wall in 117AD which spanned 73 miles from the mouth of the River Tyne to the Firth of Solway. Rory Stewart, together with his 90-year-old father the late Brian Stewart…
Read MoreScots author’s book wins 2019 Bookbug Picture Book Prize
A Scots author and children’s book publisher has won the 2019 Bookbug Picture Book Prize. Alan Windram’s book, One Button Benny (Little Door Books), which was illustrated by Chloe Holwill-Hunter, is the story of a little robot who has a special button that he is only allowed to press in an emergency, and of what…
Read MoreScottish Book Trust reveals New Writers Awards
The Scottish Book Trust has today announced the 10 recipients of the New Writers Award, which is supported by Creative Scotland. Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has supported over 100 creative individuals through the New Writers Awards, and 2019 marks the tenth anniversary of the prize. The New…
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