Books
Book review: The Whisky Dictionary by Iain Hector Ross
At first glance, the thought of a dictionary of whisky isnt’t the most gripping. However, appearances can be deceptive, and there’s plenty of humour throughout. Ross has brought together all aspects of the process into the one book, with absciscic acid and zephyr, featuring everything in between. Ben Averis’ illustrations break up the content, which…
Read MoreBook review – The Drowned and the Saved: When War Came to the Hebrides
What’s the story? A truly harrowing account, Wilson’s book sheds light on the untold Hebridean war experience, writes Stacey Wylie. The Drowned and the Saved pays homage to the victims and survivors of two tragic incidents: the sinking of American troop ship Tuscania by a German U-Boat, and the collision of another troop ship with…
Read MoreBook review – The Tweed Dales: Journeys and Excavations
What’s the story? In an interesting hybrid of historical writing, folklore and travel writing, Elspeth Turner and Donald Smith attempt to take their reader on both a literary and physical journey through the Scottish Borders. The atmosphere of each of the six journeys they discuss is evoked through stories, myths and true past events all…
Read MoreBook review: Madame Scotia, Madam Scrap by Hélène Witcher
What’s the story? Madame Scotia, Madam Scrap is the story of Héloïse Russell-Fergusson, an eccentric free spirit and pioneer of Hebridean and unconventional clarsach, or Celtic harp music. She was given the title of Druidic Bardess for her traditional highland music. Told by her niece Witcher whom Russell-Fergusson met on just one occasion, Madame Scotia,…
Read MoreWhen Frankenstein’s Monster collides with a self-driving car
Man-made monsters and utopian visions of the future enhanced by thinking machines are coming together in the week ahead. The Big Bang arts, literature and science festival in Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town, runs from 2-4 February and promises inspiring talks by leading scientists and authors, plus comedy, music, film, cabaret, food and drink. Among…
Read MoreBook review – Secret Peebles by Liz Hanson
For a town of 8376 people, Peebles has one heck of a history. Liz Hanson’s Secret Peebles brings it to life through a combination of facts, anecdotes, photographs and older illustrations, which fully capture the feel of the area. It’s very much a complete history with everything you could possibly want to know, from the…
Read MoreBook review – Skye: A Photographic Communion
Allan Wright’s book Skye: A Photographic Communion captures the nature and topography of the island in more than 100 images, from majestic landscapes to magical Fairy Pools and the endless captivating shorelines. The book also includes narrative about each of the main regions of the island, highlighting famous landmarks such as Talisker distillery and Dunvegan Castle.…
Read MoreBook review – The Island in Imagination and Experience
From Treasure Island to Robin Island, islands have long proved irresistible to mankind’s imagination. In this book, self-confessed island obsessive Barry Smith explores how islands attract us and examines the kind of human experiences that islands inspire. He has spent much of his 60-odd years at work, rest and play on islands all around the…
Read MoreBook review – Edinburgh in 50 Buildings
The capital’s rich and vibrant past is brought to life in Jack Gillon’s fascinating Edinburgh in 50 Buildings, which looks at the Scottish capital’s most significant structures. How many times have you walked past Jenner’s without noticing the ornate detail about its archways? Historic illustrations help to compare the then and now, showing how some…
Read MoreBook review – The Finest Road In The World by James Miller
James Miller tells the dramatic and sometimes surprisingly humorous story of travel and transport in the Highlands, from the eighteen century to the present. It is a story of journeys on foot, by horse, coach, steamer, locomotive, motor car and aircraft. Some of the figures in the book are very familiar – General George Wade, Thomas Telford…
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