Books
A stunning guide to Mull’s beautiful natural history
If you are the sort of person who normally shies away from guidebooks, I would go as far as guaranteeing that you should reconsider for Wild Mull: A Natural History of the Isle of Mull and its People. Written by Stephen Littlewood, with photography from Martin Jones, this book is both a celebration of the…
Read MoreScotland’s National Book Awards shortlist is out
The Saltire Society has announced the shortlists for the 2021 Scotland’s National Book Awards. The winners of all ten prizes, as well as the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year and the recipient of the second Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow on Saturday, November 27. Scotland’s National Book Awards,…
Read MoreThe Lord who planned to transform the islands
Lord of the Isles tells the rather unknown story of Lord Leverhulme. In 1918-19, he purchased Harris and Lewis with an ambitious vision to transform the islands into a thriving centre of industry and commerce. With gregarious energy he planned great harbours, factories and travel links, but his plans to abolish the crofting system were…
Read MoreTwelve contenders for this year’s Highland Book Prize
The longlist for the 2021 Highland Book Prize has been revealed. The Highland Book Prize, established in 2017, celebrates the finest published work that recognises the rich talent, landscape and cultural diversity of the Highlands. This annual prize is open to work in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Presented by the Highland Society of London and…
Read MoreMcCall Smith’s latest novel brings joy and light
There really is no stopping Alexander McCall Smith, with the release of his latest novel, The Joy and Light Bus Company. This is the 22nd installment in the internationally beloved No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is equally as brilliant as the previous editions. Mma Ramotswe is wary of her husband’s potential business venture and is…
Read MoreA handy guide to some perfect walking days out
Scotland is the ideal country for lovers of the great outdoors, with so many incredible locations to explore and walk. Whether looking for a gentle amble or to scale one of the 21 Munros in the area, this book provides walks for all, from low-level well-trodden trails to strenuous outings in the high mountains. The…
Read MoreA fascinating look at the time of Mary, Queen of Scots
The Survival of the Crown is hefty tome that is definitely one for the history scholar, rather than the casual reader. This is volume two, and the concluding part of Stedall’s heavily researched history of Mary, Queen of Scots, offering a detailed contribution to our understanding of this most significant period in the history of…
Read MoreThe fascinating rise of a Scots statesman
The eventful life and career of Sir John Malcolm, a distinguished combatant, statesman and man of letters who spent most of his life in India, has been a story little told in his native Scotland. An ambitious and bold man who left his impoverished beginnings as one of 17 children of a tenant farmer in…
Read MoreA fascinating look at the world in 100 moments
You are not alone in wondering how one goes about filtering through a million years to form an articulate narrative. Yet Neil Oliver achieves this incredibly succinctly and with rare wit. Travelling through space and time on a whistlestop tour of the world, Oliver offers a tangible array of moments which give an invaluable and…
Read MoreHayley Mills to speak at the latest literary lunch
The Royal Scots Club are delighted to announce their next Literary Lunch featuring Hayley Mills. The daughter of Sir John Mills will be discussing her new book Forever Young, a memoir of the first 21 years of her fascinating life. Hayley, who won an Oscar for her role in Pollyanna, went on to make such…
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