Books
A celebration of Scotland at the Olympics
Not only does this marvellous book, Scotland’s Track and Field Olympians tell us stories of the lives, successes and significance of Scots athletes, but it places them in the wider context of the Games. From the very beginning, it is plain to see that Keddie is Olympics mad: he delves into the history of Scotland’s…
Read MoreA fascinating read – whether you like a dram or not
Don’t worry – The Language of Whisky is not a book which takes an oaky sip of Scotland’s finest and turns it into a seven-verse poem. No, this is about the extraordinary journey of whisky: from the Scottish Highlands to New York and Tasmania. This surprising book also takes us to the origins of our…
Read MoreThe fascinating secrets we all carry in our bones
Think medical chat is dry? Never want to be seated next to a doctor at a dinner party? Swap those name places back and think again. From the renowned forensic anthropologist Sue Black comes a remarkable culmination of stories told by our bones. Skeletons may mark the absence of life, but Black turns this on…
Read MoreA sensitive look at Glasgow in the 20th century
It is remarkable to think that the late Eric Watt was considered an amateur photographer. Capturing the second half of the 20th century in Glasgow, his works are nostalgic, evocative and delicate, and bring his subjects to life. His observations of the Dear Green Place and its residents are sensitive, and cover everything from politics…
Read MoreEdinburgh’s most gruesome murders brought together
Calling all Edinburgh dwellers: ever wondered if someone was murdered on your street long, long ago? Jan Bondeson reveals all in their articulate account of Edinburgh’s most gruesome murders. From house to house, Bondeson sets the scene with scrupulous details of our victims to be and retells their macabre endings. Perhaps not one to read…
Read MoreJenni Fagan’s latest novel is the most compelling yet
Prize-winning author Jenni Fagan does not disappoint with her latest novel, Luckenbooth, which is easily her most compelling yet. In her usual poetic style, Fagan tells of a nine-storey Edinburgh tenement just off the Royal Mile that is creaking with secrets. Throughout this haunting novel, characters’ secrets and memories live on in the howling gales…
Read MoreMaps are the forgotten weapons of war
The basis of A History of the Second World War In 100 Maps is that maps are ‘indispensable instruments of war’. If anyone can convince us of this it is world-leading military and cartographic historian Jeremy Black, who has studied a huge range of maps from the Second World War in minute detail. In this…
Read MoreThe hunt for witches in the Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders in the 17th century was awash with unrest. The destruction of the monarchy, civil war and the plague all bubbled together to create the perfect potion for a witch hunt – and it’s not all pointy hats and black cats. As well as delving into the details of some brutal witch trials…
Read MoreA pure dead brilliant take on the Gruffalo’s Child
If you are a parent or a grandparent, the chances are that you will be able to quote, at length, whole sections of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s book The Gruffalo. Or, indeed, you may know its sequel, The Gruffalo’s Child, and be able to spout sections of verse from it too. Just when you…
Read MoreDiscover life in the Granite City in wartime
A comprehensive historical treasure chest is what awaits in Craig Armstrong’s Aberdeen at War 1939-45. Black and white photographs are interspersed with detailed explanations of life in Aberdeen during World War Two. This is an interesting read for anyone from the north east. Armstrong successfully transports readers back in time in this poignant ode to…
Read More