Books
Celebrating powerful Scottish women
Mairi Kidd dedicates a third of her book to powerful Scottish women (the remainder to Irish and Welsh equivalents) whose tales have been overlooked or banished to the footnotes of historic literature. It is hard to look beyond the underlying politics of the narrative – with a strong focus on the fight for gender equality…
Read MoreA lavish book celebrating the Art of Whisky
A lavish new book celebrates and illuminates one of the world’s most iconic spirits, through the eyes of internationally acclaimed and award-winning photographer, Jon Purcell. The Art in Whisky provides a captivating and unique photographic interpretation of the fascinating world of whisky. Taking readers on a visual journey that percolates through the entire crafting process…
Read MoreA murder mystery with humour and intensity
Bad Debt is a cracking crime novel with less gore, more intrigue. The storyline is a little far fetched – defence lawyer Robbie Munro’s wife is stalked by a witness in a trial that she is prosecuting, and Robbie is charged for the witness’ murder. But with Robbie’s first person narrative immersing the reader fully…
Read MoreProtecting the world from the Fae
Seeking to protect the world from the Fae, Scottish sigil agent Aloysius MacBharrais is eccentric. As a sexagenarian he is a welcome change from the tormented teenage protagonists that dominate fantasy genres. However, Hearne admits in the author’s note that he struggled with Glaswegians’ accent in real life. The characters’ Scottish accents feel laboured and…
Read MoreA murder mystery on the isle of Jura
We didn’t have to wait long for the next instalment of Inspector Angus Blue’s whodunnits, and it doesn’t disappoint. Called to Jura after an attempted assassination on a cabinet minister, the inspector finds himself in a series of fantastically eerie landscapes and is forced to overcome several unexpected hurdles. As with The Peat Dead, the…
Read MoreMore than Chariots of Fire to Eric Liddell
Running The Race is a wonderful ode to an athlete whose steadfast dedication to both sport and faith inspired a nation. While most have seen Eric Liddell’s life played out on the silver screen in Chariots of Fire, Keddie delves deep into the history books, further unravelling the Scot’s progression from young Christian to sporting…
Read MoreScotland’s lost railway to the north-west
Academic books needn’t be reserved for PhD students with a knack for deciphering dense text. Drummond’s style is highly accessible, yet informative. Delving into archives, he unveils the story of north west Scotland in the 1890s, explaining why a railway to Ullapool never came to fruition. It is a niche topic, but even a transport…
Read MoreEleven recipients for New Writers Awards 2021
The Scottish Book Trust has revealed the recipients of New Writers Awards 2021. The group of 11 in the New Writers Awards 2021 are a selection of talented writers who have not yet published a full-length book or collection, and will receive professional guidance to help them move towards publication, as well as financial support.…
Read MoreA comprehensive account of Scotland’s art
Have you ever wondered about the backstory of James Guthrie’s ‘To Pastures New’ painting? Or indeed the tale of Henry Raeburn? Here to fill the art history void in our lives is Lachlan Goudie with this wonderful snapshot of Scottish art through the centuries – a comprehensive account of the nation’s creative history that caters…
Read MoreFascinating photos highlight our natural beauty
Colin Prior’s works are unfathomably beautiful, and while his fascination for landscape photography has earned him his stripes, his love for the resident wildlife has also intensified throughout a career which spans almost four decades. Having witnessed myriad species of bird suffer in the wake of human activity, Prior documents the natural world’s fragile equilibrium…
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