Books
The struggles of a community fighting to survive
Shrouded in negative stereotypes and widely misunderstood, the Scottish travelling community are at the forefront of this novel. Lorn Macintyre has created characters with real depth, who draw empathy from the reader throughout their journey and remind us to withhold hasty judgements. Set in the Scottish landscape, the book draws on the power of nature…
Read MoreA celebration of Edinburgh’s New Town architecture
I’m not normally an avid reader of architectural volumes. But this collection of essays which reflects on the intellectual, economic and political contexts which provided the impetus for the expansion of Edinburgh’s New Town can be appreciated for its depth, high-class imagery and superior finish. The writing is dense, but the book is far from…
Read MoreA book celebrating the Secret Life of Tartan
When we think of tartan, wedding finery and shortbread tins might first spring to mind. But in The Secret Life of Tartan, tailor and fashion designer Vixy Rae shows how our national cloth is worth so much more than a pastiche or parody of Scottishness. By exploring the origins of tartan and its deep connection…
Read MoreThe Scotsman who aided Lord Wellington
This is a long overdue account of a man who played a crucial role in Scotland’s military alongside Lord Wellington, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1827. George Murray’s life was one of intelligence, loyalty and unexpected scandal. Harding-Edgar carefully documents Murray’s life while depicting in great detail the complex historical tapestry which acts as…
Read MoreA stunning collection of photography from Skye
When visiting Skye or the West Coast of Scotland more generally, most of us cross our fingers and pray for sunshine. However, the same cannot be said for photographer Morten Hansen. Inspired by the Viking explorers who first christened Skye ‘cloud island’, Hansen sets out to present the island in all its rainy glory –…
Read MoreDesigns on success in creative Edinburgh
With its beautiful architecture, world heritage status, and world-class art galleries and museums, Edinburgh is a city which is truly steeped in creative history. Although a walk through the Georgian splendour of the New Town or the winding, medieval streets of the Old Town makes the city’s charm evident, what is not so obvious is…
Read MoreThe perfect companion to the world of flyfishing
While I’m yet to develop any kind of interest in flyfishing and its paraphernalia, if the notion should arrive, Steve Woit’s book would probably be my first port of call. Filled with interviews from the worldwide community of collectors and enthusiasts along with photographs and posters spanning hundreds of years, it’s both informative and engaging.…
Read MoreDark Suits and Sad Songs has humour and darkness
The third in the DCI Daley thriller series, Dark Suits and Sad Songs is simultaneously dark and funny. A senior civil servant has committed suicide and two local drug-dealers lie dead, so when strange lights start appearing in the sky over Kinloch it’s clear there are dark forces at work. Now the fate of the…
Read MoreRoyal Celtic Society’s history brought to book
The history of the first 200 years of the Royal Celtic Society has been marked in a new book. Priscilla Scott has chronicled the history in The Royal Celtic Society 1820–2020, a lavishly illustrated history of this little-known organisation, published to celebrate its bicentenary. The society (which did not become ‘Royal’ until 1873) was founded…
Read MoreCasting a Gaelic eye over Scotland’s place names
A comprehensive field guide to Scotland’s Gaelic landscape has been released, in an expanded and updated second edition. Reading the Gaelic Landscape, by John Murray, helps people to interpret the Highland landscape through place names, while the landscape character and history are perceived through a Gaelic lens. Following the success of the first edition, this…
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