Posts Tagged ‘book reviews’
The Scots who made an impact in Argentina
Caithness to Patagonia tells the unknown story of emigration from Scotland to Patagonia. These two locations are literally a world apart, however in the late 19th and early 20th centuries a group of Scottish men and women from Caithness took on the challenge of developing this wild, open area of land. The story begins with…
Read MoreMagical tales from ancient Scots mythology
The Old Grey Magician is a compilation of short stories featuring Fionn and his crowd of men (the Fianna) and his poet son, Ossian. The Old Grey Magician is a mystical figure who frequently appears throughout Celtic mythology, often taking on different forms and shapeshifting. This book is one of the first collections featuring a…
Read MoreThe tragic story of a Scots soldier – in his own words
So many Scottish families have their own stories from World Wars I and II. This is the biography of Charles Grant Tennant, a pacifist who joined the Army at the outbreak of the Great War and died in May 1915. Cumbrae-based Fergus Boyle has assembled a fascinating first-hand account of the life of his great-uncle,…
Read MoreThe bravery and sacrifice of brave Scot Jane Haining
The true story of Scottish heroine Jane Haining is a truly harrowing one. As matron of a Hungarian residential school that housed Jewish orphans, Jane protected them with all her might, refusing to flee the country in 1944 – a decision that ultimately led to her death. Her story of self-sacrifice is portrayed by Miller…
Read MoreThe general who led an incredibly military career
General Sir Ralph Abercromby led an extraordinary life – he twice served as an MP, was appointed governor of Trinidad, Commander-in-Chief of Ireland. He was highly respected by his troops and this in-depth, absorbing read covers the French Revolutionary Wars, a critical time in Europe’s tumultuous political history. Though it requires intense concentration, and with…
Read MoreBook review – Savage Liberty by Elliot Pattison
The fifth book of the Bone Rattler series follows the adventures of exiled Scotsman Duncan McCallum in colonial America. This is a thrilling mystery novel placing fictional characters against a historical backdrop. In this new part of the saga, Duncan witnesses the explosion of a ship from London in Boston Harbour. Among conspiracies and threats,…
Read MoreBook review – I Am The Walker
Scotland’s open spaces are at the heart of the new novel by J M Robson. The life of the friendless 20-year-old geek Billy Donaldson, tormented by an abusive alcoholic father, a loveless mother and a deep lack of self-confidence, takes an unexpected twist when he decides to set off for the great Scottish outdoors for…
Read MoreBook review – Great Angling Disasters
Funny stories, bizarre events and curious anecdotes come together in this rich collection of fishing tales edited by Tom Quinn. The product of research into more than a century of fishing writings, Great Angling Disasters highlights an amusing side of fishing that practitioners and non-fi shers alike can enjoy, although the latter group might find…
Read MoreBook review: The Battle of Killiecrankie 1689
While the Battle of Culloden is quite clearly ingrained in many minds, one of the first great battles in the quest for Scottish independence is not quite as well known, despite being the most dramatic episode of the Jacobite risings. Author Stuart Reid sheds light on the events of the violent Battle of Killiecrankie in…
Read MoreBook review – Septimius Severus in Scotland
Archeologist Simon Elliott’s romp through the history of Roman Scotland is a hugely enjoyable read. Elliott focuses on Emperor Septimius Severus, who in 208AD led his army of 40,000 men north of Hadrian’s Wall, marching north to take the Antonine Wall and then reoccupying many forts built by Agricola over 100 years earlier following the…
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