Fordyce Maxwell book to raise money for prostate cancer charity

A collection of newspaper columns from esteemed journalist Fordyce Maxwell have been made into a book to raise money for prostate cancer. Fordyce died last year, aged 77, but now a collection of 50 of his finest Scotsman articles has been published by his family to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. When Trees Were…

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Shortlist for Scotland’s National Book Awards announced

The shortlist for Scotland’s National Book Awards has been announced, featuring books on climate change, the importance of male friendships and King James VI. The Saltire Society awards recognise work across six literary categories, from fiction to research, history and poetry. The winners each receive a cash prize of £2,000 and go on to be considered…

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The path less trodden: An unforgettable stay at Farlam Hall

Ellie Forbes crosses the border for a staycation to remember at Farlam Hall.  If you are travelling down the M6 for a staycation it could be assumed you’re headed for the Lake District or Northumberland. But I recently stopped just short of these ever popular tourist traps, in an overlooked part of Cumbria, nestled just…

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Da Vinci of Denfield Avenue: How artist William McLaren used a council flat wall to brush up on his skills

An incredible Renaissance style mural by artist William McLaren was discovered in an unassuming council flat in Fife. McLaren was an illustrator, painter and artist who worked for magazines such as Radio Times and The Listener, and The Sphere, a weekly newspaper.  His commissions also included murals for the magnificent Hopetoun House in West Lothian.…

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William Shakespeare’s first folio to go on display

A 400-year-old collection of some of William Shakespeare’s first works including Macbeth is to go on display. The National Library in Edinburgh will display the works as part of the Treasures of the National Library of Scotland exhibition at George IV Bridge. Originally published seven years after Shakespeare’s death in 1616, the folio includes 36 plays –…

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