Posts Tagged ‘review’
A life on the ocean wave for the Scottish pirates
Pirates and Privateers in the 18th Century provides an interesting account of pirates – a surprising number of whom were Scots in real life. They have been portrayed on the big screen, in plays and books as heroes, romanticising the reality of these criminals of the sea. This book destroys the myth of buried treasure…
Read MoreThe former Queen of Scots with a famous brother
Margaret Tudor: The Life of Henry VIII’s Sister is brilliantly researched novel which transports the reader back to the 15th century. At times, this allows them to forget they’re reading non-fiction as they delve into the great and often hard life of a once Queen of Scots. Focused on Margaret Tudor, who is often overlooked…
Read MoreA history of the estates in the Lochaber area
This study of Lochaber, Clanship to Capitalism, is conducted by Richard Sidgwick who has had a lifelong connection with land management in the area. The knowledge he has gleaned from this has undoubtedly aided him in creating this fascinating history of the Western Highlands, complete with previously unseen illustrations and maps. The limited edition is…
Read MoreScottish myths and legends for children
East Lothian Folk Tales for Children weave the heritage of Scotland and storytelling together to tell some of the area’s most mysterious myths and stories. Learn the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, from an old tree and discover the Skeleton Boy who made his fortune selling art. This book is packed with anecdotes perfect…
Read MoreShining a light on Glasgow’s colourful past
Scotland’s second city deserves a book devoted to its colourful past and Alan Taylor demonstrates that there is much more to the ‘no mean city’ than meets the eye in Glasgow – The Autobiography. He strides across centuries and delves into numerous sources for these incisive anecdotes from natives such as Liz Lochead and Tartan…
Read MoreScottish fable given new life in the 21st century
Originally a Scottish fable written in 1440 by Richard Holland, The Book of the Howlat is re-imagining of one of the poetic gems of medieval Scotland. It tells the moral story of being true to one’s own nature. Similar to the Ugly Duckling tale, this children’s book introduces the Howlat, a body-conscious young owl who…
Read MoreThe tragic story of a World War I Scots soldier
Two siblings made a fascinating discovery when they opened a chest in their mother’s loft, which they found to be full of an Edinburgh soldier’s writings from World War One. The chest, which had lain unopened for 100 years, contained diaries, letters and poetry from the late Hamish Mann’s time in the trenches. Robert and…
Read MoreA fascinating year as the ethical carnivore
Over the course of a year, former Scottish Field staff writer Louise Gray decides to only eat what she has killed, a task that sounds impossible but is achieved with a gritty determination. Gray faces a variety of challenges – like the fact she might not be a very good shot – and overcomes these…
Read MoreScotland’s museum gems highlighted in book form
From Pictish Stones to Dolly the Sheep, this selection of over 100 items from the National Museum of Scotland is but a fraction of the veritable treasure trove it stores for the nation. Published to mark the 150th anniversary of the museum, the book roams through different departments such as Scottish history, archaeology, world cultures…
Read MoreAn insight into the lives of our working dogs
Given his 40 years of experience as a gamekeeper in Scotland, John Cowan is ideally placed to provide an informative account of the strengths and weaknesses of the different breeds of working dogs. He systematically describes their respective traits and passes on his extensive knowledge on how to train dogs for their working life on…
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