Best
Scottish Books and Books About Scotland
My
personal list of some of the best Scottish Books. Not only your
typical Scottish Tourist books and Scottish Travel Guides, but
books, fiction and non-fiction, which scratch under the surface
and show the real Scotland and History, Culture, and People
of Scotland in words and images. Scotland has not only produced
great writers, but has also been a great source of inspiration
for writers from throughout the world. I hope you enjoy browsing
through my web pages of the Best Scottish Books.
 A History of Scotland. Scotland's history has been badly served over the years. Neil Oliver is a Scottish archaeologist, historian and broadcaster best known for his distinctive voice and long black hair and as the charismatic presenter of the award-winning documentary series Coast.
 Rivers And Lochs Of Scotland Rivers And Lochs Of Scotland. Bruce Sandison's Rivers and Lochs of Scotland is the only book on fishing in Scotland that an angler will ever need. For anyone fishing in Scotland, this book is the angler's bible.
 Scotland's Mountains. A Landscape Photographer's View. Following the success of Scotland's Coast, acclaimed landscape photographer Joe Cornish has trained his lens on another outstanding feature of the country for which he holds so much affection, its mountains.
Medieval
Scotland Of all the Celtic peoples once dominant across
the whole of Europe north of the Alps, the Scots were the only
ones who established a kingdom that lasted. Wales and Brittany,
subject to the same sort of pressure from a powerful neighbour,
retained linguistic distinctiveness but lost political nationhood;
Ireland became a patchwork of petty kingdoms, unable to throw
off the domination of the English. What made Scotland's history
so different from theirs?
Scotland Whiskypedia. This is a wholly new approach to understanding and enjoying Scotch malt whisky, by the foremost authority on the subject in collaboration with one of Scotland's leading photographers.
Ghosts Of Scotland. Scotland is a haunted nation with hundreds of ghosts frequenting buildings old and new. It is also a land of castles and virtually every one seems to be haunted. Yet country houses are haunted too and even small private houses located in the midst of housing estates have ghosts of their own.
Lairds and Luxury. The Highland Gentry in Eighteenth Century Scotland. A critical account of the social, economic and cultural experience of consumption and luxury of the Highlands. It looks at all classes and various professions, finally looking closely at the Highland gentry during a period of significant change. The subject is inspired by a commonly articulated moral criticism of the gentry, that they were more luxurious and feckless than similar groups elsewhere and that their conspicuous consumption ultimately ruined the Highland economy and destroyed Highland social relationships.
Billy Connolly Journey to the Edge of the World. In the summer of 2008 Billy Connolly set sail on a ten-week journey from ocean to ocean: from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by way of the Northwest Passage - a fabled route deep within the Arctic Circle that has thwarted explorers and fortune-hunters for centuries.
 The Broon's
Day Oot The Broon's
Day Oot. a guide to days out in Scotland, with extensive coverage of Historic Scotland and National Trust for Scotland sites. There are ideas to go to Galleries and Museums, Castles and Gardens
Taste Ye Back. Great Scots and the Food That Made Them. This is a gem of a book. Sue Lawrence has interviewed 70 prominent Scots and unlocked their beloved memories of food and what it was like for them growing up.
AA 100 Walks in Scotland Enjoy the best of the Scottish countryside with this compact, and easy-to-carry walking guide offering highlights of Scotland
Scotland The Best. The true Scot's insider's guide to the very best Scotland has to offer.
Famine in Scotland, the 'ill Years' of the 1690s. This book examines the climatic and economic origins of the last national famine to occur in Scotland.
 Scotland and America 1600 to 1800. While the literature relating to Scottish contact with America has grown significantly in recent years, the influence of America on Scotland and its early modern history has been neglected in favour of a preoccupation with Scottish influence on the formation of North American national identities.
Bare-arsed Banditti: The Men of the '45. They were modern men: doctors and lawyers, students and teachers, shoemakers and shopkeepers, farmers, gardeners and weavers.
Military Survey of Scotland. The Great Map. Military Survey of Scotland 1747 to 1755. Immediately after the Jacobite Rising of 1745 an extraordinary exercise took place in Scotland, nothing short of a detailed survey of the whole of mainland Scotland, which was to have a great influence on the future of mapping.
Country Life in Scotland. The updated version of Scottish Country Life, the classic account of rural life in Scotland.
Plant Hunters of Scotland. The Tree Collector. Life and Explorations of David Douglas. David Douglas was one of the most important botanical collectors there has ever been.
The Woodlands of Scotland. A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland, 1500-1920.
Whisky Blending. Richard Paterson has Scotch whisky running through his veins.
Caledonication. This is not just a history of Scotland, it's a history of Scotland you actually want to read.
Days Like This is an anthology of selected true stories showcasing the ordinary genius of Scotland’s people.
 Just Daft: The Chic Murray Story. Alternative humour had not been heard of when Chic Murray, a comic Colossus, bestrode the stage. His style was utterly original. He was unique, a ‘one-off’, a comedic pioneer ranked in the highest echelons of his art in the last century. And he turned the Celtic tradition of story-telling into an art form, a hybrid Salvador Dali of humour on stage. Just Daft In Scotland.
Scottish Printed Books. In Scotland, printing began in 1508. This lively account of the next 500 years introduces notable books and other printed literature, the people who wrote, printed, published, and sold them, and their methods. Scottish Printed Books.
Scottish Baronial Castles.
Beachcomber Cottage. Many of us dream of escaping our stressful and frenetic lives, and starting over. But can leaving it all behind ever be more than a dream? In Beachcomber Cottage, former Royal Marine Monty Halls puts this popular wish to the test, by recreating the simple life of a crofter on the West Coast of Scotland.
Peculiar Scotland.
 The Beatles in Scotland. The Fab Four: George, John Paul and Ringo, a quartet of working-class kids whose magical songs and revolutionary influence still inspires four decades on. More has been written about The Beatles than any other rock group in history and every moment of their lives has been captured, celebrated and analysed.
James The Good Scotland.
 Winning Is Not Enough: The Autobiography. Sir Jackie Stewart is one of the most highly regarded names in global sport, winner of three F1 World Championships, 27 Grands Prix and ranked in the top five drivers of all time. On retiring from the circuit, he went on to build an equally impressive international business career. In the 1960s and into the 70s, with his black cap, sideburns and aviator shades Jackie Stewart was an unmistakable icon in a glorious era of style, glamour and speed. On the track, his story is one of drama, excitement, tragedy, controversy, celebrity, danger and massive success. Beyond the sport his life is a compelling tale of battling against the odds and achieving world-wide recognition as an outstanding sportsman, a role model and a highly accomplished and respected businessman. Includes a specially produced DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage of Sir Jackie's racing career, personal photographs and conversations with Sir Jackie discussing key moments in his life, plus interviews with business leaders, friends and family. Winning Is Not Enough: The Autobiography .
Scottish Poetry.
 Essential Scottish Cookery. Classic recipes from Scotland, including the Borders, the Highlands and the Islands, with traditional dishes that conjure up the essence of our cuisine, cullen skink, roast venison and Burns Night haggis, as well as modern twists on classic recipes. Essential Scottish Cookery: Classic Recipes from the Scottish Kitchen .
Maw Broon's Cookbook: The Broon's Cookbook - for Every Day and Special Days . Maw Broons Cookbook. Maw Broon's very own cookbook, borrowed from the sideboard at No. 10 Glebe Street, first made for her by her mother-in-law when Maw married Paw, and added-to over the years with recipes for every day and special days, from friends and neighbours and others that simply caught Maw's eye in The Sunday Post, or cut-out of the back of a flour bag. These are the very recipes that became the favourite dishes of the whole extended family, Maw and Paw, Granpaw, Daphne, Horace, Joe, Maggie, Hen, the Twins and the bairn.
The Rough
Wooing Scotland
 Exit Music by Ian Rankin. The brilliant new Rebus novel from the master of British crime. The year 2007 marks Detective Inspector John Rebus's last year in the Scottish police force. Forced to retire by both the law and his, relieved, superiors, Rebus knows that his time in the blue ranks must now come to an end. But how will the irascible detective deal with this grim terminus? Particularly with his nemesis, Ger Cafferty, still walking the streets of Edinburgh. And how will John's protege and friend Siobhan Clarke move forward with the old relic finally gone? Exit Music .
 Tartan Charm: From Braveheart to Burberry . Tartan Charm, From Braveheart to Burberry. William Braveheart Wallace did battle in it. Queen Victoria decked Balmoral in it. Madonna donned it to strut around the stage. Tartan, the beloved symbol of kin, clan and nation to the Scots, has evolved into the one of the world’s favorite fabrics. Serving as inspiration for designers of everything from haute couture to furniture, tartan mania is in full swing. Fashion world insiders Jeffrey Banks and Doria de La Chapelle have written the definitive book on tartan, bringing together a dizzying array of images to tell the story of tartan’s humble beginnings to its current status as the ultimate emblem of great taste and high fashion. In addition to chronicling tartan enthusiasts from every age–including the incomparably fashionable Duke of Windsor whose closet was jam-packed with tartan kilts. Tartan profiles the designers who’ve made tartan an integral part of their work, from punk-inspired provocateurs Vivienne Westwood, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Alexander McQueen to the more refined fashions of titan Ralph Lauren and Burberry. The perfect mix of a fashion and lifestyle book, this volume explores the global phenomena of tartan mania.
 Iron Road is a comprehensive and history of the Scottish railways told in a single volume. A pleasure for any railway enthusiast, this book also reaches out to new audiences, exploring technical details as well as social and cultural aspects of the industry, drawing together a vast amount of carefully researched material into a single accessible work. The story begins in the 18th century when horses pulled coal waggons along rails of wood. In the Victorian era, a national railway network was built, and during the golden age of Edwardian times steam trains carried everything and everybody everywhere, from commuters and industrial materials to tourists holidaying in the Scottish countryside.The railway's dominance as a transport network was first challenged by the Depression of the 1930s, but its overwhelming competition appeared with the prosperity of the 1960s, when Britain's financially mobile masses began to purchase and rely on motor vehicles for pleasure and for business. Much of the railway network soon disappeared, steam was replaced by diesel and then by electric traction, and it seemed Scotland's proud rail system was in rapid decline. Yet forty years on, passenger numbers are higher than ever. Iron Road .
 Scotch whisky is a phenomenon: it is exported to 200 countries around the world and in 2001, for the first time, over one billion bottles were shipped overseas. Scotch is also unique, no other product, in any category, anywhere in the world, is named after its country of origin. Every brand of whisky that is distilled in Scotland bears the descriptor: Scotch Whisky. And proud of it. This book looks at Scotch as an uber-brand and tells the story of its enduring spirit. Individual brands like Glenfiddich or Glenmorangie have their own brand essence, positioning statements and values. But they all rely on the "Scotch" brand to win new customers and retain the loyalty of existing ones. Stuart Delves provides a fascinating examination of how such a brand evolved across the world, its unique role in the industry, its future, and the key lessons for other brands. Great Brand Stories: Scotch Whisky The story of Scotland's greatest export .
 Land of Mountain and Flood: The Geology and Landforms of Scotland The sheer diversity of Scotland's rocks and landforms are the physical reminders of a fascinating physical and chronological journey which shows that the land that makes up Scotland today has travelled the world from the Equator to the South Pole and back north again, and has not always even belonged to the same continental landmass. This book, published by Birlinn in association with Scottish Natural Heritage will help the reader to understand Scotland's place in the geological history of the planet. Three eminent geologists introduce and trace the country's development, unravelling and explaining what is seen now in the landscape and why it came to be the way it is. They show readers exactly where they can find evidence of these natural changes in the country's landscape on the ground in different parts of Scotland. The Geology of Scotland is an essential book for anyone who is interested in the natural world around them and who wishes to develop a good knowledge about the original formation of their country. It is accessible and beautifully presented, contains a huge amount of detailed information told in clear, comprehensible language and is enhanced throughout with specially commissioned illustrations, diagrams and photos. Best Scottish
Books.
 I Never Knew That About Scotland Bestselling author, Christopher Winn takes us on the ultimate journey around Scotland. Travelling county by county, this irresistible miscellany unearths the enthralling stories, firsts, birthplaces, legends and inventions that shape the country's rich and majestic history. To uncover the spellbinding tales that lie hidden within Scotland's wild and romantic shores, to experience what inspired the country's powerful literature and towering castles, and to tread in the footsteps of her villians and victors, is to capture the spirit of this fascinating country and bring every place you visit to life. You will discover the story of the original 'sweetheart', John Balliol, whose embalmed heart is buried beside his devoted wife, Devorgilla at Sweetheart Abbey in Kirkcudbrightshire. In Aberdeen, you will find the only granite cathedral in the world. And, you will hear the haunting echo of the Bear Gates of Traquair House in Peeblesshire were slammed shut when Bonnie Prince Charlie left Scotland in 1746 - legend has it that they will never be re-opened until a Stuart King once more sits on the throne. This beautifully illustrated treasure trove of a book is the perfect gift, and will act as an eye-opening guide to thrilling, alluring and ever-bewitching Scotland. Best Scottish
Books.
 Bob Mcintyre: The Flying Scot Bob McIntyre, The Flying Scot, tells the story of the man who never actually won a world championship, but certainly deserved to. In many ways he was the two-wheel equivalent of car racing driver Stirling Moss, who is seen as one of the greats in his sport, although he never won an official world title. Well over four decades since his untimely death, following an accident that occurred while racing his 500cc Manx Norton at Oulton Park, Cheshire in August 1962, Bob McIntyre's memory lives on. An annual Bob McIntyre Memorial race meeting held at East Fortune attracts racing enthusiasts from as far afield as Australia. Not only was 'Bob Mac' a brilliantly gifted rider and self-taught mechanic, he was also a man of the people, someone who would always help a fellow competitor or take the time to sign an autograph or chat to a fan. He was also honest, loyal and modest; his word was his bond. Unlike the three riders already covered in this series, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini, Bob Mac was very much a self-made man; someone who started from the very bottom and reached the very top in his chosen profession. He was the first man to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit, the most fearsome in the world, at over 100 mph; and this was just one of his great achievements. This in-depth account of his career focuses on the bikes and the races, but also provides an insight in Bob's life away from the track. Lavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, it is a must-read for any motorcycling fan..
 Voices in the Street: Growing Up in Dundee Born in Dundee in 1938, Maureen Reynolds grew up in wartime Scotland, a young girl surrounded by adult concerns, the endless queuing for rations that never seemed to stretch quite far enough, the blackouts and air raids, and as she came of age, a whole generation seemed to suddenly do the same, with the rise of the Teddy Boy and rock and roll. A memoir written with the grace and lucidity of a novel, "Voices in the Street" chronicles a life of typical proportions with all the heartache and hope that entails, and reminds us that the most commonplace stories, properly told, can give a greater insight into a time and place than any of the more exceptional. With great candour and earnestness, Maureen Reynolds' reminiscences of growing up with her wise, kind Grandad, of lumpy porridge, of tramcars and of broth night, of finding her love and then seeing him borrowed for the sake of National Service, will strike a chord with all those who see their own memories reflected there, and for everyone else "Voices in the Street" provides an intricate, caring portrait of a life and of a generation. Best Scottish
Books.
 St
Kilda: Island on the Edge of the World
St Kilda, Island on the Edge of the World. For more than 2000
years the people of St Kilda remained remote from the world.
Its society was viable, even Utopian; but in the nineteenth
century the island was discovered by missionaries, do-gooders
and tourists, who brought money, disease and despotism. St Kildan
culture gradually disintegrated and in 1930 the few remaining
islanders asked to be evacuated.
 The
Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women
The Biographical Dictionary Of Scottish Women. This biographical
dictionary presents the lives of individual Scottish women from
earliest times to the present. It explores the experience of
women from every class and category in Scotland and the worldwide
Scottish diaspora. Each entry seeks to tell a story rather than
simply offering information. Best Scottish Books.
 Adrift
in Caledonia: Boat-hitching for the Unenlightened
One clear morning in May, Nick Thorpe left his Edinburgh flat,
ducked off the commuter route and hitched a ride aboard a little
white canal boat, heading west towards the sea. It was the first
mutinous step in a delightful boat-hopping odyssey that would
take him 2500 miles through Scotland's canals, lochs and coastal
waters, from the industrial Clyde to the scattered islands of
Viking Shetland. Best Scottish Books.
 A
Lie About My Father
He had his final heart attack in the Silver Band Club in Corby,
somewhere between the bar and the cigarette machine. A foundling;
a fantasist; a morose, threatening drinker who was quick with
his hands, he hadn't seen his son for years. And for all those
years the two estranged men had been falling, each at their
own pace, towards their own vanishing points. John Burnside's
extraordinary story of this failed relationship is an exquisitely
written evocation of a lost and damaged world of childhood:
from the condemned prefabs, overgrown gardens and haunted woods
of Cowdenbeath to the simmering gang violence and industrial
squalor of Corby. Best Scottish Books.
 Scotland
From Above
Referred to as a creative tour de force, the latest book from
photographer Colin Baxter is truly a must-see. With more than
200 high-quality images helping to create a new perspective
and a unique vision of Scotland from above-from 100 feet to
over 12,000 feet above. Best Scottish Books.
 One
City
All proceeds from the book will go to the One City charity,
which fights social exclusion in the city. Edinburgh's Lord
Provost Lesley Hinds said: 'This book project is exactly what
One City is all about. The idea of three successful Edinburgh
authors, with very different perspectives, getting together
to raise awareness and money by using their talent and creativity,
is really exciting. Best Scottish Books.
 Scotch
on the Rocks
Scotch on the Rocks tells the fascinating story of how the 8,000
ton Politician, with its enormous cargo of nearly a quarter
of a million bottles of duty-free whisky, ran aground off the
coast of the Hebridean island of Eriskay in 1941. It was enroute
to join an Atlantic convoy heading for the West Indies and then
up to Canada where it is thought that its precious cargo was
to be sold. The true story of 'The Polly' has its own place
in Scotland’s social history and Antonia Swinson has put
the story in an entirely new context for a self-confident devolved
Scotland. Scottish
Books.
 A
Year in the Life of Glencoe
Enclosed by sweeping bastions of rock that stretch a thousand
metres to touch the sky, the North West Highland's Glencoe plunges
from the wilds of Rannoch Moor to the burial isles of Eilean
Munde. Shaped by ancient volcanoes, Ice Age glaciers and the
attrition of wind and rain, it is a raw landscape of awesome
proportion - one of the most spectacular in Britain. Carrying
on from his breathtaking "A Year in the Life of the Langdale
Valleys", noted climber, photographer and writer Bill Birkett
turns his attention to the seasonal changes in this most famous
of mountain glens. The challenging heights, in the main protected
and conserved by the National Trust for Scotland, are the province
of the rock climber and mountaineer, while down below scattered
farms and the little communities of Glencoe and Ballachuilish
function through the extremes of the seasons as they have done
since the Bronze Age. The magical rowans bear blossom, unfurl
their leaves and hang red with berries before the deep savage
snows of winter blanket all. Above, beyond the snow-capped peaks,
the golden eagle rules the air. On the slopes, the red stag
stamps his authority across the purple heather. In this stunning
photographic essay, Bill Birkett captures the heartbeat of the
awesome highlands of Scotland. Best Scottish
Books.
 My
Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes
Stewart Imlach was an ordinary neighbourhood soccer star of
his time. A brilliant winger who thrilled the crowd on Saturdays,
then worked alongside them in the off-season; who represented
Scotland in the 1958 World Cup and never received a cap for
his efforts.
The
Scottish Gardener.
Gardens can have many different functions: some exist to provide
food or medicines, some for pleasure and recreation, while others
serve to proclaim their owners' status, wealth and taste. People
garden for a variety of reasons, and The Scottish Gardener looks
at herbalists, plant collectors, nurserymen, botanists, artists
and gardener's gardens. It explores monastic gardens, royal
gardens, walled gardens and town and village gardens historically
up to the present day. Best Scottish Books.
 John
Greig My Story
Nicknamed 'the Ledge' on account of his legendary status, John
Greig has been voted the greatest Ranger of all time by the
fans and his statue stands outside lbrox. He is regarded as
a truly inspirational captain whose achievements speak for themselves;
numerous Scottish Championships and Cups, captain of the successful
European Cup Winners' Cup side of 1972 and the only player to
play in three Treble-winning sides.
 Grampian
Curiosities
The book is packed with stories about strange and extraordinary
things; there is the story about the Queen's dwarf who jumped
out of a pie and the farm with a museum in its farm buildings
and a ruined castle in its garden. Then there are the mysterious
lums (chimneys) near Tomintoul and the Aberdeen restaurant that
came to be known as 'the Monkey House'. There is the intriguing
story of a bird that wrote a book about the Indian Mutiny, and
another tale about the Soos (airships) that operated from Buchan
during the First Word War. Then there is a little-known poem
about how Aberdeen faced bankruptcy. There was a scandal of
another kind when the Great Haircut Riot hit the city and out
in the country there were eerie happenings on a farm called
Bloody Brae. But on a cheerier note you can laugh at Mr Nisbet's
Twisters, or read about the great Salmon Dinners, or gasp at
the sight of a giant on Deeside. All this, and much more besides,
makes Grampian Curiosities the ideal companion to the North-east
and a source of fascinating information that has never found
its way into conventional history books.
100
Best Scottish Books of All Time This guide presents 100
books by 100 different authors, both past and present, representing
the tremendous breadth and depth of Scottish writing throughout
the centuries. The guide forms the centrepiece of a national
readership campaign that will run through Scottish Libraries,
and all major bookshops, culminating in the announcement of
the public’s Best Scottish Books of All Time.
The
Wreckers: A Story of Killing Seas,...
From the bestselling author of The Lightouse Stevensons, a gripping
history of the drama and danger of wrecking since the eighteenth
century, and the often grisly ingenuity of Scottish and British
wreckers, scavengers of the sea. A fine wreck has always represented
sport, pleasure, treasure, and in many cases, the difference
between living well and just getting by.
 The
Oilmen: The North Sea Tigers The man in hard hat, tartan
shirt and jeans stepped down from the helicopter at Dyce Airport.
He flourished what one of the waiting journalists later claimed
looked like a salad cream bottle filled with flat Guinness.
The man said, 'Gentlemen, this, is North Sea oil.' The dramatic
announcement on 11 October 1970 signaled the symbolic launch
of an exciting new economic era for Scotland.
 With
the Jocks Born in battle, Peter White's journal is one of
the most extraordinary stories to come out of the World War
II. As a 24-year-old lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers,
Peter kept an unauthorized journal of his regiment's advance
through the Low Countries and into Germany in the closing months
of the war in Europe.
The
Scottish Farmer's Market Cookbook Scotland has an enviable
reputation for producing some of the finest food in the world.
Langoustines from the West Coast of Scotland are eaten at tables
all over Europe; the Scottish Aberdeen Angus has long been the
byword for quality meat; Scottish soft raspberries and tayberries
are considered the finest available, and so the list goes on!
 The
Knife Man. The vivid, often gruesome portrait of the 18th
century pioneering surgeon and father of modern medicine, John
Hunter. Meticulously researched, vividly drawn, this is also
a fascinating portrait of a remarkable pioneer in the emergent
sciences of geology, biology and evolution and his determined
struggle to haul surgery out of the realm of superstition and
into the dawn of modern medicine.
Fleshmarket
Close
by Ian Rankin. Another surefire bestseller for Britain's No1
crime writer, Ian Rankin.
Volcanoes
and the Making of Scotland Scotland's mountains and glens
retain the secrets of the long and frequently violent geological
history that has gone into their making. Volcanoes have played
a major role in the creation of Scotland and while the youngest,
a mere sixty million years old, were responsible for much of
the scenic splendour of the Inner Hebrides, the rocks composing
many of the famous Scottish landforms as, for example, those
of Glencoe and the Edinburgh district are also the direct result
of volcanism. Best Scottish Books.
 The
Da Vinci Code With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully
concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the
gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of
fascinating esoterica culled from 2,000 years of Western and
Scottish history.
 Nick
Nairn's New Scottish Cookery Book A self-taught cook, Nick
has been a long-time champion of fresh Scottish produce, but
his cooking also takes its influences from all over the world.
In "New Scottish Cookery", Nick combines the very
best fresh Scottish ingredients with a myriad of international
flavours, to create a mouth-watering collection of recipes destined
to become the Scottish classics of the future.
 My
Heart Is My Own: The Life of Mary... Queen of Scots. John
Guy has accomplished in his new work what many historians can
only dream of: to write an exceptionally scholarly book which,
through the effectiveness of the author's writing, attracts
a wide readership. Guy's ability to return to the archives,
no doubt a legacy of being Elton's student, enables him to uncover
documents that have remained unread for centuries and to shed
new light upon the many myths that surround the Scottish queen.
There is no doubt that this book is the best Guy has written
yet and that it deserves all the praise it has received. Best
Scottish Books.
 Television
and Me: The Memoirs of John... Logie Baird. It is not generally
known that John Logie Baird, the Scottish genius who not only
invented television but went on to develop colour and 3D versions
of it, wrote his own life story.
 Curious
Scotland: Tales From a Hidden... History of Scotland. Wonderful
purgative for the cant and myth that surround Scottish history.
Written with wit and economy, immaculately researched. Provides
a wealth of evidence an enjoyable compendium.
Flora
Celtica: Plants and People in...
Scotland. Flora Celtica, Plants and People in Scotland documents
the continuously evolving relationship between the Scots and
their environment. Based on a mixture of detailed research and
information provided by the public, this book explores the remarkable
diversity of ways that native plants have been, and continue
to be, used in Scotland. Best Scottish Books.
 Gurkha
Highlander: Walking Mallaig to... Stonehaven. Four weeks
of numb feet following a 340 kilometre trek along the Southern
Upland Way with four Gurkhas was not enough to dampen Neil Griffiths'
enthusiasm for coast-to-coast walking. Gurkha Highlander describes
his second cross-country walk but this time on a new route and
with different companions.
Magic
Moments: Four Seasons on a... Scottish Hill Farm. This is
a really interesting book, which takes you right into the heart
of the job. The trials and tribulations of looking after a hill
farm are brought to you as if you were really there. Written
well, interspersed with humour throughout. His love for the
animals and the environment comes through right through the
book.
The
Bell Rock Light: The Building of the... the Bell Rock Light
House by Robert Stevenson.
MacLean's
Miscellany of Whisky. A miscellany of whisky facts and folklore.
Handfast.
Scottish Poems for Weddings and Affirmations.
 Scotland's
Common Ridings. For much of Lowland Scotland, the Common
Riding, Lanimer day or Riding the Marches has become an integral
part of town and burgh life. Kenneth Bogle introduces us to
the traditions and histories as they have evolved.
Bairns:
Scottish Children in Photographs.... An important contribution
to Scotland's social history.
Playing
Through: A Year of Life and... Links Along the Scottish
Coast. A beautifully written and evocative memoir about family,
fatherhood and four-irons. Playing Through provides the rarest
of experiences: a story rich with comedy, emotional truths and
stunning evocations of a unique landscape. Written with warmth
and elegance, Playing Through transcends the boundaries of writing
on travel and sport to show us the world contained in a village,
a place filled to overflowing with life, character, memory and
laughter. This is the story of one family's journey, but it
is also a story about the things we all share. St
Andrews Golf.
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