Scottish Gift Books

The Oxford Companion to Scottish History The Oxford Companion to Scottish History interprets history broadly, including archaeology, architecture, culture, folk belief, climate, geology, and languages in its scope. Compiled by more than 170 contributors, it covers over 2000 years and extends from Galloway to Orkney and Shetland and from the Borders to the Western Isles. At more than half a million words and nearly 800 pages, it provides comprehensive coverage of Scotland's eventful history. Entries on figures such as Columba, Macbeth, William Wallace, and James Paraffin Young sit alongisde entries on sport and culture, on Burns Clubs, curling, and shinty, and on major historical issues such as clans, Clearances, and Covenanters. It also deals extensively with migration and with Scots abroad, from Canada to Russia to New Zealand. It is more than a historical dictionary or an encyclopedia, it analyses as well as describes. Multi-authored entries explore key themes such as kingship, national identity, women, urban and rural life, the economy, housing, living standards, and religious beliefs across the centuries in an authoritative but approachable way. Scottish Gift Books.

Scottish Houses and Gardens It is exactly 100 years since Country Life began to commission leading architectural photographers to re cord the great country houses of the British Isles. This book features some 20 of the most important and remarkable houses in Scotland from the archive.

Wild Land Wildlife and landscape photographs from the diverse habitats of the Cairngorms. Descriptions of the history and management of the land and animals, looking back to Scotland's past and imagining the cairngorms of the future. Scottish Gift Books.

Scottish Royal Palaces Explores how the individual castles and palaces grew and how they functioned when the king and court were in residence. The text focuses on the royal castles and palaces of the 15th- and 16th-centuries and in particular on the building activities of James IV and James V at their principle residences of Linlithgow, Falkland, Strirling, Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle. The author charts the growth of these buildings, the organization of the royal works, and the roles of the principal officials and tradesmen responsible for the construction and maintenance of the royal houses. Scottish Gift Books.

Scottish Country Scotland's authentic style is revealed here in country houses, traditions and culture, and in images including a tiled Edwardian kitchen at Ardkinglas; a bright, richly decorated ceiling inside a thick-walled Jacobean tower house; a lush garden carpeted with bluebells; and the comfort of well-stuffed furniture in living rooms and libraries. Many of the treasures of Scottish life are also explored, in sections on painted ceilings, romantic painting, Harris Tweed, tartans, pottery, dovecots, trout and salmon fishing, deerstalking and grouse shooting. This welcoming civility is set against the splendours of the landscape, with windswept hills, craggy coastlines and lakes veiled in mist. A directory lists houses and gardens open to the public, as well as island tours, inns, hotels and antique shows, even where to buy armour.

Living in the Highlands This is a book which reflects the mix of tradition and style in the Scottish Highlands: tartans, tweeds and natural materials, sports, excursions and dancing, fishing and stalking, a Burns Night dinner with a Toast to the Haggis. Accompanied by stunning photographs. Scottish Gift Books.

The Scottish Chateau This attractive book offers a reinterpretation of the swaggering Scottish Renaissance country house. The author reveals sixteenth-century Scotland as vivid, colourful, flamboyant and European, thus reversing a cultural heritage. Using contemporary descriptions, archives and documents, mixed with reconstructions of buildings, this book is a lively read illustrated by portraits, gardens, interiors and landscapes.

Rural Portraits: Scottish Portrays in words and pictures every breed of native Scottish farm animal. The essence of rural life, its people, places and unsurpassed landscapes This magnificient journey around every breed of Scottish native farm animal portrays in words and pictures, the essence of rural life. Full of anecdotal humour and a deep feeling for the countryside. The vivid images of landscape and the sights and sounds of nature are frequently stunning and perfectly complimented by the detailed illustrations of internationally renowned wildlife artist Keith Brockie. 67 pages of b/w illustrations and 57 pages of full colour. Scottish Gift Books.

Country Living" Guide to Rural Scotland The beautiful and stunning country of Scotland has been inhabited for thousands of years and offers a wealth of interesting history and culture. A country that offers a bewildering variety and an often-diverse landscape that is truly magnificent and astounds the eye with sheer beauty. Scotland is endowed with one of the finest coastlines in the world, and is said to have the most impressive views in the UK, including the desolate peaks of the highlands to the tranquillity and peace of the Scottish Borders. Scottish Gift Books.

Leaves from the Life of a Country Doctor In this work, Clement Gunn presents not only his personal memories of his life as a country doctor but also provides an insight into the tales and traditions of one of Scotland's most beautiful areas. The Borders was a very different place when he went there to practise in 1885 than it is today. As a country Clement Gunn he saw life in both its best and worst aspects; from the poorest hovels to the great houses of the country gentry. Covering his practice on horseback and foot, this highly educated man noted and commented with great perception on both the great events that shaped his times and the more intimate details of daily life; from the weather to the death of Queen Victoria, from Belgian refugees arriving in 1914 to his purchase of a motor tricycle.

A Strange and Wild Place.At the age of twenty-two the author cut short her nursing career in Edinburgh to marry, against enormous family pressure, the charismatic Euan Macpherson, her psychology tutor and twenty years her senior. Not long after, Euan inherited the family estate of Glentruim in Badenoch and Sandra Macpherson found herself the lady of a large and dilapidated manor. Despite an extraordinarily frosty reception by the staff of the house and other members of the Macpherson clan, who considered her too young to take on the role of lady of the house, Sandra rose to the challenge. This is her engaging and entertaining account of life at Glentruim, in an isolated and often harsh environment where the family were often snowed in for weeks at a time with no electricity or telephone. Scottish Gift Books.

A Picture of Britain A Picture of Britain is a celebration of the British landscape and the art that it has inspired, from Constable to Lowry, from Turner to Nash.

A Sense of Belonging to Scotland Ewan McGregor says, The photographs in this book will inspire the beautiful melancholia experienced by Scots away from home all over the world. Sir Cameron Mackintosh says, A ravishing book, with some of the most beautiful shots of Scotland I have ever seen. Scottish Gift Books.

Magic and Witchcraft in Scotland. This major new book examines beliefs and practices regarding the magical universe of ordinary people in Scotland. This includes details of calendar festivals, healing and divination rituals, and the use of holy or healing wells, stones and talismans. Scottish Gift Books.

Battles of the Scottish Lowlands:.... This historical guide retells, in graphic detail, the story of nine of the most important battles to be fought in Scotland south of the Highland Line, stretching from Aberdeen to the Firth of Clyde. The battles range from medieval period to the time of Jacobite Rebellion. They show how weapons and equipment, tactics and strategy, and the make up of the armies themselves changed over the course of almost 500 years. Scottish Gift Books.

Gathering the Clans: Tracing Scottish... Ancestry. This title provides a complete guide to using the internet as a tool for tracing your Scottish Ancestry.

A History of the Clan Campbell: From the.... The Clan Campbell is the largest of the Scottish Highland clans. Their history is central to the history of the nation. This is the third and final volume of a history of the clan, written by the Duke of Argyll's archivist.

Shut Yer Pus: A Wee Book of Scots Slang.

Journey Through Britain: Landscape,.... For the last three years David St John Thomas has travelled through Britain, exploring the fascinating and diverse character of Britain today. The result is a 700-page travelogue/commentary in the tradition of J.B. Priestley's English Journey. Often erudite, constantly perceptive and always eye opening and sympathetic to Britain's national condition, this is a breezy and entertaining account of Britain as it really is.

Journey's Beginning: The Gateway Theatre.... The Gateway Theatre Company between 1953 and 1965 was a major force in developing modern Scottish theatre, moving in 1965 to become the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company. The Gateway Theatre and its company were therefore highly influential in the development of theatre in Scotland. This book provides authoritative, brief histories of the building and the company incorporating much original research, an essay on the links between the theatre and the Church of Scotland (its landlord post-World War II), and appreciations of two leading figures in the operation of the theatre and the company. These are Sadie Aitken and Robert Kemp.

Walking the Coastline of Shetland:.... The Eastside Mainland of Shetland and the islands of Noss, Out Skerries, Bressay and Whalsay offer all who enjoy walking the delights and challenges of exploring remarkable landscapes. You will find vibrant, caring communities, major nature reserves and fascinating archaeological sites. This book is a mine of information about the long distance walk from Lerwick to Mavis Grind and also what can be seen on a selection of memorable circular walks. It is well illustrated throughout with route maps, photographs and diagrams. "Eastside" completes the highly acclaimed series of seven walking guides to the entire coastline of Shetland.

Made in Scotland: Household Names That... Began in Scotland. Of the wide range and diversity of British products that are now household names, both at home and abroad, the Scots can take pride in the fact that many of them began in Scotland. When people first spread Robertson's Golden Shred Marmalade on their toast, it was by courtesy of Paisley man James Robertson. How would the housewife have thickened her sauce without cornflour, first produced in Paisley by Brown & Polson in 1854? The world's first concentrated fruit drink was Rose's Lime Juice cordial, invented by Leith man, Lachlan Rose; Pringle of Hawick gave the world the first knitted twin-set; J & P Coats of Paisley, whose origins go back to 1830, grew into the largest thread manufacturer in the world, and the UK's number one comic, The Beano, was born in Dundee. Made in Scotland is a fascinating nostalgic journey into the past and a wonderful celebration of Scottish industry. It includes a huge number of black-and-white photographs of the old advertisements, slogans and trademarks of all the products featured: Askit, The Beano, British Caledonian Airways, Brown & Polson, Caithness Glass, Camp Coffee, Coats, Duncan's Chocolates, Drambuie, Forbo-Nairn Linoleum, Glenfiddich.

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