THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

Hal is convinced there’s a connection between his favourite cheesy snacks and the horrible nightmares he keeps having. So he sets off on a mission with Rufus the dog to solve his cheesemares once and for all. But will he ever escape from the horror he faces in The Evil House of Cheese and is he really tough enough to take on the evil cows?A hilarious nightmare-fuelled tale from superstar author-illustrator Ross Collins, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+.

In this ground-breaking study of the medieval parliament, Roland Tanner gives the Scottish Parliament a human face by examining the actions and motives of those who attended. In the past, the Scottish Parliament was seen as a weak and ineffective institution – damned because of its failure to be more like its English counterpart. But Roland Tanner shows that the old picture of weakness is far from accurate. In its very different way, the Scottish Parliament was every bit as powerful as the English institution. The ‘Three Estates’ (the clergy, nobility and burgh representatives who attended Parliament) were able to wield a surprising degree of control over the Crown during the fifteenth century. For instance, they threatened to lock James I’s taxation in a box to which he, the king, would have no access, made James II swear not to alter acts of Parliament, and prevented him from using his own lands and wealth as patronage for his supporters, and forbade James III to leave the country.Roland Tanner has avoided a dry constitutional approach. Instead he has sought to bring Parliament to life through the people who attended, the reasons why they attended, and the complex interactions which occurred when all the most wealthy, powerful and ambitious people in the kingdom gathered in one place.

THE EPIC ADVENTURE OF A TEENY-TINY HEROThis is a tale of mice and magic.It is also a tale of great love (of cheese) and great danger. And learning the lesson that what matters most – when it comes to cheese and life – is not how strongly you smell but how strong you are on the inside.

The pharmaceutical industry is broken. From the American hedge fund manager who hiked the price of an AIDS pill from $17.50 to $750 overnight to the children’s cancer drugs left intentionally to expire in a Spanish warehouse, the signs of this dysfunction are all around. A system that was designed to drive innovation and patient care has been relentlessly distorted to drive up profits.Medicines have become nothing more than financial assets. The focus of drug research, how drugs are priced and who has access to them is now dictated by shareholder value, not the good of the public. Drug companies fixated on ever-higher profits are being fined for bribing doctors and striking secret price-gouging deals, while patients desperate for life-saving medicines are driven to the black market in search of drugs that national health services can’t afford.Sick Money argues that the way medicines are developed and paid for is no longer working. Unless we take action we risk a dramatic decline in the pace of drug development and a future in which medicines are only available to the highest bidder. In this book investigative journalist Billy Kenber offers a diagnosis of an industry in crisis and a prescription for how we can fight back.

When Scottish village is struck by grief those left behind must help one another find hope. It is 1881, and when a violent storm devastates the Scottish fishing village of Eyemouth few families escape unscathed. Newly wed Rosabelle Maltman loses her husband, and her mother-in-law Effie lost her husband and three sons. For these women and their neighbours in the close-knit community life will never be the same again.Yet as the months pass, the women of Eyemouth must learn to look to the future, to live and to love again.A dramatic and heart-breaking saga based on true events for fans of Ellie Dean and Anna Jacobs.

David Duff was Chairman of Hibernian at one of the most extraordinary times in the clubs history. In 1990 Wallace Mercer, then Chairman of Hearts pushed for a merger of the two clubs. For long agonising weeks the fate of one of Scotlands great footballing institutions hung in the balance. With internal shareholders wanting to sell out, with institutions pushing for it, the end seemed inevitable but David Duff had other ideas. With huge fan support he led the charge against a takeover which would have meant the end of the club he loved. For the first time he tells the true story of the plot to destroy Hibernian, of those behind it and of their real motivations. It is a riveting story of double dealing, greed and betrayal featuring a cast of some of the best known names in Scottish business and football, often in surprising roles.But the book is about much more than this. It is about the club and its players at the time featuring never before told stories and anecdotes about legends such as John Collins and Andy Goram. It is about European nights behind the Iron curtain, about knife edge football matches and about a man who dreamt of taking Hibs to the summit of Scottish football, but most of all it is about the terrible danger when money and greed meet sport.

Vienna is unique amongst world capitals in its consistent international importance over the centuries. From the ascent of the Habsburgs as Europe’s leading dynasty to the Congress of Vienna, which reordered Europe after Napoleon, to bridge- building summits during the Cold War, it is the Austrian capital that has been the scene of key moments in European and world affairs.History has been shaped by scores of figures influenced by their time in Vienna, including: Empress Maria Theresa, Count Metternich, Bertha von Suttner, Theodore Herzl, Gustav Mahler, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, John F. Kennedy and many others. In a city of great composers and thinkers it is here that both the most positive and destructive ideas of recent history have developed.From its time as the capital of an imperial superpower, through war, dissolution, dictatorship to democracy Vienna has reinvented itself and its relevance to the rest of the world.

Alastair McKay grew up in the fading Scottish seaside town of North Berwick in the 70s. The cinema and outdoor swimming pool were on the verge of closing, there were scary boys in the park, and excitement was scarce.An exceptionally shy boy, Alastair gradually found his voice through the punk explosion: the ethos that ‘anyone could do it’ prompted him to start writing, largely because it was easier than talking. He also sang in a number of bands, one of which, The Commercials, made a record that was tipped by Sounds magazine to be ‘big in 1982’. It wasn’t.From these hesitant beginnings, he would go on to a successful career in journalism: sharing a limousine with Kate Moss, meeting Iggy Pop at the Chateau Marmont, being led astray by Tilda Swinton and many, many other encounters.

Jeda is a girl on the cusp of adulthood, living in Edinburgh; with a white father and a black mother, she feels self-conscious and out of place. Her feelings of alienation allow the stories of the shapeshifting Shadowman, who embodies all that is negative, to feed on her doubts and insecurities. The death of her mother, Rahami, gives the Shadowman an opportunity to control Jeda through her grief and his lies, but her mother’s last gift to her daughter was a box of stories. When the box is flung open, the stories escape, setting in motion an incredible journey.Jeda learns more about her African ancestry through tales of slavery, cruelty and colonisation, but she also discovers pride and love and sacrifice, ultimately embracing her dual heritage and her unique place in the world. Filled with tragedy, wonder and magic, Blood and Gold explores the themes of loss and oppression, while asking us to examine our own identities, attitudes, and humanity.

A Magical Year takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the seasons at Hogwarts. Jim Kay’s incredible illustrations, paired with much loved quotations from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, bring to life all of the magic, beauty and wonder of the wizarding world.This is an irresistible gift book for anyone who has ever been captivated by the Boy Who Lived. Each day features a favourite anniversary or meaningful memory from the Harry Potter novels. All around, Jim Kay’s scenic artwork and decorative painter’s marks bring that moment to life in breathtaking detail. His unique interpretation is both captivating and transporting – picture frozen icicles glinting on the snowy towers of Hogwarts, the dancing eyes of Professor Albus Dumbledore, or the infectious hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Inside, a selection of his most iconic illustrations are joined by previously unseen pencil sketches and preparatory pieces, offering a unique and fascinating insight into the artist’s sketchbook.Jim Kay’s dazzling depiction of the wizarding world has been enchanting readers since the publication of the groundbreaking Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2015. Now, as he continues to illustrate the stories, both lifelong fans and new readers can explore that world further. The Kate Greenaway Medal winner’s bewitching character studies, sweeping landscapes and beautifully observed pencil details reveal the skill and process of an artist working at the peak of his powers.This is the perfect gift to give at birthdays and Christmas, to share at bedtime or to make a friend smile. A Magical Year brings together Harry, Ron, Hermione and a host of other beloved characters in a glorious illustrated compendium that readers everywhere will cherish for years to come.

Welcome to Constitution Street. In this updated edition, Jemma Neville explores what real life stories from neighbours on one street in Leith reveal about our recent constitutional crisis in an age of anxiety pre- and post-COVID 19. Part memoir, part social history, part exploration of a new constitution for the day we live in, Neville’s debut encourages a reclamation of human rights practice as something that belongs to each of us, too important to be left solely to politicians and lawyers.Jemma gets to know the people and stories that have lived on her street for decades, showcasing real life accounts of perseverance, courage and vulnerability, and that extraordinary stories are waiting behind every door. Constitution Street takes an essential view on the global issue of human rights through the lens of one street and its inhabitants.

A gentle but important exploration of the growing problem of homelessness from the critically acclaimed and award-winning creator of My Name is Not Refugee and It’s a No-Money Day.Mum can’t afford the rent any more, so she and her two young children have to move into a hostel while they wait their turn to get to the top of the housing list. Their new home throws up lots of challenges – they have to share a bathroom and the kitchen, and there is lots of noise at night. With no space to play or peace to do homework, tempers can fray, but as long as they have each other, they’ll find a way through.

In DOG DAYS: A Year with Olive & Mabel, join Andrew Cotter as he takes you behind the scenes and into the pages of his diary to reveal just how extraordinary a year it has been, and what really happened after his lockdown superstar Labradors chewed up the internet and found it was quite tasty.For Olive, Mabel and Andrew, the last year has been like no other. With normal work cancelled or scaled back for so long, it has been a time to take stock and share experiences – both the everyday and the decidedly odd – with Olive and Mabel. Here Andrew takes a sharply-observed and often hilarious walk through the strangest of days for all of us, reflecting on how precious our time really is, especially the time we have with our dogs.With his two beautiful, comical, endlessly optimistic and eternally hungry dogs by his side, Olive, Mabel and Andrew have padded around from the Cheltenham Literary Festival to BBC Breakfast, from the studio with Chris Evans to an appearance on Good Morning America, and from obscurity to excited whispers of “Is that really Olive & Mabel?” wherever they go. Not to mention the lucrative merchandise and advertising deals that were turned down by the dozen and the odd phone call from Hollywood.Through it all, Olive and Mabel have always done exactly what they do best, being themselves and being there for Andrew – and for all of us who have loved watching their brilliant videos and following their progress online. If you’re a fan of Olive, Mabel and Andrew, this funny, touching and extraordinary account of a year like no other is an unmissable treat.

The One State is the perfect society, ruled over by the enlightened Benefactor. It is a city made almost entirely of glass, where surveillance is universal and life runs according to algorithmic rules to ensure perfect happiness. And D-503, the Builder, is the ideal citizen, at least until he meets I-330, who opens his eyes to new ideas of love, sex and freedom.A foundational work of dystopian fiction, inspiration for both Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Huxley’s Brave New World, WE is a book of radical imaginings – of control and rebellion, surveillance and power, machine intelligence and human inventiveness, sexuality and desire. In this brilliant new translation, it is both a warning and a hope for a better world.

Anna Liza likes to help cheer up her mother’s psychiatric patients with her 17 top knock-knock jokes and cheerful songs, but when she meets Edward, she hits a brick wall. Edward’s dad is so sad since his mum left; he says his life isn’t going anywhere any more. Anna Liza has a plan to get him on the move again, if only she can manage to evade her mother’s attention long enough …A thoughtful and playful story of empathy and kindness from global bestseller Eoin Colfer, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+.

Whenever there’s a pong, poo or puddle that can’t be explained, Norman and Ringo are the hounds that take the blame. Determined to exploit their status for profit, Blamehounds Inc. is soon in business and small dogs the world over are admitting responsibility for accidents, eruptions and even the occasional war…A wickedly clever and hilarious doggy tale from superstar author-illustrator Ross Collins, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+

The Lindsays of Balcarres began with the rediscovery of some dusty photograph albums at the home of the author’s late father in Fife. The wealth of images within, unexplored for over eighty years, provided the perfect way to present the fascinating untold stories of the people who had been brought up there. The Lindsay family, which traces its roots back to the time of Charlemagne, almost lost everything after siding with the Stuarts for two hundred years, but fortuitous marriages, colonial endeavours and the industrial revolution enabled them to create a new fortune and in 1848 successfully reclaim their position as the Premier Earls of Scotland. This renewal coincided with the birth of photography in the 1840s, which encouraged the family to capture moments of their leisure pursuits and other enthusiasms and the part they played in the events of their time.The collection also serves as a social history, recording the rapidly changing industries they were involved in and the relationships with their staff on which their way of life depended. The reader will encounter a gallery of colourful characters, including Elizabeth Lindsay, who married the 3rd Earl of Hardwicke in 1782 and became Vicereine of Ireland; her great-nephew, Robert, who joined the Guards at the outbreak of the Crimean War and carried the Queen’s Colours to the heights of Alma, earning him the first of two citations for the Victoria Cross; and his brother-in-law, Alexander, the 25th Earl of Crawford and his polymath son Ludovic (shown on the front of this book), who together rebuilt the family library, Bibliotheca Lindesiana, into one of the world’s finest. Some of the earliest daguerreotypes in the family archive point to the enduring affinity that would develop between photography and the country house. It was the perfect medium for a family so deeply involved in both fine art and the latest technology. Ludovic Lindsay’s painstaking restoration of these remarkable family photographs and archival research mean that a chronicle of his forebears’ lives, told through over three hundred hitherto unpublished images, is for the first time possible.

When Peter and Lotta spend their first Christmas with Aunt Green, Aunt Brown, Aunt Lavender and Uncle Blue, they are amazed by all the surprises. Before Christmas comes around again the children are determined to discover where the presents really come from, and give their aunts and uncle special gifts. Then on Christmas Eve, Peter and Lotta’s kindness and generosity is rewarded with something unexpected!This is a delightful story for young children from the world-renowned Swedish author–illustrator Elsa Beskow which celebrates Swedish Christmas traditions and being a good neighbour. Elsa Beskow’s Peter and Lotta stories, about two children living with their aunts and uncle, are full of gentle humour and charm.This wonderful new edition faithfully reproduces Beskow’s classic illustrations in a collectable picture book featuring a unique hand-crafted design, premium-quality paper, gold foil signature and a luxurious cloth spine.

The wriggly, squiggly superhero is now available witha gorgeous foiled cover to celebrate his tenth anniversary!Never fear, Superworm’s here! He can fish Spider out of awell, and rescue Toad from a busy road. But who will come to Superworm’srescue, when he’s captured by a wicked Wizard Lizard?Luckily, all of Superworm’s insect friends have a cunning plan…Superworm is super-long.Superworm is super-strong.Watch him wiggle! See him squirm!Hip, hip, hooray for SUPERWORM!From the superstar creators of The Gruffalo, Stick Manand ZogSoon to be an on-screen adventure starring Matt Smith andOlivia ColemanCelebrating 10 years of Superworm in 2022

Meet Death, as you have never met her before.Even the Birds Grow Silent is a collection of narrative fragments told by Death herself.Death feels she gets a very bad press nowadays, and is keen to tell her side of the story.From singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, to writer Virginia Woolf, to the tragic life of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days’ Queen, Death has walked in their shadows and now, for the first time, shares her insights on them.She was there at the dawn of time, when the first cave paintings were created, and she will be with us until the end.However, she does have one final surprise up her sleeve…