THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

In Feminine Gospels, Carol Ann Duffy draws on the historical, the archetypal, the biblical and the fantastical to create various visions ? and revisions ? of female identity. Simultaneously stripping women bare and revealing them in all their guises and disguises, these poems tell tall stories as though they were true confessions, and spin modern myths from real women seen in every aspect ? as bodies and corpses, writers and workers, shoppers and slimmers, fairytale royals or girls-next-door.?Part of Duffy?s talent ? besides her ear for ordinary eloquence, her gorgeous, powerful, throwaway lines, her subtlety ? is her ventriloquism . . . From verbal nuances to mind-expanding imaginative leaps, her words seem freshly plucked from the minds of non-poets ? that is, she makes it look easy? Charlotte Mendelson, Observer

During WW2 there was a rumour that German spies were landing by parachute in Britain, dressed as nuns…Conradin Muller was an unusual spy. He was recruited in Hamburg in June 1943, much against his will, and sent on his first, and only, mission in late September that year. He failed to send a single report back to Germany, and when the War came to an end in May 1945, he fell to his knees and wept with relief.From a highly reluctant German spy who is drawn to an East Anglian nunnery as his only means of escape, to the strange tale of one of the Cambridge spy ring’s adventures with a Russian dwarf, these are Alexander McCall Smith’s intriguing and typically inventive stories from the world of espionage.’Spy-masterful storytelling’ Sunday Post’Delightfully old-fashioned and prudent of prose, McCall Smith unspools his tales’ Daily Mail'[Adds] another treasure to McCall Smith’s already glittering library’ New York Journal of Books

When Edwin, Delaney?s boss at the Cracked Spine bookstore, leaves town on secret business, Delaney is called upon to guide his yearly literary tour around Edinburgh. But on the first night of the tour, at the inn where the tour group is staying, the inn manager falls – or is pushed – off the roof of the inn, and killed. Then, one of the tour members disappears, leaving a trail of puzzles in her wake.In a race against the clock, Delaney sets out on the expedition of her life, following clues around Edinburgh to get to the bottom of this mystery. Exploring sights from Greyfriars Bobby to the Royal Mile to the Sir Walter Scott Monument, she’ll have to put the pieces together quickly, or the bookstore’s survival could be on the line… as well as her own.

A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2023 FOR FINANCIAL TIMES, TIME, VULTURE, LIT HUB, GOODREADS, RUMPUS, BUSTLE, READER’S DIGEST and moreBoth vilified and venerated, wolves abound through cultural folklore and literature. In this hauntingly lyrical and unflinching inquiry, Erica Berry untangles these depictions – alongside her own research of the wolf and experience as a woman – to try to understand how we navigate terror, vulnerability and violence in our fragile, often dangerous world.Luminously wise and unusually brave, Wolfish will stay with you long into the night.

It’s New Year’s Eve and there’s trouble on the timeline. Elle is sent on an urgent trip to the 31st of December 1999, the eve of the new millennium, where Millennia’s on the rampage. She aims to reinvent herself as a malevolent millennial by taking on Time itself.Can Millennia change the past to destroy the future? It can’t be left to chance. It’s up to Elle and The Infinites to save the world. And with the very nature of time at stake, they’ll have unexpected help from friends in high places.It’s the final countdown. And it starts now . . .

There are no easy choices when the dark clouds gatherDI Shona Oliver?s past and present collide when James McGowan, her ex-classmate ? now a famous actor ? comes to the area to make a Robert Burns biopic. Shona is tasked with keeping him safe during filming on an isolated island in the Solway Firth, and her job is made much harder when a dead man wearing James?s coat is found on the beach in suspicious circumstances. It seems someone wanted James out of the picture.Meanwhile, Shona has her hands full at home too; her husband is on trial for a crime he claims he did not commit, but if he speaks out he risks his wife and their teenage daughter coming to harm. Can Shona keep her head above the waves and protect those around her?A compulsive, atmospheric crime thriller set in Scotland, perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves and Neil Lancaster.

England, 1716. The only certainty in a thief?s life? is death.Christopher Templeton is a lawyer whose conscience troubles him. He knows many of the secrets of The Fellowship, the shadowy group profiting from the civil unrest in the nation, and has intimated to the Company of Rogues that he is willing to share them.The problem is, he has vanished. Jonas Flynt ? thief, gambler, killer ? still recovering from a duel with death upon the frozen Thames, is tasked with finding him.The trail takes him from the dark slums of London to a quiet village in the north of England, where all is not as it seems. But while he hunts for the missing man, someone else may be stalking him? someone with murder in their heart.The new gripping historical mystery from the author of An Honourable Thief, longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023. Perfect for fans of Abir Mukherjee, Craig Russell and S.G. MacLean.

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online.Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content.The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers’ story comprehension and develop vocabulary.Penguin Readers Level 1: Treasure Island, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.Jim Hawkins is sailing on a ship with his friends. They are looking for treasure. But pirates are looking for the treasure too!Visit the Penguin Readers websiteExclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys.

Biodynamics grew out of Rudolf Steiner’s Agriculture Course, a series of lectures he gave in 1924. It is now an inspirational worldwide movement bringing a uniquely holistic, organic agriculture to farms, vineyards and gardens.In this concise and fascinating history, Bernard Jarman, former Director of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association for the UK, charts the development of biodynamics in Britain following its arrival in 1928 through to the present day.Jarman presents engaging personal portraits of biodynamic pioneers, including Daniel Dunlop, George Adams, Lili Kolisko, Marna Pease and Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, showing how their lives and perspectives shaped the movement.The Biodynamic Movement in Britain also examines key moments, such as the split in the Anthroposophical Society that led to two rival biodynamic organisations in the 1930s and 40s, the flourishing of the wider organic movement in post-war Britain, and addresses the challenges posed at the start of the twenty-first century by genetically modified crops. It describes early discoveries, including research that led to the development of the Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar, and later initiatives, such as Community Supported Agriculture.Illustrated with photographs from the Biodynamic Agricultural Association archive, this book provides a welcome overview for members of the biodynamic community, offering the future of this vital movement a fascinating and grounding knowledge of its own past.

A beautiful memoir, travelogue and meditation on stone by artist and stone mason Beatrice Searle.?A magnificent book? Alex Woodcock?Exceptional? Kerri Andrews?Luminous? SpectatorAt the age of twenty-six, artist and Cathedral stonemason Beatrice Searle crossed the North Sea and walked 500 miles along a medieval pilgrim path through Southern Norway, taking with her a 40-kilogram Orcadian stone.Fascinated with the mysterious footprint stones of Northern Europe and the ancient Greco-Roman world, stones closely associated with travellers, saints and the inauguration of Kings, she follows in their footsteps as her stone becomes a talisman, a bedrock and an offering to those she meets along the way.Stone Will Answer is an unusual adventure story of journeys practical, spiritual and geological, of weight and motion, and an insight into a beguiling craft.

Written originally in 1936?38 by Admiral Cumberlege as a record of his life, Salt Horse was never published. The original manuscript has been expertly edited and made readable in terms of language to a modern audience. It now comprises chapters on Cumberlege?s naval career in the RN and Royal Australian Navy and also on the 1922?38 period when he lived year-round on two large sailing craft, cruising the coasts of France and Spain.Cumberlege writes with some verve. He has strong views, made numerous friends wherever he and his second wife Nora went, and lived a spirited, irreverent and fortunate existence in peace and war. Some of his stories (for instance, about WW1 in New Guinea, or about his 1905 lunch in Gibraltar as a young officer with Kaiser Wilhelm II) are historic and eye-catching. In many ways, the book describes a world, and a way of life, that has disappeared for ever.Salt Horse is complemented with a timeline, family tree and Introduction which trace Cumberlege?s background. An Afterword takes his life story from 1938?63 when he died. The numerous black-and-white images and short footnotes bring many of the people mentioned in the text to life.

A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2023: NATURE AND TRAVELFor thousands of years, our ancestors held a close connection with the landscapes they lived in. Seeking that lost connection, James Canton takes us on a journey across ancient England: from stone monuments to sacred groves, places of pilgrimage and sites of religious worship.Grounded invites us to step away from our modern world, to rekindle the wonder and awe in the places we live in, to discover the history and meaning encoded into the land – if only we take the time to look.

This funny and beautifully observed book pulls together humorous stories, funny quotes, quips and anecdotes about this small but remarkable country.While the Scots are proud of their friendly reputation, loud about their many contributions to the world ? such as whisky, penicillin and television ? and fiercely protective of Scottish delicacies such as haggis and Irn Bru, they are also celebrated for their famously dry and dark humour.Featuring wit and wisdom from writers such as Armando Iannucci, Compton Mackenzie, Stanley Baxter and Neil Munro, this light-hearted book celebrates Scottish wit at its best while looking at the culture, folklore, politics and sport that make up Scotland.

It’s New Year’s Eve and there’s trouble on the timeline. Elle is sent on an urgent trip to the 31st of December 1999, the eve of the new millennium, where Millennia’s on the rampage. She aims to reinvent herself as a malevolent millennial by taking on Time itself.Can Millennia change the past to destroy the future? It can’t be left to chance. It’s up to Elle and The Infinites to save the world. And with the very nature of time at stake, they’ll have unexpected help from friends in high places.It’s the final countdown. And it starts now . . .

I may not be brave enough, but somewhere deep inside of me there is, perhaps, the kernel of someone who is.That brave someone was the legendary Nusayba bint Ka’ab al Khazrajia, who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad at the dawn of Islam, the author N.S Nuseibeh’s ancestor. In drawing on Nusayba’s stories, Nuseibeh delves into the experience of being an Arab woman today and in the distant past – taking her from superheroes and the glorification of violence to the rise of Arab feminism, to what courage looks like in the context of interminable conflict. By seeking to understand her namesake in the context of her own twenty-first century concerns, Nuseibeh links our current ideas of Muslims and Arabs with their origins, exploring myth-making and identity, religion and nationhood, feminism and race.As intimate as they are thoughtful, these linked essays offer a dazzling exploration of heritage, gender and the idea of home, while also showing how connecting with our history can help us understand ourselves and others today.

Using the iconic, mysterious figure of Nusaybah bint Ka’ab, the 7th century warrior woman who fought alongside Prophet Mohammed, this collection of essays explores race, identity, early Islamic history, 7th century Arabia and contemporary feminism, moving from the origins of the hijab to the feminising of food, from superhero narratives to the evolution of sharia law. Stories about Nusaybah are woven through it all, as are the author’s memories of growing up in Jerusalem, their current experiences of living in Britain and their reflections on being a secular, feminist British-Palestinian woman from a Muslim family.

An enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine romcom featuring spicy whisky tasting scenes, hot men in kilts, and adorable dogs falling in love.April Sinclair, a Hollywood actress whose fame is starting to dry up, has returned to her tiny Scottish hometown on the Isle of Skye, the location of her family’s local whisky business, following her grandfather’s death. But she hadn’t banked on silent and grump Malcolm Macabe being the one in charge.Mal loves his own company, and he doesn’t appreciate glamorous film star April’s presence ? or the way she’s trying to take back control of the whisky distillery. But their shared desire to save the struggling family business will mean working a lot closer than either of them might wish?With a stunning rural Scottish setting, a healthy measure of steaminess, and a rugged heartthrob to die for, opposites definitely start to attract in this spicy enemies-to-lovers and grumpy-sunshine romcom.

Despite a resurgence in Scottish fort studies, few sites have been investigated, and fewer still at the scale reported in this volume. Over 2014-17, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, working with AOC Archaeology Group, excavated three hilltop forts on the Tay estuary to explore both their enclosing works and internal buildings, and uncovered an impressive assemblage of small finds.At Moredun fort on Moncreiffe Hill, a previously unknown monumental roundhouse, a rare La Tène bird-head brooch, and evidence of shale bangle industry were uncovered. At Castle Law, Abernethy, excavated in the 1890s and the type-site of Childe?s ?Abernethy complex?, re-excavation prompted reassessment of the artefacts from original excavations to reveal new evidence of the deposition of artefacts and animal bones within its cistern. Excavation of the enclosing works of these sites, and Moncreiffe fort, suggest an evolution of fort defences from simple earth and stone ramparts to massive timber-laced walls ? the murus Gallicus described by Caesar ? reflecting high status sites with restricted access for a social elite.Hillforts of The Tay was part of the Tay Landscape Partnership Scheme, a community heritage initiative and the results of this citizen science project make a significant contribution to establishing Tayside as a well-studied area for the site type both within Scotland, and further afield.

Try as he might, Arun simply cannot wriggle his way out of taking the maths test at school. Instead, he must learn to face his fears in this encouraging and relatable school story from Serena Patel.Maths test? Nightmare! Arun is determined to get out of a Maths test at school. But how? A school-wide protest against all tests? Pretending to be sick? He?s ready to try anything, but maybe he?s not the only one who feels this way, and maybe in the end it?s better to face your fears?

Get to know Zog and his friends in this fun board book in the shapeof Zog by the bestselling creators of The Gruffalo andStick Man.Perfect for kids of all ages with sturdy card pages and brightlycoloured illustrations. The bouncy text introduces readers to themuch-loved characters from the classic story.Meet the Flying Doctors – a dragon, knight and girl.Their names are Gadabout the Great, and Zog, and Princess Pearl.