THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

What have you heard about Scottish history? Don’t believe a word! In Scotland we do not ponder ‘Why?’; We demand ‘How?’ How do the characters and events of Scottish History make the Scotland of today? These stories researched by the authors of ‘Scottish History: Strange but True’ tell the ‘Hows’ and the ‘Whys’ of everything you need to know.

Edinburgh is rightly celebrated for its famous historical and cultural attractions. But for the discerning visitor it has much more to offer away from the well-worn tourist trail. This book takes you to hidden corners and secret sights in this city of contrasts, exploring fascinating locations unknown even to most residents, and revealing unexpected aspects of some familiar local landmarks. Marvel at a unique underground temple hewn out of the living rock; learn how a world-famous illusionist came to be buried here – with his dog; find out why the city council once commissioned an enormous electric blanket; look out for the ordinary Edinburgh post box with an explosive history. Discover the human stories behind a wide range of places, both exceptional and commonplace, bringing to life the greatly varied cityscape where people have been leaving their mark for at least 5,000 years.

Fife is an ancient Scottish county, proudly known as the Kingdom. Its distinctive, self-contained identity is summed up in the old adage ‘Bid farewell to Scotland, and cross to Fife!’ A compact peninsula shaped like the head of a Scottie dog nosing the North Sea, it boasts magnificent approaches from south and north via the celebrated bridges over the Forth and Tay. Tourists flock to the world-famous golf courses in the old university town of St Andrews. But Fife is packed with all manner of much less-visited treasures, places of stunning natural beauty as well as fascinating monuments of every era, from prehistoric to post-industrial, testaments to its long and eventful past and richly diverse cultural heritage. You will discover a land where generations of the illustrious and the powerful, the humble and the hard-working have all left their mark, from kings and queens to miners and fishermen, from bishops, earls and industrialists to scholars, artists and sportsmen – to say nothing of the internationally famed Fifers whose legacies have changed history. This book will introduce visitor and native alike to a whole host of unexpected and contrasting sites and sights that celebrate the delightful otherness of this unique little Kingdom.

The historic county of Fife is a natural peninsula on the east coast of Scotland, bordered by the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay. Alongside its three largest settlements of Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes it is also home to the ancient city of St Andrews, with its world-famous golf course and university. The often turbulent history of Fife is reflected in its royal palaces, castles and other ruins, such as Ravenscraig Castle and Dunfermline Abbey.Fife’s picturesque coast draws visitors to places like Crail Harbour and Pittenweem. Fife’s cultural and industrial heritage are also celebrated, including the Fife Folk Museum, the Anstruther Fisheries Museum and the Fife Heritage Railway.50 Gems of Fife explores the many places and their history that make this part of Scotland so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings and places of historical interest. Alongside justly famous attractions, others will be relatively unknown, but all have an interesting story to tell.

Animals have shaped the cultural and economic life of Glasgow through the ages, and many statues and other memorials around the city honour the role played by animals in the city’s history. Horses were central to Glasgow’s massive expansion in the nineteenth century, moving goods in and out of the city, and their sight, sound and smell were an integral part of the life of the city well into the 1950s. For centuries they were the main means of transport, whether as saddle horses or pulling vehicles, or for the military at the cavalry barracks in the Gorbals, and myriad trades depended on the horses, including saddlers, harness makers, grooms, fodder suppliers, horse trainers, riding schools, horse dealers and farriers.Equestrian events were a regular feature at theatres and fairs and gradually developed into circuses and such events as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows. Performing animals were seen in the city for centuries and menageries of exotic animals toured Glasgow from the late eighteenth century onwards, followed by circuses, bringing the largest elephants to the smallest flea circus. After several attempts, a permanent zoo finally opened in Glasgow in 1947 but closed 2003.As the population grew, domestic pet ownership grew too, including racing pigeons, and numerous dog and cat shows became established. Whippet racing was a popular pastime a century ago, with illegal betting, but was gradually replaced by greyhound racing where betting on-track was legal.In Beastly Glasgow, author Barclay Price takes the reader on a fascinating exploration of the city’s animal associations through the ages. Full of unusual tales and fascinating facts, this well-researched history will introduce readers to the beguiling history of Glasgow’s animals.

An essential companion to the Harry Potter books, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of fairytales from the wizarding world, via the enchanted pen of J.K. Rowling. Rich with allusions and symbols from the Harry Potter stories, and enhanced with fascinating commentary from beloved sage Professor Albus Dumbledore, this is a Hogwarts Library book to treasure and enjoy for years to come. All of the gorgeous, grim and gothic detail of the Bard’s five bewitching tales has been brought to life by Chris Riddell, thrice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. Much loved by generations of witches and wizards, and translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, this beautiful edition is the perfect gift for Harry Potter fans.Mischievous and witty, Beedle the Bard’s stories are a deeply satisfying read in the tradition of all great fables and fairytales. Kindnesses are rewarded and selfishness shown to be the ruin of many a wizard. Burping cauldrons, hairy hearts and cackling stumps are met along the way. Each tale is brought vividly to life with Riddell’s trademark wry humour and elegance, including ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’, familiar to readers of Harry Potter from the crucial role it plays in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.Now available in a paperback format featuring a brand new cover by Chris Riddell, this edition contains all of the mesmerising illustrations from the original hardback plus an exclusive additional art print of Harry, Ron and Hermione for readers to take out and keep. Prepare to be spellbound!The Tales of Beedle the Bard is published in aid of Lumos, an international children’s charity founded in 2005 by J.K. Rowling.

This is the first comparative study of the distinctive literatures and cultures that developed in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland since political devolution in the late 1990s, and especially surrounding Brexit. The book argues that in conceptualising their cultures as ‘national’, each nation is caught up in a creative tension between emulating forms of cultural production found in the others to assert common aspirations, and downplaying those connections in order to forge a sense of cultural distinctiveness. The author explores the resulting dilemmas, with chapters analysing the growth of the creative industries; the relationship between UK City of Culture and its forerunner, the European Capital of Culture; national book prizes in Britain and Europe; British variations on Nordic Noir TV; and the Brexit novel. Due to the separate cultural precursors and responses in each nation, the book then argues how Brexit has widened their differences, with the result that the UK’s future is put into question.

This is the first comparative study of the distinctive literatures and cultures that developed in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland since political devolution in the late 1990s, and especially surrounding Brexit. The book argues that in conceptualising their cultures as ‘national’, each nation is caught up in a creative tension between emulating forms of cultural production found in the others to assert common aspirations, and downplaying those connections in order to forge a sense of cultural distinctiveness. The author explores the resulting dilemmas, with chapters analysing the growth of the creative industries; the relationship between UK City of Culture and its forerunner, the European Capital of Culture; national book prizes in Britain and Europe; British variations on Nordic Noir TV; and the Brexit novel. Due to the separate cultural precursors and responses in each nation, the book then argues how Brexit has widened their differences, with the result that the UK’s future is put into question.

This is the first comparative study of the distinctive literatures and cultures that developed in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland since political devolution in the late 1990s, and especially surrounding Brexit. The book argues that in conceptualising their cultures as ‘national’, each nation is caught up in a creative tension between emulating forms of cultural production found in the others to assert common aspirations, and downplaying those connections in order to forge a sense of cultural distinctiveness. The author explores the resulting dilemmas, with chapters analysing the growth of the creative industries; the relationship between UK City of Culture and its forerunner, the European Capital of Culture; national book prizes in Britain and Europe; British variations on Nordic Noir TV; and the Brexit novel. Due to the separate cultural precursors and responses in each nation, the book then argues how Brexit has widened their differences, with the result that the UK’s future is put into question.

Become classic literature’s most famous detective, and make choices to survive Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in this Choose Your Path mystery.You are Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective. You have been approached by three desperate clients, each of whom presents a compelling case for you to solve. Now, you much choose which mysteries are worth investigating and which might be too dangerous. Every moment, your life is at risk. You must use your cunning to search for evidence, follow the clues, and survive such perils as vile criminals, clever traps, and even wild animals.Can You Survive the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes? adapts the classic collection of short stories into a Choose Your Path book for kids. The survival story puts readers in control of the action. Do you have what it takes to solve three of Sherlock Holmes’ most puzzling cases? Or will the villainous plots lead to your doom? Step into this mystery, and choose your path. But choose wisely, or else!Interactive books for kids are more popular than ever. Create your own adventure with the Interactive Classic Literature book series for boys and girls. You’re the main character. You make the choices. Can you survive?

World in their Hands recounts the remarkable events that led to a group of friends from south-west London staging the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991. The tournament was held just 13 years after teams from University College London and King’s contested a match that catalysed the growth of the women’s game in the UK, and the organisers overcame myriad obstacles before, during and after the World Cup. Those challenges, which included ingrained misogyny, motherhood, a recession, the Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, provide a fitting framing device for a book that celebrates female achievement in the face of adversity.Although ostensibly a story about women’s rugby, this is a tale that has rare crossover appeal. It is not only the account of a group of inspirational women who took on the institutional misogyny that existed in rugby clubs across the globe to put on a first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup. It is also the compelling and relatable tale of how those women, their peers and others in the generations before them, reshaped the idea of what it means to be a woman, finding acceptance and friendship on boggy rugby pitches. At the time, with the men’s game tying itself up in knots about professionalism and apartheid, these women were a breath of fresh air. Three decades on, their achievements deserve to be highlighted to a wider audience.

A gripping true story of wartime espionage. When Dundee housewife Mary Curran became suspicious of flamboyant hairdresser Jessie Jordan’s frequent trips to Nazi Germany in 1937, she could not have known that she would become one of the world’s most successful amateur spycatchers. Thanks to Mary’s tip-off, MI5 and the FBI began major spy hunts on both sides of the Atlantic and security services in other countries rounded up yet more nests of Nazi spies. And so, again thanks to Mary, the Anglo-American special intelligence relationship was born. Featuring parallel Nazi espionage plots in Europe and North America that converged on a Scottish post office and set against a dramatic background of mounting international tension, this is a story shot through with all the staples of spy thrillers – seedy traitors, alluring femmes fatales, sinister Nazi thugs and glamorous movie stars. And all of it is true.

Become classic literature’s most famous detective, and make choices to survive Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in this Choose Your Path mystery.You are Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective. You have been approached by three desperate clients, each of whom presents a compelling case for you to solve. Now, you much choose which mysteries are worth investigating and which might be too dangerous. Every moment, your life is at risk. You must use your cunning to search for evidence, follow the clues, and survive such perils as vile criminals, clever traps, and even wild animals.Can You Survive the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes? adapts the classic collection of short stories into a Choose Your Path book for kids. The survival story puts readers in control of the action. Do you have what it takes to solve three of Sherlock Holmes’ most puzzling cases? Or will the villainous plots lead to your doom? Step into this mystery, and choose your path. But choose wisely, or else!Interactive books for kids are more popular than ever. Create your own adventure with the Interactive Classic Literature book series for boys and girls. You’re the main character. You make the choices. Can you survive?

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) is chiefly remembered as one of the great historical novelists, with his best-known works including Waverley (1814), Ivanhoe (1819), and Redgauntlet (1824). His experiments in short fiction, however, began before he published his first novel and throughout his career he returned to the short story form, writing tales which often contained elements of Scottish supernaturalism or the macabre.As It Was Told to Me, introduced by Daniel Cook, collects three of Scott’s short stories in one volume. ‘My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror’, mixes a tale of reckless romance with supernatural theatrics; ‘The Two Drovers’ offers a slow-burn expose of national conflict; and ‘Wandering Willie’s Tale’ weaves a yarn around the grisly death of a despotic laird and a trip to hell.

Also known as Nessie, this creature of the lake’s history dates all the way back to the year 565. Since then, there have been photographs and films that allegedly show proof of the monster’s existence. But are they fact or fiction? Learn all about the research, expeditions, and tests that provide clues about the Loch Ness Monster and whether or not she is real in this captivating book for young readers!Series Overview: Following the same format as the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series, the What Do We Know About? books explore the histories of famous cryptids, mysteries, and phenomenons.

The burial grounds, graveyards and cemeteries of Fife contain many fascinating historical tales, often with interesting superstitions attached. All walks of life are represented – from the burial place of ancient Kings, Queens and Saints in Scotland’s ancient capital, Dunfermline, to the only known grave of a witch in Scotland, on the foreshore of the Firth of Forth.In this book local historian Charlotte Golledge takes readers on a tour through the history of Fife’s burial grounds, graveyards and cemeteries. She explores the history of the royal burials at Dunfermline Abbey and the resting place of the bishops at St Andrew’s Cathedral, with the graves of Old Tom Harris and Young Tom Morris nearby who designed many of Scotland’s iconic golf courses. Lesser known locations include the secluded St Bridget’s kirkyard in Dalgety Bay where body snatchers would row across the River Forth to claim freshly buried bodies for the anatomist’s table and the lovingly restored kirkyard at Tulliallan Old Kirk with its gravestones going back to the 17th century, many of which have been brought to the surface recently, showing the everyday trades of those interred, including nautical connections. Together, these are the tales of real people of Scotland told through their deaths and burials. This fascinating portrait of life and death in Fife over the centuries will appeal to both residents and visitors to this region of Scotland.

THE 12 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LEWIS TRILOGY, THE ENZO FILES AND THE CHINA THRILLERSAWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF THE CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY 2021’Peter May is one of the most accomplished novelists writing today.’ Undiscovered Scotland’No one can create a more eloquently written suspense novel than Peter May.’ New York Journal of BooksPETER MAY MIXES MURDER, MYSTERY and MEMORY . . . AND MARKS HIS RETURN TO THE OUTER HEBRIDESA man stands bewildered on a deserted beach on the Hebridean Isle of Harris. He cannot remember who he is. The only clue to his identity is a folded map of a path named the Coffin Road. He does not know where this search will take him.A detective from Lewis sits aboard a boat, filled with doubt. DS George Gunn knows that a bludgeoned corpse has been discovered on a remote rock twenty miles offshore. He does not know if he has what it takes to uncover how and why.A teenage girl lies in her Edinburgh bedroom, desperate to discover the truth about her scientist father’s suicide. Two years on, Karen Fleming still cannot accept that he would wilfully abandon her. She does not yet know his secret.Coffin Road follows three perilous journeys towards one shocking truth – and the realisation that ignorance can kill us.LOVED COFFIN ROAD? Read the first book in Peter May’s acclaimed China thrillers series, THE FIREMAKERLOVE PETER MAY? Buy his new thriller, THE NIGHT GATE

THE CHILLING AND COMPULSIVE NEW NOVEL FROM THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR.’We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.’It’s been seventeen months since the Bloodsmith butchered his first victim and Operation Maypole is still no nearer catching him. The media is whipping up a storm, the top brass are demanding results, but the investigation is sinking fast.Now isn’t the time to get distracted with other cases, but Detective Sergeant Lucy McVeigh doesn’t have much choice. When Benedict Strachan was just eleven, he hunted down and killed a homeless man. No one’s ever figured out why Benedict did it, but now, after sixteen years, he’s back on the streets again – battered, frightened, convinced a shadowy ‘They’ are out to get him, and begging Lucy for help.It sounds like paranoia, but what if he’s right? What if he really is caught up in something bigger and darker than Lucy’s ever dealt with before? What if the Bloodsmith isn’t the only monster out there? And what’s going to happen when Lucy goes after them?Praise for Stuart MacBride:’A brutal, visceral read, laced with the blackest of humour and travelling to some very dark places’ Guardian’A magnetic mix of creepy places, dark humour, horror and violence’ SunAVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW.

In this enchantingly illustrated Christmas poem, Carol Ann Duffy invites readers to open the windows on Advent Street. In each one is a gift. You may find yourself back-straight watching a ballerina, poised to begin, or catch your lips moving in time with a festive song that drifts out into the night. Whatever the surprise, when the curtains draw back and the lights sharpen, Duffy’s beguiling words, paired with captivating illustrations from Yelena Bryksenkova, call you inside to feel the warmth.

In this enchantingly illustrated Christmas poem, Carol Ann Duffy invites readers to open the windows on Advent Street. In each one is a gift. You may find yourself back-straight watching a ballerina, poised to begin, or catch your lips moving in time with a festive song that drifts out into the night. Whatever the surprise, when the curtains draw back and the lights sharpen, Duffy’s beguiling words, paired with captivating illustrations from Yelena Bryksenkova, call you inside to feel the warmth.