THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

Discover one of the Scottish Enlightenment’s brightest stars.Among the giants of the Scottish Enlightenment, the name of James Hutton is overlooked. Yet his Theory of the Earth revolutionised the way we think about how our planet was formed and laid the foundation for the science of geology. He was in his time a doctor, a farmer, a businessman, a chemist yet he described himself as a philosopher – a seeker after truth.A friend of James Watt and of Adam Smith, he was a polymath, publishing papers on subjects as diverse as why it rains and a theory of language. He shunned status and official position, refused to give up his strong Scots accent and vulgar speech, loved jokes and could start a party in an empty room.Yet much of his story remains a mystery. His papers, library and mineral collection all vanished after his death and only a handful of letters survive. He seemed to be a lifelong bachelor, yet had a secret son whom he supported throughout his life.This book uses new sources and original documents to bring Hutton the man to life and places him firmly among the geniuses of his time.

David Hume’s first publication, A Treatise of Human Nature is widely considered to be one of the greatest philosophical works written in the English language. In this work, he attempts an empirically informed account of human nature and covers in three volumes a range of topics such as space, time, causality, the external world, personal identity, passions, freedom, necessity, virtue and vice. This edition includes the complete primary text, annotated and introduced by Angela Coventry, along with Hume’s “Abstract” of the Treatise and several contemporaneous reviews.

‘Nobody does cosy, get-away-from-it-all romance like Jenny Colgan’Sunday ExpressEscape to a cosy festive bookshop this winter with this page-turning and magical treat.PRAISE FOR JENNY COLGANAn evocative, sweet treat’ Jojo Moyes’Gorgeous, glorious, uplifting’ Marian Keyes’A cracker – the must-read this festive season’ Sun’Irresistible’ Jill Mansell’Just lovely’ Katie Fforde’Naturally funny, warm-hearted’ Lisa Jewell’A gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book’ Mike Gayle_______________The brand new feel-good Christmas novel from Sunday Times top ten bestselling author, Jenny Colgan.Carmen has always worked in her local department store. So, when the gorgeous old building closes its doors for good, she is more than a little lost.When her sister, Sofia, mentions an opportunity in Edinburgh – a cute little bookshop, the spare room in her house – Carmen is reluctant, she was never very good at accepting help. But, short on options, she soon finds herself pulling into the snowy city just a month before Christmas.What Sofia didn’t say is that the shop is on its last legs and that if Carmen can’t help turn things around before Christmas, the owner will be forced to sell. Privately, Sofia is sure it will take more than a miracle to save the store, but maybe this Christmas, Carmen might surprise them all…____________________Why readers ADORE Jenny Colgan’Jenny Colgan has a way of writing that makes me melt inside”Her books are so good I want to start over as soon as I have finished”There’s something so engaging about her characters and plots”Her books are like a big, warm blanket”Her stories are just so fabulous”She brings her settings and characters so vividly to life”The woman is just magic’

*Preorder the brand new book in the globally bestselling series*Unwrap this gorgeous gift of a book for an escape to the snow-peaked caps of the Scottish Highlands and a romance that will melt your heart…Izzy McBride had never in a million years expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle Bill but here she was, in the run up to Christmas, Monarch of her own Glen – a very rundown glen in need of a lot of TLC if her dream of turning it into a boutique bed and breakfast was to come true.But when Izzy’s eccentric mother rents a room to enigmatic thriller author Ross Adair and the Scottish snow starts to settle like the frosting on a Christmas cake, it’s a race to get the castle ready before they’re all snowed in for the holidays.Praise for Julie Caplin:’One unputdownable story’ Katie Fforde’An irresistible slice of escapism’ Phillipa Ashley’Five big fat stars’ Sue Moorcroft

Beginning with Sir William Hamilton’s revitalization of philosophy in Scotland in the 1830s, this book takes up the theme of George Davie’s The Democratic Intellect and explores a century of debates surrounding the identity and continuity of the Scottish philosophical tradition. Alexander Bain, J F Ferrier, Thomas Carlyle, Alexander Campbell Fraser, John Tulloch, Henry Jones, Henry Calderwood, David Ritchie, and Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison are among the once prominent, but now neglected thinkers whose reactions to Hume and Reid stimulated new currents of ideas. Graham concludes by considering the relation between the Scottish philosophical tradition and the twentieth-century philosopher John Macmurray.

The Shetland Bus was not a bus, but the nickname of a special operations group that set up a route across the North Sea between Norway and the Shetland Islands, north-east of mainland Scotland. The first voyage was made by Norwegian sailors to help their compatriots in occupied Norway, but soon the Secret Intelligence Service and the Special Operations Executive asked if they would be prepared to carry cargoes of British agents and equipment, as well. Fourteen boats of different sizes were originally used, and Flemington House in Shetland was commandeered as the operation’s HQ. The first official journey was carried out by the Norwegian fishing vessel the Aksel, which left Luna Ness on 30 August 1941 on route to Bremen in Norway.This book examines that first journey, as well later ones, and discusses the agents and operations which members of the Shetland Bus were involved in throughout the war. It also looks at the donation of 3 submarine chasers to the operation, made in October 1943, by the United States Navy. These torpedo-type boats were 110 ft long and very fast, allowing journey times between Shetland and Norway to be greatly reduced and carried out in greater safety.The story of the Shetland Bus would be nothing without the individuals involved, both the sailors of the boats and the agents who were carried between the two countries. These were very brave individuals who helped maintain an important lifeline to the beleaguered Norwegians. It also allowed British and Norwegian agents a way in to Norway so that they could liaise with the Norwegian Underground movement and carry out important missions against the German occupiers.

Witchcraft holds a continued fascination for readers around the world, and the Scottish witch hunts have recently received renewed media attention, especially with the BBC 2 show Lucy Worsley Investigates, bringing attention to Edinburgh’s witches.Expert Mary Craig explores the unusual story of Agnes Finnie, a middle class shopkeeper who lived in the tenements of Edinburgh. After arrest, most witches were tried within a matter of days but not Agnes. Her unusual case took months with weeks of deliberation of the jury. Mary explains why and gives her expert insight into the political and religious tensions that led to her burning.The book will interest a variety of readers, academics and non-academics alike – those interested in witchcraft, British and Scottish history, religious studies and women’s studies.Mary Craig works as a historian with museums, archives and schools and hosts regular, well-attended events on the subject of witchcraft in the Scottish Borders. We expect strong media coverage. The Witches of Scotland campaign has recently gained traction and the attention of first minister Nicola Sturgeon, calling for a pardon and apology to those accused during the witch hunts.

This is for anyone who believes there is something special about taking on a challenging task in a remote place where few, if any people have been before. It may be a mountain range where your team is the only human presence, or a mountain on which you are making a first ascent. It’s a unique opportunity to relate to a particular landscape, and in doing so to understand that environment and yourself better than before; something valuable that’s shared within your team. Most mountaineers are familiar with challenges but the added dimension of remoteness intensifies the experience, tests one’s self-reliance and teamwork so much more thoroughly.Having been told on numerous occasions that ‘I’d love to go on an expedition but I don’t know where to start’, the Handbook offers much more than just a start. Based upon years of Alpinism and expeditionary mountaineering, including leading more than 20 expeditions, it became apparent to the author that a systematic approach can avoid logistical and personnel problems by thorough preparation.After running seminars on expedition planning at the National Outdoor Centre, the author believed there was much more ground to cover – even after a two-hour interactive session. As well as providing this information, the book shares some of the accumulated wisdom from the traditions of expeditioning in the writings of such towering figures as Bill Tilman, Eric Shipton and Frank Smythe.An Expedition Handbook includes many practical tips, from assessing the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning to tent design and pitching methods. Readers can learn about expeditions whilst enjoying the very elements that make it all worthwhile; the adventure, the camaraderie, the exotic locations, the triumphs. Aspirant expeditioners should therefore be able to organise more successful and satisfying expeditions so that fewer but better expeditions take place, cutting the climate cost of travel, and bringing back an appreciation of wild places and a willingness to stand up for rewilding in environments closer to home.

Written by practitioners for practitioners, this definitive handbook covers all of the main aspects of costs and funding issues encountered in the Scottish Civil Courts. It covers the routes to funding, when expenses may be sought, the court’s powers in awarding expenses and provides detail on issues including Success Fee Agreements, Qualified One Way Cost Shifting, Pre-Action Protocols, Pursuers’ Offers and Tenders, party Litigants, Amendment, Abandonment, Caution and Simple Procedure. It brings together all of the key legislation, court rules and judgments to provide a user-friendly and quick-reference guide to expenses law and practice.

‘No one can plot or tell a story like she can’ Daily Express__________The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is a master of the dark and sinister story, and these powers are demonstrated in full force in Christmas is Murder, a festive collection of chilling tales.From an irresponsible baron whose body is discovered beneath a silver birch tree, to an author who is haunted by the spiteful presence of a jealous writing partner, the characters McDermid conjures are enigmatic and dangerous, never above suspicion.Follow Tony Hill and Carol Jordan as they track a deadly killer who is preparing to strike on Christmas Day, and lose yourself in a festive exclusive – a recently unearthed case for a classic detective duo, set as the lights are going out across Europe.These evocative, atmospheric tales will shock and delight. This is the perfect book to curl up with as the frosty winter draws in and each night gets darker than the last, written by one of our greatest living crime writers.__________Praise for the Queen of Crime Val McDermid:’Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable’ Guardian’Compulsively readable’ Irish Times’One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review’As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get’ Sunday Express’It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go’ Daily Mail

Mary, Queen of Scots is one of the great tragic figures of British history. Born in Scotland one December morning in 1542, she was to become Queen of Scots just six days later. Growing up mostly in France and marrying the sickly French king Francis II in 1559, she returned to Scotland on his death, a widow at the age of eighteen. Four years later she married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, but their miserable union ended with his murder and her subsequent marriage to his alleged killer, the Earl of Bothwell.Forced by rebellion to flee south to England, she was confined by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I in various manor houses and castles before, eighteen years later, being executed on her cousin’s orders.On the Trail of Mary, Queen of Scots takes the reader on a journey through the landscape of Mary’s time. In her footsteps we will visit resplendent castles, towering cathedrals, manor homes, chapels and ruins associated with Mary. Each location is brought to life through an engaging narrative and a collection of photographs and works of art.

Once again the eminent detective is presented with a series of seemingly impenetrable cases: an illustrious client begs him to unmask the nefarious past of a roguish aristocrat; a retired art-supply dealer asks him to investigate the suspicious disappearance of his wife with her neighbour and a stash of money; a veteran of the Boer War appeals to him to track down a missing friend; a man has become convinced that his wife has been sucking their baby son’s blood – will the most famous of sleuths be persuaded to offer his services and set off in pursuit of the criminals?The final collection of Holmes adventures, containing twelve brilliant, unpredictable stories, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes is a fitting conclusion to its protagonist’s long career and a powerful send-off for Conan Doyle’s greatest creation.

Whilst the past year has been almost as unpredictable as the British weather, we can be certain of one thing. The readers of the Herald will send the newspaper’s Diary column letters containing oddities such as an appearance of the Hollywood sign in Scotland and spinach-themed banquet faux pas among other incidents glimpsed, overheard and undertaken that simply had to be shared.And with 2022 being no exception, you will find this edition to be a treasure trove of comedy gold, describing a variety of unfortunate events, silly circumstances and downright foolishness to make you groan, wince and, of course, laugh out loud.So, whether you enjoy the suffering of a man with a hot flush, the banter of Ronnie Barker or you just want to know how a cat could win an Oscar, the Herald Diary is well worth a read.

*Now a live-action BBC series* From Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, comes Princess Mirror-Belle and the Magic Shoes, the exciting adventures of a mischievous princess.Full of black-and-white illustrations by Lydia Monks, Princess Mirror-Belle and The Magic Shoes is perfect for fans of this bestselling picture book team who are beginning to read on their own. It contains five delightful stories that children will come back to again and again.Ellen’s life is turned upside down by the hilarious Mirror-Belle, a spirited princess who claims to be from somewhere mysterious and far away. She appears out of mirrors to tell Ellen magical stories and take her on adventures. From going to ballet class to staying at Ellen’s grandparents’ house, causing mischief with their furry friends, having fun at Halloween and taking the princess test, you can always guarantee that wherever Mirror-Belle goes, trouble will follow.This book contains the following stories:The Magic ShoesThe Golden GoosePrince Precious PawsWhich WitchThe Princess Test

A vicar nailed to a tree in Yorkshire.The theft of a priceless artefact during a fire.A detective forced to tell the truth for 24 hours.A body hidden in a basement.From the restless streets of London to the wilds of the Lake District, displaying all his trademark humour, playfulness and clever plotting, this landmark collection brings together the very best of Reginald Hill’s short stories for the first time, complete with a foreword from Val McDermid.’One of Britain’s most consistently excellent crime novelists’The Times’A real treat. The characters are deftly drawn, the plot constantly delivers, surprises and the assured narrative demonstrates again what a terrific writer he is’Observer’Reginald Hill’s novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories intertwining’Ian Rankin’The finest male English contemporary crime writer’Val McDermid

“Curlews give their liquid, burbling call, a call of pure happiness, the music of the fells.” Ella Pontefract, 1936, WensleydaleThe North of England abounds with beauty, from unspoiled beaches in Northumberland to the dramatic Lakeland Fells, for so long celebrated by writers and artists. Wide estuaries, winding rivers, sheer cliffs, rushing waterfalls, ancient woodland, limestone pavements, and miles of hedgerows and drystone walls sustainably built and rebuilt over centuries – all form part of its rich heritage.But these are, too, contested and depleted landscapes. Today the curlew’s call is isolated, and many other species are in decline. Industry, urban sprawl and climate chaos threaten our environment on a previously unimagined scale. And while stereotypes persist – of dark satanic mills or “bleak” moorland – the imperative of conservation is all too often overlooked for short-term economic interests.This essential volume reminds us how and why Northern people have risen to the challenge of defending their open spaces, demanding action on pollution and habitat loss. Contemporary writers including Sarah Hall, Lee Schofield, Benjamin Myers and Lemn Sissay take their place alongside those who wrote in previous centuries. Together, the voices in this one-of-a-kind anthology testify that North Country is a place apart.

Born 30 May 1889, Isobel Wylie Hutchison was many things: A botanist, explorer, poet and artist, she travelled solo throughout the arctic collecting plant samples, wrote and published extensive volumes of essays and poetry, and was – in short – one of the most impressive Scottish figures of her time.

However, despite her many achievements, since her death in 1982 she fell out of public awareness and her legacy was largely forgotten. Now, thanks to the dutiful work of poet and editor Hazel Buchan Cameron, Isobel can speak for herself again.

Published with an erudite introduction by Kenneth Maclean detailing Hutchison’s life and achievements, Peak Beyond Peak represents a landmark moment in Scottish culture, not only for bringing focus back to one of Scotland’s most astonishing women and her relationship to the country, but for reaffirming the importance of her work and its message of cultural exchange, curiosity and communication at a time of increasing social division and disconnection from the world. Written with her characteristic wit and a keen interest in science, myth and folklore, these essays are as playful and informative today as they were 75 years ago.

Anxiety Music explores the fragmented nature of our modern lives and our need for real connection during an era of rampant individuality. The latest collection from Kevin P. Gilday, one of Scotland’s most celebrated contemporary poets, Anxiety Music is a darkly comedic dissection of mental health, late capitalist dread, existential angst, sexual liberation and marital breakdown.

This collection bridges page and stage, craft and performance. It is an unfiltered look at the sources of anxiety that hi-jack our lives and a personal journey to confront them – a rallying call to face the forces of anxiety wrought upon us by an uncaring society and fight back.

The year is 1746. The Jacobite rebellion has failed catastrophically and Scotland is reeling in the devastating aftermath of the battle of Culloden. Far to the west, on an island in the Outer Hebrides, twenty-four-year-old Flora Macdonald is woken in the dead of night by a messenger with urgent intelligence.

Bonnie Prince Charlie is outside, begging for her help.

With Flora’s assistance, the Stuart prince is disguised as an Irish maid and smuggled to the Isle of Skye, evading government troops. Flora’s bravery and determination will see her immortalised in ballads and proclaimed a Scottish heroine. But her efforts also result in her capture and detention in London. Released the following year and returning to Skye, Flora goes on to marry and emigrate to North Carolina, only then to be caught up in the American Revolutionary War.

In Pretty Young Rebel, award-winning biographer Flora Fraser tells the remarkable story of Flora Macdonald. It is a tale of adventure and daring, wit and charm, struggle and survival, and of a woman who showed extraordinary courage in the face of great danger.

Charlotte Waldie and Christina Keith visited, respectively, Waterloo and Flanders in the immediate aftermath of battle. Another intrepid writer, Emily Graves, wrote a memoir of her travels in Transylvania in The Light Beyond the Forest – from which Bram Stoker directly lifted the most blood-curdling elements of Dracula. Others remembered include literary multi-tasker and businesswoman Christian Isabel Johnstone; playwright Joanna Baillie; working-class poets Marion Bernstein and Janet Hamilton; novelist Susan Ferrier; memoirist Anne Grant of Laggan; and writer and scientist Mary Somerville, depicted on the cover, after whom Somerville College, Oxford is named.

This illuminating book traces the development of Scottish women’s writing in English from its genesis in the late eighteenth century to its flowering in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hindered initially by the hostility of the Presbyterian Church and the self-serving attitude of the male hierarchy which denied them a proper education, an astonishing number of women found opportunities, in the midst of domestic obligations, to write, and often publish – novels, poetry, diaries, journalism, letters, essays and reportage.