Scotland and the Scottish Diaspora
"It's part of me, Scotland. I'm still immersed in it even though I am not there." -- Irvine Welsh (1958 - ), Scots novelist, short story writer, playwright, author of Trainspotting among many other works).
All my life I have been interested in the history of Scotland and the profound consequences of the Scottish diaspora throughout the world. Scotland and the Scots are appealing in so many ways -- the beauty of the land- and seascapes, the food and drink, the extraordinarily resourceful and creative people, the dramatic history from antiquity to the present, the great literature and history and philosophy and religion. The subjects are themselves enough to inspire writing, but there is great satisfaction in the fact that the Scots have lived up to the subjects on their own writ.
Over many years I have researched the history of Cumberland Valley, and I have often talked about the Scots, the Scots-Irish, and the settlement of this part of the New World by these willing and not-so-willing exiles. In recognition of the history and significance of the Scots to our area, I fly the Saltire and carry these books and cds. I am always on the lookout for more.
P.S. Due to listing limitations, I have moved Ian Rankin and Denise Mina, two fine writers of the Scots Noir movement, over to our International Mystery page.
Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
- One of the supreme masterpieces of Romantic fiction and Scottish literature, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is a terrifying account of murder and amorality, and one man's descent into madness and despair.
- The authoritative and lively introduction covers the full range of historical and religious themes and contexts and a fuller and more accurate consideration of the novel's relation to Romantic fiction than can be found elsewhere, as well as original discussion of the novel's treatment of fanaticism.
- The notes identify the full range of the novel's historical, biblical, theological, topographical and literary allusions, and are both concise and fuller than in any other competing edition at this level.
- Complete and up-to-date bibliography includes recent developments in Hogg scholarship.
- Full glossary.
- Introduction by Ian Duncan.
- Updated and expanded Select Bibliography.
- Revised Note on the Text,Chronology, and Glossary.
- Entirely new and much fuller Explanatory Notes.
- Reset text of the novel, checked against 1824 copy text and correcting previous errors.