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.
Scotland: A Concise History (Fitzroy Maclean: Thames & Hudson; Fourth Edition)
Scotland: A Concise History (Fitzroy Maclean: Thames & Hudson; Fourth Edition)
“Magnificently illustrated, it is a constant visual delight . . . an admirable introduction to a fascinating subject.” ―The Scotsman
“The Scots,” said a censorious English member of Parliament in 1607, “have not suffered above two kings to die in their beds these two hundred years.” He may have exaggerated, but undeniably Scotland has a rough and bloodstained history. Continuously in print for more than forty years and renowned to this day for the authority and wit with which it disentangles the complex threads of Scotland’s rich history, Fitzroy Maclean’s classic work has been brought up to date with recent events in the path to Scottish independence. Pictures from authentic contemporary sources illuminate the story―its romantic figures, battles, politics, and religion―and provide a rich visual record of Scotland’s art, craftsmanship, and intellectual life. 243 illustrations