10
BIRLINN New Titles Spring 2018 Saltire Society Scottish Publisher of the Year 2017
Birlinn Limited was established in 1992 and celebrated 25 years of publishing in 2017. The name comes from the old Norse word ‘birlinn’, meaning a long boat or small galley used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The first book published by the company back in 1992 was a reissue of Neil Munro’s Para Handy and it has been in print ever since. The small team behind the publishing output is based in Newington in Edinburgh and the staff work incredibly hard to build and maintain the reputation of the publishing house, both in the UK and around the world. The full company is comprised of a number of imprints: Birlinn — Scottish and general UK interest books, biography, history, military history, mapping, cookery and Scottish Gaelic. BC Books — a children’s imprint, launched in 2015 and now providing writing and illustration of the highest quality for young readers across the UK. The editors, writers and illustrators behind this list are dedicated to nurturing young readers and helping them discover a passion for reading that will last a lifetime. Polygon — literary fiction and poetry, both classic and modern, from writers such as Robin Jenkins, George Mackay Brown and the author of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, to music and film titles including Stuart Cosgrove’s Young Soul Rebels. International writers including Jan-Philipp Sendker are also published under this imprint. Arena Sport — a sport imprint. The sport books published to date range from football and rugby, to golf, running and cycling. These books have an international as well as national appeal. John Donald — publishes academic books of great renown across the world.
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FOOD & DRINK
101 RUMS TO TRY BEFORE YOU DIE Ian Buxton
ISBN: 9781780275444 Price: £12.99 Format: 170 x 105mm A-hbk Extent: 224pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World English Language ePub: 9781788850438 Publication: 07 June 2018 Rum, once the poor relation of the spirit world, has undergone a revival and is no longer seen just as the preferred tipple for tipsy pirates. Ian Buxton, one of the UK’s bestselling authors on spirits, takes us on a tour of the different colours, flavours, creation methods and characteristics, and makes his pick of the best rums in the world. • • • •
101 Rums to Try Before You Die will cover the exciting and revitalised world of rum – white rum, aged rums, and today’s new favourites, craft rum and spiced rum The perfect gift for Father’s Day Ian Buxton is a world-renowned expert on spirits and is much in demand for events and festivals Previous titles 101 Gins and 101 Whiskies have sold over 100,000 copies
Ian Buxton has been working in and around the whisky industry for close to 30 years, but has been drinking professionally for a good deal longer. He began writing regularly for Whisky Magazine shortly after it launched, and now also writes in a variety of trade and consumer titles here and abroad. He has published a number of books, including the bestselling 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die.
4
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FOOD & DRINK
101 CHAMPAGNES
And other Sparkling Wines Davy Zyw
ISBN: 9781780275567 Price: £14.99 Format: 170 x 105mm A-hbk Extent: 256pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages ePub: 978178885XXXX Publication: 04 October 2018 Whether you love prosecco, cava, cremant or champagne, the UK’s love for all drinks sparkling and fizzy shows no sign of abating! Sparkling wine sales have increased by 76% in the last 5 years, and whatever your tipple, a delicious glass of fizz is no longer restricted to special anniversaries or occasions but is drunk all year round. This new book from wine expert David Zyw is sure to become the definitive guide to the best fizz available. • • •
Builds on the continuing success of Birlinn’s drinks list that also features Ian Buxton’s 101 Gins to Try Before You Die, and Charles MacLean’s Whiskypedia This is the definitive, authoritative and most accessible guide to champagne and other sparkling wines Davy is available for events across the UK
Davy Zyw started his wine career as a sommelier at Gavroche, then was italian wine buyer at Tesco. For four years he was working at Laithwaites/Direct Wine as Italian wine buyer and started three weeks ago as Italian Wine Buyer at Berry Bros & Rudd. He takes over Champagne too in the New Year. He is 30 and lives in London.
5
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FOOD & DRINK
ALSO AVAILABLE: WHISKIES GALORE
A Tour of Scotland’s Island Distilleries Ian Buxton ISBN: 9781780275642 Price: £8.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 272pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World English Language ePub: 9780857903518 Publication: 06 September 2018 Join Ian Buxton on a personal journey across Scotland’s islands, where he learns to fish with high explosives, ends up hurling his dinner into the sea, and comes face to face with a basking shark. And along the way he provides a special treat for all who love the islands’ magical drams.
101 GINS TO TRY BEFORE YOU DIE - New Edition Ian Buxton
ISBN: 9781780275659 Price: £12.99 Format: 178 x 110mm A-Hbk Extent: 224pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World English Language ePub: 9780857902467 Publication: 06 September 2018 Scarcely a day goes by without an established brand offering a fresh take on their established styles or, more likely, a new boutique distillery opening its doors – where gin is de rigueur. In his inimitable style, best-selling drinks writer Ian Buxton will lead readers through the great gin trap with his no-nonsense guide to 101 Gins. 6
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FOOD & DRINK
WHISKY
The First Definitive Book on Whisky Aeneas MacDonald ISBN: 9781780274218 Price: £9.99 Format: 178 x 110mm A-Hbk Extent: 192pp Illustrations: 20 x colour illus. Rights: World English Language ePub: 9780857903389 Publication: 07 June 2018 This is – in the opinion of many whisky writers and experts – the finest whisky book ever written. It is certainly the first written from the point of view of the consumer and is thus historically significant. It remains fresh and relevant to the interests of today’s whisky drinker, accompanied by notes and commentary by Ian Buxton.
WHISKYPEDIA
A Gazeteer of Scottish Whisky Charles MacLean ISBN: 9781780275611 Price: £14.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 416pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: WAL exc. North America ePub: 9780857900692 Publication: 06 September 2018 Why does Scotch whisky taste as it does? Where do the flavours come from? How might they have changed over the years? Whiskypedia explores these influences, with entires on whiskies and distilleries up and down the country. The result of deep immersion in its subject, it will guide, entertain and inform novices and experts alike. 7
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FOOD & DRINK
THE POCKET GUIDE TO BEER Joe Dick & Nikki Welch
ISBN: 9781780274898 Price: £7.99 Format: 170 x 105mm A-pbk Extent: 144pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9781788850452 Publication: 07 June 2018 The Pocket Guide to Beer will point your tastebuds in the direction of something new. This handy, fun and informative guide to beer takes the reader on a journey using the BeerTubeMap, a unique flavour map that links beers by flavour and style. It comprehensively shows how beer styles from around the world relate to each other and includes both traditional and new wave beers. The no nonsense, un-geeky style makes it a great starter guide for beer newbies whilst providing inspiration for more seasoned drinkers. • • •
The third in Birlinn’s series of bestselling pocket guides Laid out as a flavour map of beer designed to help navigate by taste and find the next step on your whisky journey, brought to life by the creator of the WineTubeMap®, Nikki Welch, in collaboration with Joe Dick The pocket guides have sold over 10,000 copies
A seasoned bar manager with an encyclopaedic knowledge of beer, Joe Dick studied English and Journalism at Napier University, Edinburgh before going to manage a number of bars in the city and studying for a Diploma in Distilling. He contributes to a number of blogs on drinks, including The Beercast.
8
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FOOD & DRINK
ALSO AVAILABLE in this series: THE POCKET GUIDE TO WINE Nikki Welch
ISBN: 9781780271446 Price: £7.99 Format: 170 x 105mm A-pbk Extent: 144pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857908377
THE POCKET GUIDE TO WHISKY Blair Bowman & Nikki Welch
ISBN: 9781780274324 Price: £7.99 Format: 170 x 105mm A-pbk Extent: 144pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857909473 Nikki Welch has worked in the wine industry for 15 years and runs her own tasting and events company. She is the creator of the acclaimed WineTubeMap® (www.winetubemap.co.uk) author of the bestselling The Pocket Guide to Wine and co-author of The Pocket Guide to Whisky.
9
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – TRUE CRIME
ACID ATTACK
A Journalist’s War With Organised Crime Russell Findlay
ISBN: 9781780274997 Price: £8.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 272pp Illustrations: 8pp col. plates Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857909442 Publication: 22 February 2018 Two days before Christmas in 2015, journalist Russell Findlay became the target of an unprecedented attack. William ‘Basil’ Burns came to his home and hurled sulphuric acid in his face. Burns, however, then lost control of his knife and was overpowered by Findlay, who handed him over to the police. With the botched hit as a starting point, Findlay unravels the identity of those suspected of hiring Burns, giving a unique insight into the criminal landscape of modern Scotland. • • •
A unique, fascinating perspective on crime in Scotland by an acclaimed investigative journalist The author was himself subject to a brutal attack ordered by one of Scotland’s most notorious criminals Findlay’s bestselling true crime books have sold more than 13,000 copies
PREVIOUS KEY TITLES The Iceman • 9780857902030 Caught in the Crossfire • 9780857902252
10
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
THE LITTLE BOOK OF SCOTTISH RAIN Ron Butlin illustrated by Tim Kirby
ISBN: 9781780275574 Price: £4.99 Format: 170 x 110mm A-pbk Extent: 96pp Illustrations: b/w line dr. throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 02 August 2018 It’s widely reported that Eskimos have over 50 words for snow. Given the equivalent ubiquity of rain in Britain’s northern climes, it is not surprising that Scots have coined just as many (and possibly many more) expressions for the many different types of precipitation that fall from our skies. In this book Ron Butlin introduces 50 of the most colourful Scottish words for rain in humorous and memorable verse, imaginatively accompanied with illustrations by Tim Kirby. • • •
A unique take on Scotland’s most well-known meteorological phenomenon Ron Butlin is an award-winning poet and author who was Edinburgh Makar (Poet Laureate) from 2008 to 2014 Illustrated throughout – a beautiful summer gift
Ron Butlin is a poet, playwright, novelist, short-story writer and opera librettist whose works have been translated into many languages. Tim Kirby is a British artist and illustrator, providing drawings for editorial, publishing, corporate and advertising, as well as private commissions.
11
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – SPIRITUALITY
A HUMAN LOVE STORY Journeys to the Heart Matt Hopwood Foreword by Clare Balding
ISBN: 9781780275000 Price: £9.99 Fmt: 198 x 129mm B-pbk w/flaps Extent: 192pp Illustrations: Col. throughout Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857909909 Publication: 08 February 2018 Since 2012, Matt Hopwood has walked more than 1500 miles across Britain, listening to, recording and sharing the love stories of people he meets. In 2017, he set off from Lindisfarne with just a small bag, a walking stick and an open mind and heart. He walked the length and breadth of Scotland, to the standing stones at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis, asking people to tell him their stories of love and transformation. This book presents a collection of enthralling, profoundly honest stories from his journey. • •
This is the first, long-awaited book from Matt Hopwood’s project to record and share love stories across the world. Visit www.ahumanlovestory.com for audio recordings and more information
‘This is a beautiful collection of everything we feel and don’t feel – what we say and can’t say’ – Clare Balding Matt Hopwood is a graduate in Applied Anthropology from Goldsmith’s University, a former teacher and worked alongside community projects in Kenya, Palestine and Israel. He admits to having struggled to feel or express any emotions at all until he reached his 30s and, having decided to tackle this, he has made it his life’s mission to build, grow and enhance connections between people. 12
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – TRAVEL
NORTH COAST JOURNEY
The Magic of Scotland’s Northern Highlands Brigid Benson
ISBN: 9781780275239 Price: £14.99 Fmt: 246 x 189mm Paperback w/flaps Extent: 240pp Illustrations: Col. throughout, maps Rights: World All Languages Publication: 05 July 2018 This is the essential guide to the north of Scotland, on a journey which begins in Inverness, weaves westwards to Applecross and then northwards towards Torridon. From Ullapool it leads to the most northerly points in Britain, passing by Caithness and John o’ Groats. Brigid Benson divides this 516 mile route into manageable chunks, suggesting where to discover history, observe wildlife, meet great local characters, shop at quirky stores, taste outstanding food, drink in friendly bars and cafes, stand in awe of amazing sights, and recommending places to picnic, swim, surf, walk and stargaze. • • •
The beautiful routes through the Highlands are some of Scotland’s fastest growing tourist destinations This book is full of practical information to get the most out of your trip through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery Illustrated with stunning colour photographs and detailed maps
Brigid Benson is the bestselling author of 52 Weekends by the Sea and 52 Weekends in the Country, both published by Penguin.
13
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – COLOURING BOOKS
THE CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH COLOURING BOOK Eilidh Muldoon
ISBN: 9781780275482 Price: £8.99 Format: 250 x 250mm Paperback Extent: 224pp Illustrations: b/w line art throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 10 May 2018 As an outstanding exponent of Art Nouveau and leader of the ‘Glasgow Style’, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s buildings, designs and paintings are known the world over. In this book Eilidh Muldoon shares her passion for one of the twentieth-century’s artistic giants. From Mackintosh’s most iconic buildings, such as the Glasgow School of Art, The Cranston Tearooms and Hill House to furniture, stained glass and fabric designs, these drawings are an ideal way to explore his artistic world, and by adding colour, adding your own personal stamp. • • •
A specially commissioned book to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain’s greatest artists Many Mackintosh-related events and celebrations will be taking place during the anniversary year Eilidh Muldoon’s colouring books have sold over 11,000 copies
Eilidh Muldoon studied Art History and gained an MFA in Illustration from Edinburgh College of Art in June 2013, where she has been Illustrator in Residence. She is also a freelance artist and illustrator whose work has appeared in prints, greetings cards and giftware.
14
BIRLINN REISSUE – HISTORY A DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND Circa 1695 Martin Martin
ISBN: 9781780275468 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 384pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 07 June 2018 It is three hundred years since Martin Martin’s great journey around the Western Isles, Orkneys and Shetlands. The first and one of the greatest of all travellers in Scotland, Martin is also unique in being the only native Gaelic speaker amongst them. This gives his account a unique and authoritative resonance which makes it, even today, a mine of information on the history, customs, traditions and life of the Hebrides. It also casts light on the islands during a crucial period of history when the old structures of society still held sway before Jacobite rebellions altered society irrevocably. • • •
Features an introduction by Charles J. Withers, co-author of Scotland: Mapping the Nation and Geographer Royal in Scotland A travel writing classic, Martin Martin was a pioneer in the genre Previous edition sold over 7,000 copies
Martin Martin (Màrtainn MacGilleMhàrtainn) was born at Bealach, near Duntulm, Skye, and was a native Gaelic speaker. He studied at the universities of Edinburgh and Leiden, and died in London in 1719.
ALSO AVAILABLE To The Hebrides • 9781780270319 15
BIRLINN REISSUE – HISTORY
WHEN THE CLYDE RAN RED A Social History of Red Clydeside Maggie Craig
ISBN: 9781780275062 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 256pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857909961 Publication: 08 March 2018 When the Clyde Ran Red paints a vivid picture of the heady days when revolution was in the air on Clydeside. Through the bitter strike at the huge Singer Sewing machine plant in Clydebank in 1911, Bloody Friday in Glasgow’s George Square in 1919, the General Strike of 1926 and on through the Spanish Civil War to the Clydebank Blitz of 1941, the people fought for the right to work, the dignity of labour and a fairer society for everyone. • •
First paperback edition of the acclaimed political and social history of Red Clydeside A must-read for anyone interested in Scottish history; a tale of simmering social tension at the heart of Scotland’s largest city ‘Essential reading . . . not just history but also an inspiration for today’ – Morning Star
Maggie Craig is the acclaimed writer of the groundbreaking Damn’ Rebel Bitches: The Women of the ’45, and its companion volume Bare-Arsed Banditti: The Men of the ’45. She is also the author of six family saga novels set in her native Glasgow and Clydebank. She is a popular speaker in libraries and book festivals and has served two terms as a committee member of the Society of Authors in Scotland.
16
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
THE DROWNED AND THE SAVED When War Came to the Hebrides Les Wilson
ISBN: 9781780275437 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 256pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9781788850278 Publication: 28 January 2018 Based on the harrowing personal recollection of survivors and rescuers, newspaper reports and original research, Les Wilson tells the story of the sinking of the troopship Tuscania on 5 February 1918, and eight months later the merchant cruiser Otranto, both just off the Scottish island of Islay. He paints a vivid picture of these terrible events, which also pays tribute to the astonishing bravery of the islanders, who risked their lives pulling men from the sea, caring for survivors and burying the dead. • • •
An enthralling account of two of the worst naval disasters of the First World War, both of which took place off the island of Islay Les Wilson is an award-winning documentary film maker Features a foreword by Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen whose grandfather identified the bodies from the ships
Les Wilson is a writer, and an award-winning documentary maker who specialises in Scottish historical subjects. Among his film credits is the 30-part series, Scotland’s War, an oral history of World War Two, and the 13-part series The Real Tartan Army, a TV history of the Scottish regiments. He is the co-editor of Islay Voices (Birlinn, 2016) and lives on the island of Islay.
17
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
HIGHLAND HERALD Reporting the News from the North David Ross Foreword by Harry Reid
ISBN: 9781780275505 Price: £12.99 Format: 234 x 156mm Trade Pbk Extent: 256pp Illustrations: 16pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9781788850872 Publication: 06 September 2018 From 1988 to 2017 David Ross was the Highland Correspondent of The Herald. His patch stretched from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to the Shetland island of Unst in the north; and from St Kilda, in the West, to the whisky country of Speyside in the east. From his home on the Black Isle he covered all the big stories, from the fight against a nuclear waste dump in Caithness to plans to remove half a mountain on the island of Harris. In Highland Herald he reflects on the important issues which affected the Highlands and Islands during his time. • • •
The memoirs of a veteran journalist who covered the Highlands of Scotland for The Herald for 30 years A fascinating insight into the recent history of the Highlands and the key issues, events and personalities that shaped it Contains an affectionate and candid portrait of the celebrated Gaelic poet Sorley Maclean, the author’s father-in-law
David Ross was brought up in Blairgowrie, Perthshire and North Connel, Argyll. After studying history at Edinburgh University and training to be a teacher, he entered the world of journalism, where he worked for his whole professional life. In February 2017 he won the Barron Trophy in recognition for his lifetime achievement in journalism in the Highlands and Islands. 18
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
WITHOUT QUARTER
The Biography of Tom Johnston Russell Galbraith
ISBN: 9781780274713 Price: £12.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 336pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 07 June 2018 Journalist and statesman Tom Johnston (1881-1965) was considered by many to be the greatest Scotsman of his time. Johnston moved into active politics in 1922 to become one of the Clydeside group of MPs, rising to become one of the great Secretaries of State for Scotland in the wartime coalition under Churchill. After 1945 he was chairman of a number of public organizations, including the Scottish Tourist Board and the Scottish National Forestry Commission. As chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board (1946–59) he oversaw the monumental hydro-electric schemes which revolutionised Scottish power supply. This is the story of a remarkable and much-loved politician and a deeply principled and respected man. • •
The updated biography of one of Scotland’s most significant 20thcentury politicians Russell Galbraith is a veteran TV and print journalist
Russell Galbraith is a former newspaper journalist, broadcaster and prizewinning TV producer.
19
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
A RICHNESS OF MARTENS Wildlife Tales From Ardnamurchan
Polly Pullar
Introduction by John Lister-Kaye Illustrated by Sharon Tingey ISBN: 9781780275208 Price: £12.99 Format: 234 x 156mm Paperback Extent: 320pp Illustrations: 16pp col. plates; b/w line Rights: World All Languages Publication: 05 July 2018 When Les and Chris Humphreys moved to Ardnamurchan in the Scottish Highlands, little did they realize they would be sharing their retirement with some of Britain’s most elusive mustelids. They have formed a special bond with numerous pine martens and have been able to study them at close range through direct observation and via sensor-operated cameras. In this anecdotal, amusing and informative book Polly Pullar, long-time friend of the Humphreys, produces a unique picture of this inquisitive, playful and resourceful animal with an almost limitless appetite for mischief. • •
This delightful book challenges many pre-conceived assumptions about the pine marten, one of Britain’s most elusive mammals Includes delightful photos and is illustrated throughout with drawings of this charming yet rarely-seen animal
Polly Pullar grew up in Ardnamurchan, surrounded by wildlife. In addition to being a field naturalist, wildlife guide and wildlife rehabilitator she is also photographer and journalist, and contributes to a wide selection of magazines. She is currently wildlife writer for Scottish Field and is the author of a number of books.
20
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
NOT A PLACK THE RICHER Argyll’s Mining Story Marian Pallister
ISBN: 9781780275048 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 240pp Illustrations: 8pp col. plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 05 July 2018 Argyll is well known for its magnificent scenery, breathtaking coastline and picturesque villages. But hidden among its beautiful hills and glens and on its islands is evidence of an extraordinary industrial past. In this book, Marian Pallister tells the story of Argyll’s mining past. Her research into official records, letters and other documentary material is set beside the personal experience of those involved at all levels in the industry itself and the local communities whose lives it changed forever. • •
A fascinating exploration of a unique and little-known aspect of Argyll’s past Marian Pallister is the author of a number of books on local Scottish history
Marian Pallister has worked as a feature writer and commentator covering social issues in Scotland and round the world, particularly war zones. She previously taught journalism at Napier University and is the author of a number of highly acclaimed books.
ALSO AVAILABLE Cruachan: The Hollow Mountain • 9781780272207 The Crinan Canal • 9781780273464 Lost Argyll • 9781780274171 21
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
ARDKINGLAS
The Biography of a Highland Estate Christina Noble
ISBN: 9781780274867 Price: £14.99 Format: 246 x 174mm pbk Extent: 224pp Illustrations: Photos, Maps, col. plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 05 July 2018 Ardkinglas is a 45,000-acre estate in Cairndow, a beautiful area of the Highlands at the head of Loch Fyne. Sir Andrew Noble, the author’s greatgrandfather, bought the estate in 1905 and his family have run it ever since. The estate has become famous throughout Scotland and beyond for the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, founded by Christina Noble’s brother, Johnny. This book is not just about the Nobles but the community Ardkinglas has become, the people who make and have made it and the story of how they have lived and worked. This is not a nostalgic memoir of the Noble family, a Downton Abbey saga of life in ‘The Big House’. • • •
The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar at Ardkinglas is world-famous and is visited by thousands of visitors every year The Noble family is widely respected in the area and different generations have made significant contributions to Scotland’s cultural and political life Illustrated throughout with fascinating archive photographs showing all aspects of Highland life, past and present
Christina Noble was born and brought up in Ardkinglas, Cairndow. After gaining a degree in English Literature, she moved to the Indian Himalayas, where she lived from 1970 to 1990. She ran a Himalayan trekking company and wrote about her life in India in two books, Over the High Passes (1987) and At Home in the Himalayas (1991). She has now returned to Cairndow where she is Project Director of Here We Are. 22
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
MULL & IONA
A Historical Guide David Caldwell
ISBN: 97812780275253 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 320pp Illustrations: 16pp col. plates; b/w line Rights: World All Languages Publication: 02 August 2018 Mull and Iona are two of the most visited islands in Scotland, and have played a central role in the history of Scotland. As the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, Iona has been a place of pilgrimage for almost 1,500 years and was a beacon of intellectual light during the Dark Ages, when magnificent works such as the Book of Kells were crafted by the monks of the abbey founded by St Columba. This book provides a full and engaging history of the islands from the time of their earliest human inhabitants to the present day. • • •
New in Birlinn’s acclaimed series of historical guides An up-to-date, authoritative and accessible introduction to the built heritage of one of Scotland’s top tourist destinations, including a gazetteer of sites of interest as well as maps and ground plans Includes the very latest of research in one of the richest archeological areas of Europe
Dr David Caldwell was Keeper of Scotland & Europe in the National Museums of Scotland. He is the author of Islay, Jura and Colonsay: A Historical Guide (2001), which provides a gazetteer of sites and monuments to complement this book.
23
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
LOCHABER & GLENCOE THE OUTER HEBRIDES Landscapes in Stone Alan McKirdy
ISBN: 9781780275086 (Lochaber) ISBN: 9781780275093 (Outer Hebrides) Price: £6.99 Format: 230 x 165mm Paperback Extent: 48pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 10 May 2018 These are the latest in the acclaimed series on Scotland’s geology and landscapes, explaining how Scotland’s scenery was made, why it looks the way it does today and how it has changed over millions of years. The Lochaber and Glencoe area is rich in historical associations. It was at Glenfinnan that Bonnie Prince Charlie started his long march southwards to lay claim to the British throne. Glencoe was the scene of one of the most vicious massacres in Scottish history. This book is a fascinating introduction to the geology of the area, which features some of Scotland’s oldest rocks and some of its most stunning and dramatic scenery. In The Outer Hebrides Alan McKirdy explores the islands, together with the volcanic rocks that build the outposts of Rockall, St Kilda and the Shiants, tracing their extraordinary journey through time and across the globe. Alan McKirdy has written many popular books and book chapters on geology and related topics and has helped to promote the study of environmental geology in schools. Before his recent retirement he was Head of Information Management at Scottish Natural Heritage. He is the author of Set in Stone (Birlinn, 2015)
24
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
CLYDESDALE
Workhorse of the World Mary Bromilow
ISBN: 9781780274980 Price: £16.99 Format: 246 x 189mm Paperback Extent: 176pp Illustrations: Mono; 16pp col. plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 07 June 2018 The Clydesdale has its origin in the working horses of Lanarkshire in the early 19th century, and over the last 200 years have been exported from Scotland all over the world. Having survived near extinction at the hands of mechanisation in the middle of the 20th century, today they are to be found in increasing numbers as team – and single – draught horses, working the land, or as popular riding horses. In this book, Mary Bromilow puts this iconic Scottish breed into context in relation to its development, social history and popular culture both in the UK and abroad. • • •
The story of one of Britain’s remarkable native breeds Beautifully illustrated with archive photographs as well as magnificent images of modern Clydesdales in settings across the globe Enthusiastic and pro-active Clydesdale societies exist throughout the world, including the UK, USA, New Zealand, France and Denmark
Mary Bromilow was born in south-west Scotland. She has spent her whole career in the world of books, first as a librarian and then in bookselling. Horses have played an important part of her life since childhood.
25
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
SCOTLAND: DEFENDING THE NATION
Mapping the Military Landscape Carolyn Anderson & Christopher Fleet ISBN: 9781780274935 Price: £30.00 Format: 250 x 246mm Hardback Extent: 272pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 04 October 2018 Scotland has had a uniquely important military history over the last five centuries. Conflict with England in the 16th century, Jacobite rebellions in the 18th century, 20th-century defences and the two world wars, as well as the Cold War, all resulted in significant cartographic activity. In this book two map experts explore the extraordinary rich legacy of Scottish military mapping, showing and explaining the variety of military maps produced for different purposes, including fortification plans, reconnaissance mapping, battle plans, military roads and route-way plans, tactical maps, plans of mines, enemy maps showing targets, as well as plans showing the construction of defences. • •
A magnificent full-colour collection of military maps of Scotland, spanning a period of 500 years, and covering all parts of the country Birlinn’s acclaimed series of mapping titles books has sold in excess of 40,000 copies
Carolyn Anderson completed a PhD on the Board of Ordnance military mapping of Scotland in 2010. Prior to this she was a cartographic editor at Oxford University Press. She continues to work in educational publishing and academic research. Christopher Fleet joined the National Library of Scotland in 1994. He has written and spoken widely on digital mapping and on maps of Scotland, and is a co-author of Scotland: Mapping the Nation (Birlinn, 2011), 26
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – HISTORY
MANCHESTER: MAPPING THE CITY Terry Wyke, Brian Robson & Martin Dodge
ISBN: 9781780275307 Price: £30.00 Format: 250 x 246mm Hardback Extent: 272pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 04 October 2018 Manchester is one the world’s most iconic cities. Not only was it the first industrial city, it can claim to be the first post-industrial city. This book uses historic maps and unpublished and original plans to chart the dramatic growth and transformation of Manchester as it grew rich on its cotton trade from the late 18th century, experienced periods of boom and bust through the Victorian period, and began its post-industrial transformation in the 20th century. This is asumptuously illustrated cartographic history with a wealth of published and unpublished maps and plans throughout. • • •
The latest in Birlinn’s bestselling, award-winning Mapping the City series, with total sales of over 30,000 copies The first history of Manchester and its conurbation based on historic maps and unpublished original plans Will appeal to all those interested in the history of Manchester as well as those with an interest in in town planning, architectural history transport history and the history of cartography.
Terry Wyke is Research Fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University. Brian Robson is Emeritus Professor at Manchester University. Martin Dodge is Senior Lecturer in Geography at Manchester University. 27
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – MEMOIR
A LIFE IN THE HILLS
The Katharine Stewart Omnibus Katharine Stewart
ISBN: 9781780275079 Price: £14.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 560pp Illustrations: line art/mono phot. Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9781788850018 Publication: 06 July 2018 Katharine Stewart was one of Scotland’s best-loved writers on rural life in the Highlands. This omnibus gathers A Croft in the Hills together with some of Katharine’s later books: A Garden in the Hills, describing a year in the life of her Highland garden; A School in the Hills, a vivid history of the school at Abriachan which eventually became the Stewarts’ family home; and The Post in the Hills, which tells the dramatic story of the postal service in the Highlands. It will bring the grace, charm and wisdom of Katharine Stewart’s writing to a new generation of readers. • • •
A Croft in the Hills (1960) was one of the first modern books to promote the values of self-sufficiency and care for the environment which are so relevant today The books feature forewords by Neil Gunn and Naomi Mitchison Birlinn’s editions of A Croft in the Hills have sold over 13,000 copies
Katharine Stewart was born in 1914 in Reading. Following the Second World War she moved with her husband and daughter to the croft at Abriachan near Loch Ness, where she began her writing career with A Croft in the Hills. Later she trained as a teacher before, on the death of her husband, becoming the local postmistress at Abriachan. She died in 2013 and is survived by her daughter, Hilda. 28
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – MEMOIR
ISLAND ON THE EDGE A Life On Soay Anne Cholawo
ISBN: 9781780274706 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 320pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857903372 Publication: 08 March 2018 Anne Cholawo was a typical 80s career girl working in a busy London advertising agency, when in 1989, holidaying in Skye, she noticed an advert for a property on the Isle of Soay – ‘Access by courtesy of fishing boat’. She had never heard of Soay before, let alone visited it, but something inexplicable drew her there. This book describes her extraordinary transition from a hectic urban lifestyle to one of rural isolation and self-sufficiency, without mains electricity, medical services, shops or any of the other modern amenities we take for granted. ‘a remarkable tale of remote living’ – Sunday Post • • • •
Stories of people leaving the rat race and modern comforts to live and survive in remote places are hugely popular A fascinating and absorbing tale of life on an island Achieved national print coverage all across the UK Sales of over 5,000 copies in trade paperback
Anne Cholawo was born and brought up in Luton. She studied Art and Design at college and later became a graphic artist and studio manager at a number of advertising agencies in London, including Saatchi and Saatchi. She moved to Soay to live in 1990 and has remained ever since. 29
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FICTION
ARDNISH WAS HOME A Novel Angus MacDonald
ISBN: 9781780274263 Price: £8.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 240pp Illustrations: N/A Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857903358 Publication: 07 June 2018 Young Donald Peter Gillies, a Lovat scout soldier lies in hospital in Gallipoli in 1916, blinded by the Turks. There he falls in love with his Queen Alexandra Corps nurse, Louise, and she with him. They get cut off from the allied troops and with another nurse are forced to make their escape through Turkey to Greece, getting rescued by a Coptic priest and ending up in Malta. By this time their love is out in the open, but there is still another tragic twist to their story waiting on the way back to Donald’s beloved highland home . . . • •
A moving love story and engaging account of early twentieth-century Highland life The author’s great-grandfather commanded the Lovat Scouts at Gallipoli ‘Burns with love for his country . . . [Macdonald’s] plain, easy-going style takes on a natural engaging momentum’ – The National ‘a genuine portrait of a time gone forever ... a very good read’ – Rosamunde Pilcher
‘Extraordinary. Far more than another wartime love affair . . . It will enter your soul’ – The Scots Magazine 30
BIRLINN NEW TITLES – FICTION
WE FOUGHT FOR ARDNISH A Novel Angus MacDonald
ISBN: 9781780275055 Price: £8.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 256pp Illustrations: N/A Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857909947 Publication: 07 July 2018 After joining the the Lovat Scouts at the outbreak of the Second World War Donald Angus Gillies is sent on a mission to the Alps, where he meets Francoise, a young French Canadian SOE agent. The pair immediately form a close bond, but when Francoise is injured and captured, DA realizes his feelings for her are much, much stronger. After desperate attempts to find her, he has given up all hope. But a posting to Canada leads to some remarkable news, not just about Francoise but also about his own family. Reunited once more, Donald Angus and Francoise plan to live together in his beloved Ardnish, but have one further mission to complete first – a mission more dangerous than anything they have ever faced before . . . • •
Sequel to the bestselling Ardnish Was Home (sales of over 6000 copies) A thrilling, yet poignant and moving story of love and war
Angus MacDonald has lived all his life in the highlands and is steeped in their tales and served in his local regiment, the Queen’s Own Highlanders. A He was awarded the Spear’s UK entrepreneur of the year award for 2017. He founded The Caledonian Challenge and runs The Moidart Trust, as well as being co-owner of The Highland Bookshop in Fort William. 31
BIRLINN ORIGIN - NEW TITLES
DUMFRIESSHIRE A Frontier Region Andrew J. McCulloch
ISBN: 9781912476282 Price: £30.00 Format: 234 x 156mm Royal Hbk Extent: 576pp Illustrations: 16pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 09 August 2018 Straddling the main western route into Scotland, Dumfriesshire was the focus of successive waves of immigrants from the Stone Age people onwards. In an age of turbulence, Dumfriesshire was the main battleground of the Wars of Independence, a target of repeated English invasions, a prey to reiving, and victim of the sixteenthcentury religious wars. With the restoration of peace following the Union of 1707 came land improvement and the development of farming, which would become the mainstay of the region’s economy. This comprehensively researched book demolishes a number of popular myths, and is a highly readable account of a region which can justly be described as the cockpit of southern Scotland. • •
The first complete history of Dumfriesshire to be published An invaluable resource for locals and visitors alike
Andrew McCulloch graduated in law at Edinburgh University. His lifelong interest in history, combined with legal practice, farming, managing his own business, and his residence in Dumfriesshire, has qualified him well to write this comprehensive history of the region. He is the author of several books and articles, including Galloway: A Land Apart, The Feeneys of the Birmingham Post, and Scottish Saga: The Kingship in Eclipse.
32
BIRLINN ORIGIN - NEW TITLES
REAY COUNTRY A Frontier Region Andrew J. McCulloch
ISBN: 9781912476275 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 224pp Illustrations: 16pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 09 August 2018 Reay Clarke’s family were sheep-farmers at in the far north of Scotland for over two centuries. In this book he tells the story of the Clarkes of Eriboll and a way of life that has now vanished forever. Seen through his own family’s experience, he also considers the social changes sheep-farming brought about in the form of clearances (during which vast numbers were evicted for the development of sheep farming), as well as ecological considerations: in the early 19th century, the land as far more agriculturally productive and ecologically diverse than it is today. • •
A groundbreaking and original book which explores an important yet neglected facet of Scottish history Includes an extended Introduction by acclaimed Scottish historian James Hunter
Reay D.G. Clarke was born at Edderton, near Tain. After the Second World War, during which he saw active service in the Atlantic Convoys and the East, he returned to Sutherland to run the family farm. Throughout his long career he was actively involved in land use debates in the area, firmly believing that development should not diminish the Highland’s limited supply of good farming land. He died in 2017.
33
NEW EDITION
SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL TALES New Edition Edited by A.J. Bruford & D.A. MacDonald
ISBN: 9781780275420 Price: £14.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 572pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857909701 Publication: 24 May 2018 All over the world traditional tales were told at the fireside until their place came to be taken by books, newspapers, radio and television. A.J. Bruford and D.A. MacDonald present an entertaining collection of the oral tales that have been passed down by generations of Scottish story-tellers, and have been recorded and collected by researchers from the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh over the past fifty years. With almost a hundred tales, this is the most wide-ranging introduction available on this fascinating part of Scotland’s heritage. • • •
This classic collection has been continuously in print since 1994 Each of the selected tales gives an insight into how Scottish culture, tradition, teachings and folklore were passed on through the medium of storytelling Taken from a variety of sources, from the Hebridean Gaelic tradition to recordings of Lowland cairds ‘A fine book which is highly recommended’ - Dalriada
D. A. MacDonald was a lecturer in Oral Tradition and Popular Tradition at the School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University, as was the late A.J. Bruford, until his death in 1996.
34
NEW EDITION
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR SCOTLAND
What to Grow and How to Grow It New Edition Kenneth Cox & Caroline Beaton ISBN: 9781780275338 Price: £20.00 Format: 246 x 189mm Paperback Extent: 304pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 05 April 2018 Kenneth Cox and Caroline Beaton have gathered the wisdom and experience of growers all over the country, from Shetland to the Borders, to compile this guide to the best techniques and most successful varieties to try, whether you are growing your produce in a garden, an allotment, or in containers. Both traditional and organic approaches to growing produce and tackling pests and diseases are covered in this comprehensive book, which is packed with hundreds of colour photographs, drawings and diagrams. The authors also take the reader on a fascinating tour of Scottish fruit and vegetable heritage. • •
This is the only book available on growing fruit and vegetables in Scotland Growing your own food is increasing in popularity – there are 300,000 allotments in Britain, with over 100,000 people on waiting lists
Kenneth Cox is the author of numerous books and an experienced lecturer on horticulture and plant exploration. He is Managing Director of his family firm, Glendoick Gardens Ltd. Caroline Beaton works part-time in and around a wonderful therapeutic garden in Perth and gardens at home in the Carse of Gowrie with an extensive productive fruit, vegetable and herb patch.
35
NEW EDITION
ST CUTHBERT’S WAY The Official Guide 3rd Edition Ron Shaw
ISBN: 9781780275185 Price: £16.99 Format: 220 x 136mm Paperback Extent: 128pp Illustrations: Colour & Maps throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 15 July 2018 This 100k (60 mile) walk was opened in 1996 and has rapidly increased in popularity, with thousands of walkers walking all or parts of it every year. This completely revised edition of the Official Guide adds an entirely new fullcolour folding map, prepared by leading Scottish cartographer Nicolson Maps for this edition, and packaged with the Guide in a weatherproof wallet. It is illustrated in full colour with photographs throughout and new maps (also by Nicolson Maps) at the opening of each section. • • • •
St Cuthbert’s Way recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and is more popular than ever with walkers This is the Official Guidebook to St Cuthbert’s Way published in collaboration with the management group of the Way Fully revised and now with an entirely new full-colour folding map prepared for this edition by Nicolson Maps Guide and map in a weatherproof plastic wallet
Ron Shaw is now retired but spent his career promoting travel and tourism, specialising in Germany and Scandinavia, before moving to Northumberland where one of his initiatives was the creation of the St Cuthbert’s Way.
36
NEW EDITION
THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY The Official Guide 11th Edition Bob Aitken & Roger Smith
ISBN: 9781780275192 Price: £16.99 Format: 220 x 136mm Paperback Extent: 176pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 15 July 2018 The West Highland Way was Scotland’s first Long Distance Route and today has more than 15,000 walkers tackling it each year. It runs from Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, to Fort William, passing along the east of Loch Lomond and across Rannoch Moor, through some of the finest scenery of mountain and stream, woodland and moorland, that Scotland has to offer. This eleventh edition has been fully revised and updated to include new information and photography and a new full-colour folding map prepared for this edition by Nicolson Maps, all packaged in a weatherproof plastic wallet. • • • •
The Official Guidebook to the West Highland Way with royalties paid to Scottish Natural Heritage for the upkeep of the route Fully revised with an entirely new full-colour folding map prepared for this edition by Nicolson Maps Over 40,000 copies sold Guide and map in a weatherproof plastic wallet
Roger Smith is an experienced writer and hillwalker with an extensive knowledge of the area covered in this book and its history. A former editor of the The Great Outdoors magazine, he has written a large number of books about walking and the outdoors.
37
NEW IN PAPERBACK
DARIEN
A Journey in Search of Empire John McKendrick
ISBN: 9781780275031 Price: £12.99 Format: 234 x 156mm Paperback Extent: 288pp Illustrations: 16pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages ePub: 9780857902610 Publication: 08 March 2018 The Company of Scotland and its attempts to establish the colony of Caledonia on the inhospitable isthmus of Panama in the late seventeenth century is one of the most tragic moments of Scottish history. Based on archive research in the UK and Panama, as well as travelling to Darien itself, John McKendrick explores this fascinating and seminal moment in Scottish history and uncovers fascinating new information from New World archives. • • •
A unique blend of travelogue and history Includes contemporary descriptions of the Scottish settlement Includes new research from material in the archives of Spanish America in Panama City ‘engaging and lucid ... McKendrick’s book is as much a travelogue as a history. He has actually stood on the Punta Escocés and traced the defensive ditch the colonists dug’ – Scotland on Sunday
John McKendrick was born and brought up in Glasgow. He studied at the LSE and Oxford and is currently a barrister in London and an advocate in Edinburgh. He also worked for two years in Panama and the Caribbean. He was Times Lawyer of the Week in 2013.
38
NEW IN PAPERBACK
POACHER’S PILGRIMAGE An Island Journey Alastair McIntosh
ISBN: 9781780274683 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 448pp Illustrations: 16pp col. plates Rights: WAL exc. North America ePub: 9780857909015 Publication: 08 March 2018 The islands of the Outer Hebrides are home to some of the most remote and spectacular scenery in the world. They host an astonishing range of mysterious structures – stone circles, beehive dwellings, holy wells and ‘temples’ from the Celtic era. Over a twelve-day pilgrimage, often in appalling conditions, Alastair McIntosh returns to the islands of his childhood and explores the meaning of these places. This is a moving book, a powerful reflection of both this extraordinary place and its people. • • •
An imaginative and beautifully observed travelogue of Lewis and Harris Alastair McIntosh is author of the bestselling (17,500 copies) Soil and Soul: People versus Corporate Power, ‘a world-changing book’ The author is a well-known broadcaster, appearing frequently on BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 4 ‘Fascinating, provocative and, occasionally, very funny’ – Joanna Kavenna, Times Literary Supplement
Alastair McIntosh is an independent writer, broadcaster, speaker and activist who is involved in a wide range of contemporary issues, from land reform, globalization and nonviolence to psychology, spirituality and ecology.
39
NEW IN PAPERBACK THE CLAIRE MACDONALD GAME COOKBOOK Claire MacDonald
ISBN: 9781780275116 Price: £12.99 Format: 234 x 190mm Paperback Extent: 208pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 05 July 2018 Once the prerogative of country dwellers, game is now found in butchers’ shops and supermarkets all over the country. Yet despite this, many people are still apprehensive about cooking this extraordinarily versatile, varied and protein-packed meat. In this book Claire Macdonald demystifies game cooking, with a wide and varied selection of recipes for pheasant, wild duck, partridge and snipe, woodcock, venison, hare, wild boar and wild salmon. • •
Simple, straightforward recipes to enable any cook to make the most of game, an increasingly popular foodstuff With full colour illustrations throughout, this is sure to become the definitive book on game cooking ‘Claire MacDonald is one of this country’s most respected cooks’ – Sunday Post
Claire MacDonald is the author of seventeen bestselling cookery books and has appeared at cookery demonstrations worldwide. In 2011 she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Farmers’ Union and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
40
NEW IN PAPERBACK
MOSCOW CALLING Memoirs of a Foreign Correspondent Angus Roxburgh
ISBN: 9781780275581 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 384pp Illustrations: 8pp col. plates Rights: World English Language ePub: 9780857909435 Publication: 06 September 2018 In the course of the past 45 years, Angus Roxburgh has met four successive Russian presidents and been jinxed by a Siberian shaman. He has come under fire in war zones and been arrested by Chechen thugs. He was wooed by the KGB, who then decided he would make a lousy spy and expelled him from the country. In Moscow Calling he presents his Russia – not the Russia of news reports, but a quirky, crazy, exasperating, beautiful, tumultuous world that in forty years has changed completely, and yet not at all. ‘If you want a good, enthralling memoir of the great, raging days of turmoil in Russia and the USSR, as witnessed and recorded by an honest man, this is the one to read’ – Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday •
•
A personal and revealing perspective of Russia by the acclaimed former BBC and Sunday Times Moscow correspondent, who worked in Russia for over 30 years and witnessed first-hand the darkest days of communism and the rise of Putin Features the human stories behind the big political events that have shaped Russia over the last four decades
Angus Roxburgh studied Russian and German at Aberdeen University. A distinguished journalist and broadcaster, he was Sunday Times Moscow correspondent (1987-89), BBC Moscow correspondent (1991-97) and BBC Europe correspondent (1998-2005). From 2006- 2009 he was media consultant to the Kremlin, and is now a freelance writer and journalist. 41
NEW IN PAPERBACK
SIKKIM
Requim for a Himalayan Kingdom Andrew Duff
ISBN: 9781780275628 Price: £14.99 Format: 234 x 156mm Trade Pbk Extent: 320pp Illustrations: 16pp b/w plates Rights: WAL exc. India ePub: 9780857902450 Publication: 04 October 2018 This is the true story of Sikkim, a tiny Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that survived the end of the British Empire in India only to be annexed by India in 1975. It tells the remarkable story of Thondup, the last King of Sikkim, and his American wife Hope Cooke, thrust unwittingly into the spotlight as they sought support for Sikkim’s independence after their ‘fairytale’ wedding in 1963. Based on interviews and archive research, as well as a retracing of a journey the author’s grandfather made in 1922, this is a thrilling, romantic and informative glimpse of life in Shangri La. ‘Clearly the most comprehensive account so far of Sikkim’s fall’ – Calcutta Telegraph • •
A tale of intrigue, love and Cold War politics in the heart of Asia Features newly released intelligence files shedding light on the Cold War in Asia
Andrew Duff is a freelance journalist based in London and Scotland who writes on India and related subjects. In the UK his work has appeared in The Times, The Financial Times and the Sunday Telegraph, and in India in the Times of India and the India Quarterly. He travels frequently in India and East Asia. 42
NEW IN PAPERBACK
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS Jenny Wormald Foreword and Afterword by Anna Groundwater
ISBN: 9781780275529 Price: £9.99 Format: 198 x 129mm B-pbk Extent: 400pp Illustrations: 12pp colour plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 06 September 2018 Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, has long been portrayed as one of history’s romantically tragic figures. Devious, naïve, beautiful and sexually voracious, yet often highly principled, she secured the Scottish throne and bolstered the position of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Mary’s extraordinary story has become one of the most colourful and emotionally searing tales of western history, and it is here fully reconsidered by a leading specialist of the period. Jenny Wormald’s beautifully written biography should be read by everyone with an interest in this fascinating queen. • •
Published to coincide with a new movie about the queen, starring Oscar nominated stars Margot Robbie (I, Tonya) and Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, Brooklyn) as Mary New in B-format, a classic study of Mary, Queen of Scots, one of the most famous and intriguing women in history.
Jenny Wormald was one of the most in influential Scottish historians of her generation. She taught history at Glasgow University, and was then appointed to a fellowship in Modern History at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She was also an Honorary Fellow in Scottish History at the University of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
43
JOHN DONALD NEW TITLES
Æthelflæd The Lady of the Mercians
ÆTHELFLÆD
The Lady of the Mercians Tim Clarkson
tim clarkson
ISBN: 9781910900161 Price: £14.99 Format: 234 x 156mm Paperback Extent: 256pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 07 June 2018 In the early 900s, the English rulers of Mercia - Lord Æthelred and his wife Æthelflæd - were part of a great fightback against the Viking armies which at that time controlled large parts of England. After her husband’s death, Æthelflæd ruled Mercia on her own, leading the army to war helping to save England from the Vikings. She is one of the most famous women of the Dark Ages and this book, published 1100 years after her death, tells her remarkable story. • • •
Published to coincide with the 1100th anniversary of the death of Æthelflæd, who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Mercia (English Midlands) Tim Clarkson’s books on Medieval history have sold over 13,000 copies Will appeal to those interested in Dark Age history, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
Tim Clarkson is an independent researcher and historian, who previously worked in academic librarianship. He is the author of a number of acclaimed books on medieval history. ALSO AVAILABLE The Picts: A History • 9781780274034 Scotland’s Merlin • 9781906566999 The Makers of Scotland • 9781780271736 44
JOHN DONALD NEW TITLES
CALTON HILL
And the plans for Edinburgh’s Third New Town Kirsten Carter McKee
ISBN: 9781910900178 Price: £25.00 Format: 246 x 189mm Hardback Extent: 224pp Illustrations: Colour & b/w throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 07 June 2018 Calton Hill, on the eastern edge of Edinburgh’s centre, has a special relationship with the city. Development of the hill and its surrounding area (often referred to as Edinburgh’s ‘Third New Town’) began in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries by a decision-making elite, who proposed to change the site from a rural periphery into the new urban core of the city. This book considers how the architectural expression of Calton Hill has been perceived, accepted and rejected as ideas surrounding cultural identity, governance and nationalism have changed over the last 200 years. • • •
Published for the 200th anniversary of Playfair’s design for the old City Observatory and plans for the third New Town Analyses the origin of the idea of Edinburgh as the ‘Athens of the North’ Includes rare and beautiful illustrations of Georgian Edinburgh
Kirsten Carter McKee is an architectural historian and cultural landscape specialist. She has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has worked for a number of organisations as an archaeologist, historic buildings specialist and heritage consultant. She is currently a research and teaching fellow in architectural history and conservation at the University of Edinburgh.
45
JOHN DONALD NEW TITLES
SCOTLAND AND THE FLEMISH PEOPLE Edited by Alexander Fleming and Roger Mason
ISBN: 9781910900277 Price: £20.00 Format: 246 x 189mm Paperback Extent: 208pp Illustrations: Colour throughout Rights: World All Languages Publication: 06 September 2018 The Flemings are among the most important if under-appreciated immigrant groups to have shaped the history of medieval and early modern Scotland. Originating in Flanders, (now roughly Belgium and the Netherlands), they came to Scotland as soldiers and settlers, traders and tradesmen, diplomats and dynasts, over a period of several centuries following the Norman Conquest of England in the eleventh century. This book examines the nature of Flemish settlement in Scotland, the development of economic, diplomatic and cultural links between Scotland and Flanders, and the lasting impact of the Flemish people on Scottish society and culture. • • •
An accessible guide to one of the most significant groups of immigrants to shape the history of Scotland Written by a range of experts, and covering commercial, diplomatic and cultural links between Scotland and the Low Countries from 1200 to 1600 Of interest to those seeking insight into the Flemish origins of present-day Scottish families
Alexander Fleming is an economist by training and occupation, having held positions at the Bank of England, University of St Andrews and the World Bank. He holds two doctorates, including an Honorary LLD from the University of St Andrews. Roger Mason is a Professor of Scottish History at the University of St Andrews. He has published widely in the field of late medieval and early modern Scottish political thought and culture. 46
JOHN DONALD NEW TITLES
THE SEA KINGS
The Late Norse Kingdoms of Man and the Isles c.1066–1275 R. Andrew McDonald
ISBN: 9781910900215 Price: £25.00 Format: 234 x 156mm Paperback Extent: 304pp Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates Rights: World All Languages Publication: 04 October 2018 The archipelagic kingdoms of Man and the Isles that flourished from the last quarter of the eleventh century down to the middle of the thirteenth century represent two forgotten kingdoms of the medieval British Isles. They were ruled by powerful individuals who left their footprint on a wide range of written documents and upon the very landscapes and seascapes of the islands they ruled. Yet British history has tended to overlook these Late Norse maritime empires, which thrived for two centuries on the Atlantic frontiers of Britain. This book represents the first ever overview of both Manx and Hebridean dynasties that dominated Man and the Isles from the late eleventh to the mid-thirteenth centuries. • •
The first ever study of the Late Norse kingdoms of Man and the Isles in the period of the central Middle Ages Andrew McDonald is an authority on the subject and the author of numerous books on Scottish and Manx medieval history
R. Andrew McDonald is Professor of History at Brock University, Canada, and is the author of many books, book chapters and articles on medieval Scottish, Hebridean and Manx history.
ALSO AVAILABLE The Kingdom of the Isles • 9781904607793 Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages • 9781904607793 47
JOHN DONALD REISSUE
FERGUS OF GALLOWAY Knight of King Arthur Guillaume le Clerc Translated, with an introduction and notes by D.D.R. Owen
ISBN: 9781910900239 Price: £14.99 Format: 234 x 156mm Paperback Extent: 192pp Rights: World All Languages Publication: 07 June 2018 The popular Arthurian legends, such as the grail quests of Perceval and Galahad, and the love of Lancelot for Queen Guenevere, have largely overshadowed Scotland’s own Arthurian romance. The story of Fergus, one of King Arthur’s knights, was known to only a few; it was written in Old French and this prevented its proper recognition as a part of Scottish literary heritage. In Fergus of Galloway, Guillaume le Clerc combines, in a unique Scottish setting, the classic themes and conventions of Arthurian romance. Professor Owen’s eloquent and lively translation brings this exciting and much undervalued work to a wider audience. • •
A reissue of this classic text Essential reading for anyone interested in Arthurian romance and Scottish literary history
D.D.R. Owen was Professor of French at the University of St Andrews, 1972– 88. Guillaume le Clerc was a Norman cleric and Old French poet.
48
JOHN DONALD REISSUE
HEBRIDEAN FOLK SONGS Volumes 1 – 3 Translated and Edited by John Lorne Campbell
ISBN: 9781910900017 ISBN: 9781910900024 ISBN: 9781910900031 Price: £25.00 (per volume) Format: 234 x 156mm Paperback Extent: 256pp Rights: World All Languages Publication: 10 May 2018 The classic three volumes of Hebridean folk songs, reissued simultaneously for the first time since their original publication (1969, 1977, 1981), contain 135 songs connected with the waulking of homespun tweed cloth in the Hebridean isles. They are: Volume 1: A Collection of Waulking Songs by Donald MacCormick Volume 2: Waulking Songs from Barra, South Uist, Eriskay, and Benbecula Volume 3: Waulking Songs from Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist and Benbecula • • •
Classic collections of folksongs reissued for the first time since their original publication Of interest to traditional singers, schools and universities that teach Scots song, and those interested in the culture and social history of North-East Scotland. Translated and edited by respected and well-known philanthropist John Lorne Campbell. His biography, The Man Who Gave Away His Island is also published by Birlinn
John Lorne Campbell FRSE LLD OBE (1906–1996) was a Scottish historian, farmer, environmentalist and folklore scholar. He recorded a disappearing Gaelic heritage, and wrote and published extensively about Gaelic and Highland culture and life. ALSO AVAILABLE The Man Who Gave Away His Island • 9781780274119 49
SALES CONTACTS SCOTLAND Seol Ltd West Newington House 10 Newington Road Edinburgh EH9 1QS Tel: +44 (0)131 668 1456 info@seol.co.uk
ENGLAND and WALES Compass IPS GW Business Centre Great West House Great West Road Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9DF Tel: +44 (0)20 8326 5696 sales@compass-ips.london
IRELAND Brookside Publishing Services 16 Priory Hall Office Park Stillorgan Co. Dublin Ireland Phone (office): +353 (0)1 2784225 Phone (mobile): +353 86 225 2380
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND New South Books c/o TL Distribution 15-23 Hailes Avenue Moorebank NSW 2170 Australia Tel: (02) 8778 9999 orders@tldistribution.com.au www.newsouthbooks.com.au
NORTH AMERICA Independent Publishers Group (IPG) 814 North Franklin St Chicago, Illinois 60610 USA Tel: (312) 337 0747 frontdesk@ipgbook.com
NORTH AMERICA (Military Titles Only) Casemate 2114 Darby Road Havertown, PA 19083 USA Tel: (+1) 610 853 9131 casemate@casematepublishing.com
NORTHERN EUROPE Bill Bailey Publishers’ Representatives 16 Devon Square Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 2HR Tel: +44 1626 331079 info@billbaileypubreps.co.uk
SOUTHERN EUROPE Ted Dougherty Export Sales Agency 72 Hadley Street London NW1 8TA Tel: 020 7482 2439 Mob: 07802 500 448 ted.dougherty@blueyonder.co.uk
ASIA Julie Atkins Raptor Book Services julie.atkins@raptorbookservices.co.uk
PUBLICITY & MARKETING SALES COORDINATOR UK & EXPORT Jamie Harris jamie@birlinn.co.uk
PUBLICITY OFFICER Kristian Kerr kristiank@birlinn.co.uk
PUBLICITY & MARKETING DIRECTOR Jan Rutherford jan.ppw@janrutherford.co.uk
DISTRIBUTION Booksource 50 Cambuslang Road Glasgow G32 8NB Tel: 0845 370 0067 Intl: +44 (0)141 643 3961 orders@booksource.net
RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY Fiona Brownlee fiona@brownleedonald.com
SALES DIRECTOR Laura Poynton laura@birlinn.co.uk
Birlinn Limited | www.birlinn.co.uk