Modern Scottish Collections

New Scottish publications recently added to the National Library of Scotland’s collections include The Edinburgh companion to James Hogg edited by Ian Duncan and Douglas Mack. Part of the Edinburgh companions to Scottish literature series published by Edinburgh University Press, this work contains a collection of essays examining the life and work of the Scottish author and key Romantic figure, James Hogg (1770-1835). You can find references to further items by and about James Hogg on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

Shetland vernacular buildings 1600-1900 by Ian Tait is the result of 25 years of research and fieldwork investigating the history, architecture and usage of farm buildings in Shetland. Published by Shetland Museum & Archives, this volume includes many illustrations reproduced in print for the first time.

The recent Highland Railway Society publication Aberfeldy’s railway by C.J. Stewart draws on research and interviews to provide a fascinating account of the history of the railway in the Tay Valley. References to many more books, chapters and articles on the history of Scottish railways can be found in Scottish Bibliographies Online.

Skagboys is the latest novel by Scottish author Irvine Welsh. The prequel to Trainspotting, this novel explains the circumstances that pushed Mark Renton and friends towards herion addiction in 1980s Edinburgh. Skagboys is published by Jonathan Cape.

If you are researching your Scottish family history you might be interested to know that references to articles from The Scottish genealogist are indexed on our fully searchable free database Scottish Bibliographies Online (SBO). The Scottish Genealogist is a quarterly journal produced by the Scottish Genealogy Society. The journal contains interesting and informative articles on family history sources and archives as well as showcasing family history research on Scottish families.

Articles from 1987 to the present day have been indexed on SBO. You can view an alphabetical list of the articles from The Scottish genealogist here. Why not try carrying out your own keyword or subject search, for example, for the surname of the family that you are currently researching? If you locate any articles of interest you can view copies of The Scottish genealogist in the NLS reading rooms.

The Scottish genealogist is just one of over 100 Scottish journals that are regularly indexed on SBO. You can find out more about SBO here. SBO can be searched either through the SBO online catalogue or as part of the NLS AquaBrowser discovery tool.

The Scottish witch-hunts took place between 1563 and 1736. Over 3,800 Scots were accused of witchcraft and it is likely that around two-thirds of those accused were executed. If you are interested in finding out more about this fascinating subject why not have a look at our new film discussing the Scottish witch-hunts and related material from Modern Scottish Collections.

There is also a short article about the Scottish witch-hunts and how to use our free resource, Scottish Bibliographies Online, to locate related material in the Winter 2011 edition of the Discover NLS magazine.

(Image from Witchcraft in early modern Europe by Lawrence Normand and Gareth Roberts, University of Exeter Press, 2000)

The 2011 volume of Scottish Gaelic Studies has now been indexed on Scottish Bibliographies Online (SBO). SBO provides references to articles within this volume about the Scottish Gaelic language. There are articles concerning the historical usage and development of Gaelic, as well as discussions about collectors of Scottish Gaelic poetry and oral tradition, such as Duncan Kennedy and Alexander Irvine. The value of early Gaelic poetry as a historical source for investigating the history of kingship in early medieval Scotland is also investigated. Scottish Gaelic Studies, which contains articles in English as well as Gaelic, is published by the University of Aberdeen.

To find references to material written in Scottish Gaelic (including books, chapters, articles and more) you can search the Bibliography of Scottish Gaelic (BOSG), which is part of SBO. All of SBO is searchable via the National Library of Scotland’s search discovery tool.

Scottish interest material recently received by the National Library of Scotland included Wondrous flitting, a play by Scottish playwright Mark Thomson. Wondrous flitting premiered at the Traverse during the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a production by the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.

Fiona J. Mackintosh’s From the South Seas to the North Sea: the story of Princess Titaua of Tahiti looks at the fascinating story of the Tahitian princess who married a Fifer and is buried in Anstruther. An important figure in Tahitian society, Titaua married George Darsie of Anstruther, manager of a large Pacific trading company, and lived in Fife for the last years of her life. From the South Seas to the North Sea is published by The Kilrenny and Anstruther Burgh Collection.

Scottish ethnicity and the making of New Zealand society, 1850-1930 by Tanja Bueltmann and published by Edinburgh University Press examines the substantial role of Scots immigrants in the shaping of New Zealand society. Community life, ethnicity, integration with other migrants and the romanticised image of Scotland abroad are all considered in this study.

Scottish poet and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has been shortlisted for the T S Eliot Prize 2011 for her new poetry collection The bees, published by Picador. She’s one of two Scots who are in with a chance of winning the prize; John Burnside has also been shortlisted for his Black cat bone, published by Cape. You can find references to works by and about Carol Ann Duffy and John Burnside on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

A good selection of Scottish interest items has been received by the National Library of Scotland recently including Greyfriars Bobby: the most faithful dog in the world by Jan Bondesan. In this work, the author uses original source material to investigate the ‘true story’ behind the sentimental myth of the loyal dog’s nightly vigil on his master’s grave. Greyfriars Bobby is published by Amberley Publishing.

Stroma by Roddy Ritchie (photography), Alistair Murray (prose) and George Gunn (poetry) documents the current situation and recent history of the island of Stroma. Stroma is situated in the Pentland Firth, between Orkney and Caithness. Uninhabited since the 1960s, the photographs in this volume show the deserted homes and belongings left behind by the islanders, as well as the bleak but beautiful landscape. The photographs are accompanied by George Gunn’s poetry and reminiscences by former islanders about life on Stroma and why they decided to leave. Stroma is published by the Islands Book Trust.

The blue book, published by Jonathan Cape is the latest novel by Scottish author A. L. Kennedy. The blue book tells the story of Beth, a former fake medium who is crossing the Atlantic by ocean liner. You can find references to works by and about A. L. Kennedy on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

The Edinburgh companion to Scottish Romanticism, edited by Murray Pittock, looks at key figures such as Burns, Byron, Hogg and Scott as well as considering subjects such as the role of Gaelic, ballads and travel writing in Scottish Romanticism. The Edinburgh companion to Scottish drama, edited by Ian Brown and The Edinburgh companion to Hugh MacDiarmid edited by Scott Lyall and Margery Palmer McCulloch are other recently received titles from the Edinburgh companions to Scottish literature series published by Edinburgh University Press.

A good selection of Scottish interest material was received by the National Library of Scotland this week, including John Byrne: art and life by Robert Hewison. Scottish artist and playwright John Byrne is perhaps best known as the writer of the award winning television series Tutti Frutti and acclaimed plays such as The slab boys. However, Byrne is also a successful artist and during his career has designed record covers and book jackets as well as theatre sets. This illustrated account of Byrne’s life and work examines the substantial contribution he has made to the literary and visual arts in Scotland. John Byrne: art and life is published by Lund Humphries. You can read more about John Byrne and his play The slab boys on our 12 key Scottish plays web feature.

Golf on the rocks: a journey round Scotland’s island courses by Gary Sutherland (published by Hachette) follows the author as he travels around the Scottish islands playing golf on some of Scotland’s lesser known and most remote golf courses in locations such as Arran, Skye, Orkney and Shetland. As well as describing the golf courses, the author also gives a general account of his travels and the people (and animals) he encounters both on and off the course. You can read more about Scottish golf on our Golf in Scotland web feature and find many references to items about golf in Scotland on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

The work of celebrated Scottish Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean is the subject of Peter Mackay’s book Sorley MacLean, published by the Research Institute for Irish and Scottish Studies. An English language introduction to MacLean, this book examines his poetry in cultural and historical context, providing in depth analysis of several key works.

Sorley MacLean’s Dàin do Eimhir agus Dàin Eile is regarded as the most important 20th century work in Scottish Gaelic. Sangs tae Eimhir by Derrick McClure provides a parallel translation of Dàin do Eimhir into Scots, allowing readers to view the original Gaelic text side by side with McClure’s Scots translation. Sangs tae Eimhir is published by Acair. You can find references to items by and about Sorley Mclean on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

Scottish interest items recently received by the National Library of Scotland included This road is red, a novel by Alison Irvine. Alison was born in London but moved to Glasgow in 2005. In 2009 Alison was commissioned by Culture Sport Glasgow to write about the Red Road Flats. Alison spent over a year interviewing past and present residents of Red Road and in this novel she re-tells the true stories she unearthed during her research. This road is red is published by Luath Press.

A. J. Cronin: the man who created Dr Findlay by Alan Davies is the first full length biography of the Scottish novelist and physician Archibald Joseph Cronin (1896-1981). This biography examines the Scottish childhood, medical career and private life of Cronin, who is perhaps best known for creating the character of Dr Finlay in a series of novels later adapted for radio and television as Dr Finlay’s Casebook. Cronin was born in Dunbartonshire, educated in Glasgow and practiced medicine in London’s Notting Hill. Ill health forced Cronin to retire from medicine in 1930 and he returned to Scotland where he wrote his first novel Hatter’s Castle. The novel was so successful that Cronin was able to permanently give up practising medicine and concentrate on his writing career. A. J. Cronin: the man who created Dr Findlay is published by Alma.

A handbook of Scotland’s trees edited by Fiona Martynoga and published by Saraband in association with Reforesting Scotland is a guide to the tree species commonly found in Scotland. As well as aiding identification of trees, this guide also provides interesting facts on the current and historical uses of trees, folklore and myths surrounding trees and information on how to grow and look after trees.

There but for the, the latest novel by Scottish author Ali Smith, examines what happens when a stranger turns up at a dinner party and locks himself in a bedroom in the host’s house, refusing to be moved. Ali Smith was born in Inverness and currently lives in Cambridge. You can find references to more items by and about Ali on Scottish Bibliographies Online. There but for the is published by Hamish Hamilton.

New titles received at the National Library of Scotland this week included The man who cycled the Americas by Scottish cyclist Mark Beaumont. This book tells the story of Mark’s solo cycle from Alaska to the southernmost tip of South America, a 13,000 mile journey taking in the Rocky and Andes mountain ranges. The man who cycled the Americas is published by Bantam Press.

Fife based poet and novelist John Burnside’s new novel A summer of drowning is the story of a young woman looking back at her isolated life on a remote island in the Arctic Circle as she attempts to solve the mystery of the drowning of two young boys. A summer of drowning is published by Jonathan Cape.

Mary Slessor : everybody’s mother by Jeanette Hardage and published by Lutterworth examines the public and private life of the Scottish missionary. Born in Aberdeen in 1848, Mary worked as a weaver in the Dundee textile mills as a child. Active in the local Presbyterian church, Mary completed her missionary training in Edinburgh in 1876. From then until her death in 1915, Mary lived in West Africa where she was particularly active in upholding women’s rights in her role as magistrate of the native court. This volume draws upon Mary’s own writings and other contemporary sources to examine the life and legacy of this remarkable Scot. You can find further references to items about Mary Slessor on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

The ballad repertoire of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland edited by Sigrid Rieuwerts looks at the ballads of Anna Gordon or Mrs Brown, 1747-1810. A renowned Scottish balladeer, Anna Gordon’s ballads were passed down to her entirely through oral tradition, from her grandmother, mother and aunts. This volume contains the text and musical notations from all Anna Gordon’s manuscripts and is number 8 in the 5th series of publications by the Scottish Text Society, available from Boydell & Brewer. You can find further references to items about Scottish ballads on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

Scottish interest items recently received by the National Library of Scotland included The Tsar’s doctor: the life and times of Sir James Wylie by Mary McGrigor and published by Birlinn. This book is the first full biography of James Wylie (1768–1854), the Scottish born personal physician to three Russian tsars. Born in Perthshire in 1768, James Wylie studied medicine in Edinburgh and Aberdeen before gaining employment in St Petersburg. During the Napoleonic wars Wylie gained a reputation as a notable field surgeon and soon received employment as medical attendant to the tsars. You can find further references to articles, chapters and books about Scots in Russia on Scottish Bibliographies Online.

Are ye dancin’? by Eddie Tobin with Martin Kielty looks at the history and evolution of Scotland’s dance halls throughout the 20th century. Full of photographs of the dance halls in their heyday, the book also contains numerous anecdotes and memories from dance hall regulars, managers and bands from all over Scotland. Are ye dancin’? is published by Waverley Books.

The latest volume in the Clan Walk Guides Walking Scotland series written by Mary Welsh and illustrated by Christine Isherwood gives details of 40 walks in East Lothian and the Borders. Walking the Scottish Borders and East Lothian contains hand-drawn route maps and illustrations of the wildlife and architecture that you may encounter during your walk, as well as information on the history, flora and fauna of each route.

King of Scotland is a play by award winning Scottish playwright Iain Heggie. Inspired by Diary of a madman by Gogol, King of Scotland is currently touring in a production by Glasgow Actors in association with the Tron Theatre. King of Scotland is published by Methuen.