Modern Scottish Collections

Image from 'Newes from Scotland'.

A new resource looking at witches in Scottish literature is now available on the Learning Zone section of the National Library of Scotland website. The Learning Zone is a dedicated area of the NLS website where teachers and learners can find learning resources, web features, images, and collections material relating to curriculum topics.

The Witches in Scottish literature feature looks at seven sources from the collections featuring Scottish witches. The sources illustrate differing treatments of witchcraft in various genres of literature from the last 400 years. Works by James VI, Shakespeare, Burns, James Hogg, John Buchan, Edwin Morgan, and Rona Munro are discussed alongside some historical background on the fascinating history of the witch-hunts in Scotland.

If you would like to learn more why not visit the website or watch a video of Julian Goodare, Reader in History at the University of Edinburgh, talking about the historical context of witch-hunting in Scotland.

A huge variety of books were added to the modern Scottish collections at the National Library of Scotland this week, including Arthur’s Seat: journeys and evocations by Stuart McHardy and Donald Smith. Published by Luath Press, this book is a fascinating look at the history and folklore of Edinburgh’s most distinctive natural landmark.

From one fascinating Scottish hill to another – Fraser Hunter and Kenneth Painter examine the hoard of silver discovered on East Lothian’s Traprain Law in Late Roman silver: the Traprain treasure in context. Full of wonderful photographs, this Society of Antiquaries of Scotland publication looks at the late Roman economy, society and at the use of silver in the Roman world.

Other recent additions include several children’s books in Scottish Gaelic. Spùinneadairean Dubh Na h-Oidhche is a tale of pirates by Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright, and An Coileach Cadalach by Nuala Nic Con Iomaire and Donough O’Malley is the entertaining story of a sleepy farmyard cockerel. Both books are published by Acair.

And finally, for those of you looking for a new knitting project, why not Knit your own Scotland? Jackie Holt and Ruth Bailey’s book provides patterns to allow you to knit your own Andy Murray, Billy Connolly, Scotch pie, Tunnock’s teacake and much more. Knit your own Scotland is published by Black and White.

This week saw the addition of another huge variety of material to the modern Scottish collections at the National Library of Scotland. One title of interest was Jamieson’s Dictionary of Scots: the story of the first historical dictionary of the Scots language by Susan Rennie. Published by Oxford University Press this is the first full account of the creation of John Jamieson’s Etymological dictionary of the Scottish language, which was published in 1808 as the first complete Scots dictionary. Susan Rennie discusses the methods used by Jamieson, as well as the contributions of others, such as Sir Walter Scott, to his work.

Tony Hogan bought me an ice-cream float before he stole my ma by Kerry Hudson tells the story of Janie Ryan’s childhood as part of a dysfunctional family living in an Aberdeen council estate during the 1980s. This is the first novel by Scottish author Kerry Hudson, who was born and brought up in Aberdeen. Tony Hogan … is published by Chatto & Windus.

The Edinburgh companion to Scottish women’s writing edited by Glenda Norquay is the latest title in the Edinburgh companions to Scottish literature series published by Edinburgh University Press. This work examines the important contributions of authors such as Margaret Oliphant, Naomi Mitchison, Isabella Bird and Denise Mina in historical context. Other areas discussed include oral traditions, nationalism, women in Gaelic culture and the act of reading.

With the Olympics almost upon us, the Guide to Scotland’s London 2012 cultural programme, published by Creative Scotland lists Olympic related events taking place in Scotland during 2012.

Maighread Challan won the 2011 Donald Meek Award with Air bilean an t-Sluaigh: sealladh air leantalachd beul-aithris Ghàidhlig Uibhist a Tuath, published by Queen’s University Belfast. Written in Scottish Gaelic, this work examines the oral tradition of North Uist in social and cultural context, looking at reasons for its decline and investigating to what extent the tradition continues. Further information is available on the Gaelic Books Council website.

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.

Recent additions to the Scottish collections at the National Library of Scotland included Suzanne Rigg’s Men of spirit and enterprise : Scots and Orkneymen in the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1780-1821, which looks at the history of Scottish and, in particular, Orcadian involvement in the North American fur trade. The life and working conditions of the migrants is examined, as is the impact of their migration and the fur trade on the economy and local communities in Scotland and North America.

Basil Spence : buildings and projects by Louise Campbell, Miles Glendinning and Jane Thomas examines the life, career and works of one of Britain’s best known architects. Born to Scottish parents in India, Spence was educated in Edinburgh, studying at George Watson’s College and the Edinburgh College of Art. Once qualified, he established his architectural practice in Edinburgh and was based in the city for many years. Spence’s works include Gribloch House in Stirlingshire, Glasgow Airport, the Hutchesontown C flats in the Gorbals and the Scottish Widows offices at Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh. Outside of Scotland his significant works include Coventry Cathedral, the British Embassy in Rome and the extension to the New Zealand parliament in Wellington. You can learn more about the life and work of Sir Basil Spence at the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project.

The life and work of Scottish poet Ian Hamilton Finlay is examined in Ian Hamilton Finlay : selections edited and introduced by Alec Finlay. This book details the evolution of Ian Hamilton Finlay’s work from early lyrical poetry, plays and stories to his well known concrete poetry and garden at Little Sparta.

Glasgow’s Aye Write! book festival comes to an end this weekend. For me one of the most interesting aspects this year has been the launch of Scotland’s Bookshelf.

It is a simple idea – a panel of experts have selected 20 books – 2 per decade of the best of one hundred years of Scottish books. And more than that they have published a free book – introduced by Rosemary Goring - with selections from all of them and the longlists! What a fabulous introduction to modern Scottish literature and more.

Of the 20 names 17 are novelists, 3 are poets, 1 is a historian, 4 are women, 1 is a Gaelic writer, and 7 of them are still writing. Lorna Moon, A.J. Cronin, and Alexander Trocchi are 3 of the welcome surprises perhaps and so is the distinguished historian Christopher Smout who represents the 1960s along with Dame Muriel Spark.

The book can be downloaded from the Aye Write! website.

Scottish interest items recently received by the National Library of Scotland include Scotland and Poland : historical encounters 1500-2010 by Tom Devine and David Hesse. Published by John Donald, this book explores connections between the two countries over the last 500 years.

Jo Clifford’s play The tree of knowledge imagines what David Hume and Adam Smith would make of 21st century Scotland. Published by Nick Hern Books, The tree of knowledge was commissioned by and first performed at the Traverse.

Skeem life : growing up in the Seventies by Gary Robertson is a humourous account of the author’s early life in the tough housing estates of Dundee. He describes a relatively carefree era where ‘getting up to no good’ was all part of growing up. Skeem life is published by black & White.

A further recent addition was Farming and the land, volume 2 in the Scottish life and society : a compendium of Scottish ethnology series. Alexander Fenton and Kenneth Veitch are the editors of this volume which looks at changes in agriculture and land use across the whole of Scotland and the impact of these developments on rural life. Farming and the land is published by John Donald.

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.