Modern Scottish Collections

Scottish interest publications recently added to the collections at the National Library of Scotland include The art of modern tapestry: Dovecot Studios since 1912 edited by Elizabeth Cumming and published by Lund Humphries. This beautifully illustrated volume celebrates one hundred years of the Edinburgh based Dovecot Studios tapestry workshop and gallery.

To Auckland by the Ganges, edited and introduced by Robert M. Grogan, tells the story of a Scottish family’s emigration through the journal kept by David Buchanan during his three and a half month voyage from Gravesend to Auckland. David Buchanan, a Scottish journalist, sailed to New Zealand with his children on the ship ‘The Ganges’ in 1863. During the voyage he kept a diary, which was published in the Glasgow Herald twice weekly. Published by Whittles, this book makes accessible Buchanan’s fascinating journal entries on life aboard a mid nineteenth century sailing ship.

Bevel is a collection of poetry in English and Scots by Scottish poet William Letford. William also works as a roofer and recently received a New Writer’s Award from the Scottish Book Trust which allowed him to spend three months in Northern Italy helping to restore a medieval village. Bevel, published by Carcanet Press, is William’s debut poetry collection.

Tearoom delights : a little guide to delightful tearooms of Perthshire, Angus and Dundee by Lorna McInnes allows the reader to discover the most charming tearooms in this part of Scotland. Published by Teacups Press, this book reviews the tearooms whilst also providing practical information such as opening hours and location.

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.

Today is National Poetry Day! To celebrate, the National Library of Scotland has produced a set of web pages featuring poems from the six pamphlets shortlisted for the 2011 Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. Each page includes two poems chosen by the poet from their shortlisted pamphlet, along with some biographical information.

We hope that you enjoy the variety of poetry on offer at our National Poetry Day 2011 web pages. Thank you to the poets and publishers who allowed us to use their work.

This is the fourth year that we have produced web pages to mark National Poetry Day. If you would like to read poetry from other years, please take a look at our previous National Poetry Day web pages.

You can find out more about the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award at the Scottish Pamphlet Poetry website and more about National Poetry Day at the official website.