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Birlinn

Birlinn Limited
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Scottish and general UK interest books, from biography to history, military history, and Scottish Gaelic. 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.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn21 days ago
    The most powerful representation yet of the race which has repeatedly changed history as we know it' — The Scotsman 'Brimming with interesting facts … instructive and wide-ranging' — Cal McCrystal, Independent on Sunday 'The best picture of the Celtic race yet written' — South Wales Echo 'Lovingly traces the remnants of a once-powerful people through language, ancient place names, farms, fortresses, harbours and, most of all, through their connection to the sea' — Irish Times Alistair Moffat's journey, from the Scottish islands and Scotland, to the English coast, Wales, Cornwall and Ireland, ignores national boundaries to reveal the rich fabric of culture and history of Celtic Britain which still survives today. This is a vividly told, dramatic and enlightening account of the oral history, legends and battles of a people whose past stretches back many hundred of years. The Sea Kingdoms is a story of great tragedies, ancient myths and spectacular beauty.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinnlast month
    The first Dr Stephen Dunbar thriller. When seven-year-old Amanda Chapman is admitted to hospital with acute renal failure, her parents are in despair. Their hope is renewed when Amanda is accepted for treatment in a pioneering, state-of-the-art dialysis unit in an exclusive private hospital in Glasgow, but behind the lavish hospital corridors, private rooms and friendly staff lies something much more sinister. Dr Dunbar goes undercover to find out in the first of Ken McClure's gripping thrillers featuring the ex-Special Forces medic.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinnlast month
    A classic memoir of danger and adventure by a Scottish shark fisherman.In Hebridean Sharker, Tex Geddes describes his exploits during the 1950s as a hunter of basking sharks in the waters of the Minch, between the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Using an adapted whaling harpoon, he and his crew stalked these huge fish—their livers a valuable source of oil—often in perilous conditions.Always a maverick, Geddes had been a boxer and a rumrunner to Newfoundland before World War II. During the war he established a reputation as an expert knife-thrower and bayonet fencer and served in the Special Forces with Gavin Maxwell, celebrated author of Ring of Bright Water. He combined the hazardous pursuit of sharks with crewing the local lifeboat, ring-net fishing, lobstering, deer-stalking, and salmon poaching. He went on to purchase the tiny island of Soay, where he lived with his wife Jeanne, continued to hunt sharks. and became the Laird. This is his story, full of adventures and fantastic descriptions of a seagoing life in the islands.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinnlast month
    Scottish history has been shaped and defined by a series of great battles. John Sadler gives the first full military history of Scotland for many years. From Mons Graupius to Culloden, he shows how terrain and politics shaped the campaigns and decisive engagements we still remember today. Each chapter also features sections on the development of warfare — its tactics, equipment and styles of fighting. For the military historian, Scotland is a fascinating example of how a small country can fight off domination by a far larger neighbour. From Celtic warfare to the feudal host to the professional armies of the eighteenth century, from guerrilla warfare to the pitched battle, from siege to Border Reiver, Scotland is unique in having had almost every major type of warfare taking place within its frontiers. Battles such as Bannockburn, Flodden, and Culloden, have a resonance and impact far beyond Scotland. John Sadler weaves chronicle, narrative, and analysis together in a masterly way, recreating the drama and passion of centuries past.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinnlast month
    This is the first biography in over 100 years of the great Tom Morris of St Andrews, who presided over one of the most illustrious periods in the history of golf, who — more than anyone before or since in any game — stamped his individual character upon his sport and how, in large measure, made golf what it is today. Born in a humble weaver's cottage in St Andrews in 1821, by the time of his death in 1908, he had become a figure of international renown. When he was buried with all the pomp and ceremony befitting an eminent Victorian, newspapers around the world reported his funeral, followed by his internment below the effigy of his son, Tommy, amidst the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. In the course of his long life, he witnessed huge social and scientific changes in the world, none more so than in the game of golf that he had, in many respects, overseen and directed. By the time of his death, the game had expanded to become the most popular and geographically widespread of all sports and the essential recreational pursuit of gentlemen. Tom Morris was a sporting hero in an age of heroes, as well as golf's first iconic figure.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinnlast month
    Trevor Royle has done First World War History a great service' — Gary Sheffield 'Graphic, ably controlled…the power of imaginative storytelling is Royle's endeavour' — The Guardian 'His exceptional talents at narration produce a work that is both through-provoking and engaging. This is a vivid, solidly-written book, drawing upon the best in recent scholarship' — International Review of Scottish Studies On the brink of the First World War, Scotland was regarded throughout the British Isles as 'the workshop of the Empire'. Not only were Clyde-built ships known the world over, Scotland produced half of Britain's total production of railway equipment, and the cotton and jute industries flourished in Paisley and Dundee. In addition, Scots were a hugely important source of manpower for the colonies. Yet after the war, Scotland became an industrial and financial backwater. Emigration increased as morale slumped in the face of economic stagnation and decline. The country had paid a disproportionately high price in casualties, a result of huge numbers of volunteers and the use of Scottish battalions as shock troops in the fighting on the Western Front and Gallipoli — young men whom the novelist Ian Hay called 'the vanished generation'. In this book, Trevor Royle provides the first full account of how the war changed Scotland irrevocably by exploring a wide range of themes — the overwhelming response to the call for volunteers; the performance of Scottish military formations in 1915 and 1916; the militarisation of the Scottish homeland; the resistance to war in Glasgow and the west of Scotland; the boom in the heavy industries and the strengthening of women's role in society following on from wartime employment.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinnlast month
    Kenny Reid has avidly followed golf's majors for more than 30 years. Through the luminescent glow of his television screen, and even, on occasion, from the vantage point of the roped-off boundaries, he has watched the greats of the game stamp their mark in the history books of each of the golf world's premier tournaments. In 2009 he decided to go a step further, decided that it was time to live the dream of all golf enthusiasts — he embarked on a pilgrimage, a 'fan slam', to each of the four majors — the Masters, the US Open, The Open and the PGA Championship — all in a single year. “A Major Obsession” chronicles this golf fan's odyssey. In an effort to record every detail of the fan's experience at the majors at Bethpage, Augusta, Turnberry and Hazeltine, he experiences excitement, mishaps, surprises and feats of brilliance. Not a golf insider or writer, he records each championship's special feel and ambience from the everyday fan's point of view. The journey takes him to the heart of the spectator experience, comparing and contrasting each championship's highs-and-lows both on and off the course. It mixes the sublime with the ridiculous; the expected with the unexpected. Original, quirky and brilliantly insightful, this fan's-eye account of the best players and tournaments in the world is a must for all lovers of sport and of golf; it is entertainment, travelogue and user manual to the most spectacular golf tournaments in the world.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn2 months ago
    Stories learned while growing up on an old blue bus wandering through Scotland, for readers of all ages who love travel and adventure.I have been a gatherer of tales for most of my life, and I suppose it all began when I was a wee girl. I shared a home with parents, seven sisters and a shaggy dog. It could be said that I lived a different sort of life from most other children, because “home” was an old blue bus. We were known as tinkers or travellers, descendants of those who have wandered the highways and byways of Scotland for two thousand years . . .In this book, the author of the autobiographical trilogy Jessie’s Journey is on a mission to pass on the stories she heard as a girl to the young readers of today. With these ancient oral tales of Scotland’s travelling people, she invites readers to come with her on the road, back to those days when it was time to pack up and get going, and to take the way of her ancestors. Reading this book is like being by the campfire listening to the magical Scottish stories that have been handed down through generations.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    A powerful and mesmerizing novel, both mythic and intimate . . . a great accomplishment of imagination, insight and lyricism' — Amy Tan 'Lavishly imagined and skilfully narrated' — The Independent Under Fishbone Clouds is a love story and family saga interwoven with traditional folktales and stories from ancient Chinese history. Set against the backdrop of dramatic events of recent Chinese political history, we follow the lives of Jinyi and his wife Yuying.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    From the author of the And All That Series, a collection of stories of Scotland during World War I.Acclaimed children’s author Allan Burnett turns his attention to the First World War in a book of explosively exciting and emotionally charged tales of bravery and adventure. Featuring the true exploits of soldiers, spies, pilots, sailors and many others, these stories, all based on interviews with these heroes themselves or their descendants, offer a unique, personal insight into the First World War that no conventional history book can ever hope to match.DESC>juvenile nonfiction;world war i history;the great war;wwi;ww1;military history;scottish history;scottish military history;scottish world war i history;european history;british history;united kingdom history;historical biography;world war i biography;people & places;scottish people;scottish life during world war i;scotland during world war i;life during war;life during wartime;world war i soldiers;world war i spies;world war i pilots;world war i sailorsJUVENILE NONFICTION / History / Military & WarsJUVENILE NONFICTION / History / EuropeJUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / HistoricalJUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Europe9780857901736Allan Guthrie
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    'Human relationships, especially as seen from a woman's point of view, are central: attraction, pain, acceptance, loss, triumphs and deceptions, habits and surprises; always made immediate through a storyteller's concrete detail of place or voice or object or colour remembered or imagined' — Edwin Morgan 'Dreaming Frankenstein is a rare thing: a book of poems which sparkles' — The Scotsman '. . . one of the few poets writing today capable of encompassing the matter of contemporary life in terms that are both attractive and thought-provoking' — Books in Scotland Liz Lochhead has built an impressive reputation as poet, playwright and performer, attracting a large and admiring public. Dreaming Frankenstein and Collected Poems stands as a monument to her early work. Four collections — Memo for Spring (1972), Islands (1978) and Grimm Sisters (1981) and the title volume together provide a complete record of her poetry from 1967 to 1984. In Dreaming Frankenstein human relationships, especially as seen from a woman's point of view, are central. Attraction, pain, acceptance, loss, triumphs and deceptions are all made immediate through her imagery and acute powers of observation and through her flair as a storyteller.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    The centuries-old secrets of the famous Scottish chapel are decoded in this revealing history—“a fascinating read” (Scotland Magazine).Overlooking the village of Roslin just seven miles from the center of Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel is one of the world's most fascinating historic sites. Since its construction in the mid fifteenth century it has cast a mesmerizing spell over all who have visited it, exuding an aura of profound mystery.Centuries later it continues to confound and intrigue, inspiring stories of The Knights Templar and the Holy Grail, Masonic orders and esoteric symbols. These in turn have made Rosslyn chapel an icon of popular culture, featured in bestselling novels such as The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. In The Secrets of Rosslyn, Roddy Martine sifts through the conjectures and conspiracy theories to prove that the truth is no less amazing than fiction.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    An amazing story of a furry World War II hero that will entertain and engage readers of all ages.When a tiny orphaned bear cub is adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II, little does anyone know that little Wojtek will become one of the bravest fighters of them all!As the soldiers train to take part in some of the fiercest fighting of the war, Wojtek grows up, providing headaches and laughter in equal measure as he learns to drink beer, chase horses, and wrestle with his human friends. But at Monte Cassino, as the Allies try and dislodge German troops from their mountaintop eyrie, Wojtek, now a fully signed-up solider with his own rank and number, comes into his own, dodging the bullets to carry ammunition to his comrades as they inch their way to victory. After the war, the Polish solders move to Scotland. Wojtek comes too and soon becomes the center of attention in a new country. But with hostilities ended, how long can he keep his freedom? Bestselling author Jenny Robertson explores the themes of friendship and trust in this moving and inspirational story.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    A British historian explores the mysterious Scottish culture of the Iron Age and Early Middle Ages whose enigmatic symbols adorn standing stones.The Picts were an ancient nation who ruled most of northern and eastern Scotland during the Dark Ages. Despite their historical importance, they remain shrouded in myth and misconception. Absorbed by the kingdom of the Scots in the ninth century, they lost their unique identity, their language and their vibrant artistic culture. Among their few surviving traces are standing stones decorated with incredible skill and covered with enigmatic symbols.The Pictish Stones offer some of the few remaining clues to the powerful and gifted people who bequeathed no chronicles to tell the sagas of their kings and heroes. In this book, Medieval historian Tim Clarkson pieces together the evidence to tell the story of this mysterious people from their emergence in Roman times to their eventual disappearance.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    “Norah and William Montgomerie had performed a magical transformation of their own by draping fairy tales in tartan” (The Herald).The classic folk tales of Scotland were passed down from storyteller to storyteller, and from the first sentence, they held the attention of listeners and readers as though a spell had been cast over them, transporting them to a magical realm where mermaids and men, selkies and sailors, ogres and princesses all mingle and are miraculously transformed. First published in 1956, the Montgomeries, distinguished folklorists, gathered these captivating stories from all parts of Scotland. This collection became a classic of the storytelling tradition, retold in a simple, dramatic style and appealing to adult and child alike. Now illustrated with Norah Montgomerie’s own original drawings, it is a book to be treasured for years as the key to an enchanted, timeless world.“Buy it for all the children in your life—and the adults too! Well done Birlinn for making it available again.” —Facts & Fiction Storytelling Magazine“With charming illustrations by Norah Montgomerie, this book makes a welcome change from the Brothers Grimm.” —Dumfries & Galloway Standard
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    A “vigorous and vivid and feisty” portrait of a traditional Scottish subculture from an insider (Dundee Courier & Advertiser).Scottish gypsies, known as travellers, have wandered Scotland’s roads and byways for centuries, and their turbulent history is captured in this passionate book by Jess Smith, the bestselling author of Jessie’s Journey. This is less a conventional history than a personal pilgrimage through the stories, songs, and culture of a people for whom freedom is more important than security and a campfire under the stars is preferable to a warm hearth within stone walls.Settled society has always discriminated against travellers, and Jess tells shocking stories of bullying, violence, the enforced break-up of families, and separate schooling. But drawing on her own and her family’s experiences, she also captures the magic and drama of days wandering the roads and working the land, and brings to life the travellers’ rich and vibrant traditions.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    From the author of Jessie’s Journey, a memoir of finding her own way in the world after growing up in a family of Scottish travellers.As Tales from the Tent begins, Jess Smith has left school, and after a miserable spell working in a paper mill, she abandons the settled life and takes to the roads once more. The old bus she lived in as a child has gone, to be replaced by a caravan and campsites. Times are changing, and it is becoming harder and harder for travellers to make a living by doing the rounds of seasonal jobs like berry-picking.Conscious that the old way of life was disappearing before her eyes, Jess stored up as much as she could gather from the rich folklore of the travellers’ world. Now she retells some of the many stories and songs she heard by the campfire or at the tent’s mouth. Interwoven with these tales is the story of Jess and her life on the road—her first loves, her friendships, her days hawking and berry-picking, the exploits of her lovable but infuriating family, and the unforgettable characters she meets.Praise for the trilogy:“Skillfully takes her reader into the world of Scottish Travellers in her own down-to-earth, straight-from-the-heart manner.” —Travellers' Times“Heartwarming reminiscences.” —Sunday Post
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    I couldn't stop turning the pages… a great tale with a deep message' George Robertson 'a thrilling escapade' Bournemouth Echo At the age of nineteen, Glasgow-born John McCallum signed up as a Supplementary Reservist in the Signal Corps. A little over a year later, he was in France, working frantically to set up communication lines as Europe once more hurtled towards war. Wounded and captured at Boulogne, he was sent to the notorious Stalag VIIIB prison camp, together with his brother, Jimmy, and friend Joe Harkin. Ingenious and resourceful, the three men set about planning their escape. With the help of Traudl, a local girl, they put their plan into action. In an astonishing coincidence, they passed through the town of Sagan, around which the seventy-six airmen of the Great Escape were being pursued and caught. However, unlike most of these other escapees, John, Jimmy and Joe eventually made it to freedom. Now, due to the declassification of documents under the Official Secrets Act, John McCallum is finally able to tell the thrilling story of his adventure, in which he recaptures all the danger, audacity and romance of one of the most daring escapes of the Second World War.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn3 months ago
    Beneath the familiar streets and closes lies an immense story — the remarkable and unique story of Hawick. Full of anecdote and history which will appeal to all locals and those who can trace their ancestry back to one of the Borders' most vibrant communities. As Hawick celebrates the 500th anniversary of the fight at Hornshole, the first stirrings of the defining traditions of the common riding, Alistair Moffat takes the narrative much further back into the mists of prehistory, to the time of the Romans, the coming of the Angles and the Normans. He recounts how Hawick got its name, where the old village stood, who the early barons of Hawick were and then charts the amazing rise of the textile trade, bringing the story right up to the present day. Beneath the familiar streets and closes lies an immense story — the remarkable and unique story of Hawick. If this book shows anything, it shows that Hawick has changed radically over the many centuries since people began to live between the Slitrig and the Teviot. All that experience in one place has created and invented much and the future will turn for the better for a simple reason. Hawick's greatest invention is her people.
    Birlinn Limitedadded a book to the bookshelfBirlinn4 months ago
    Packed with humour — I recommend the whole lot!,' — The School Librarian William Wallace And All That is a real-life adventure packed with historical facts about Scotland's legendary hero. Join Sir William Wallace on his fearsome quest to free the Scots from villainous King Edward and his evil empire. Growl with anger as you find out what nasty things Edward's vile henchmen did to Wallace's girlfriend and best pal. Get splattered with blood and gore as Wallace makes haggis of his enemies. Gasp with terror as you learn about the giant 'hedgehogs' that helped Wallace win battles. Groan with agony as you feel what it's like to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Discover how Wallace's grisly death made his legend grow. Aimed at children aged 8–12 * Learn how to tell the difference between Wallace facts and Wallace nonsense. * Discover why Wallace had to do his homework in Latin. * Understand what made King Edward attack Scotland in the first place. * Find out why the Victorians turned Wallace into stone.
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