This is an exciting and controversial reassessment of a period and a people who stood at the birth of Scotland.

Frederick G. Rea was an English teacher who became headmaster of Garrynamonie School in South Uist in the 1890s. His love and respect for the islands is wonderfully conveyed in this vivid testament.

Combining exciting traditional tales that illustrate the background of the practice of Highland cattle-raiding with extensive historical research, School of the Moon shows that there is much yet to be understood about Scotland’s history, even of the last few hundred years.

This is a captivating comparative selection of Scottish photographs from 1907 by Valentine and Sons of Dundee, once Scotland’s most successful commercial photographers.

This book is a fascinating story of the Highland emigrants who travelled to Nova Scotia in the hope of, though deceived of a better life; how they rose above the deception and ensuing difficulties with the resilience and resourcefulness for which the Scots are best known.

Jim Craig’s unique style and presentation, allied with his superb professional knowledge, make this book a fascinating window into the Scots and their sporting world.

Take a romp through Scotland’s history the easy way. To know Scotland’s past is to understand the country and its people.

Scotland: The Making and Unmaking of the Nation c.1100-1707, volumes 1 and 3, the first in a five-volume set of textbooks, provide a comprehensive introduction to medieval and early modern Scotland.

Scotland: The Making and Unmaking of the Nation c.1100-1707, volumes 1 and 3, the first in a five-volume set of textbooks, provide a comprehensive introduction to medieval and early modern Scotland.

This is the new edition of the first ever comprehensive guide to the many ways in which wild plants have been used in Scotland from prehistoric times to the present day.

Author Rick Wilson profiles an intriguing selection of Scottish innovators who have projected their genius, energy and inspiration across the Atlantic. An inspiring book.

Scottish Customs is a highly readable and absorbing anthology of traditional Scottish customs and rites of passage, drawn from a broad range of literary sources dating back to the 16th century.

The Scottish Empire charts the involvement of the Scots in the British Empire from its earliest days to the end of the twentieth century. A fascinating and enlightening read.

Birlinn Limited presents a new series of diaries which embrace the history of Scotland. Includes beautiful facsimile images from Scottish caricaturist John Kay (1742-1826).

Scottish Gaelic in Twelve Weeks has been written both as a self-tuition course for beginners and also for use within the classroom. Each lesson in the book contains some essential points of grammar explained and illustrated, exercises, a list of new vocabulary (with a guide to pronunciation, in International Phonetics notation), and an item of conversation.

Scottish Gaelic in Twelve Weeks has been written both as a self-tuition course for beginners and also for use within the classroom. Each lesson in the book contains some essential points of grammar explained and illustrated, exercises, a list of new vocabulary (with a guide to pronunciation, in International Phonetics notation), and an item of conversation.

This lavishly illustrated book is a celebration of the diversity of Scottish gardens and gardeners, past and present.

In this first title from Wildcountry Press, photographer David Paterson travels the length and breadth of Scotland, from the Borders to the Shetlands and from Aberdeenshire to the Outer Hebrides, in search for the landscapes which he captures in time for this beautiful book.

Insightful and meticulously researched, Scottish Mammals is an analysis of the impact of humans on the planet, as well as a riveting study of the facts and fictions associated with mammals in Scotland.

Drawing on first-hand accounts and contemporary correspondence, David Torrance paints vivid biographical portraits of the 39 men and one woman who have held the post of Scottish Secretary since the position was resurrected by Salisbury in 1885.

The Scottish Smuggler is the first book to examine the phenomenon of smuggling in Scotland in its entirety.

A.J. Bruford and D.A. MacDonald present an entertaining collection of the oral tales that have been passed down by generations of Scottish storytellers, and have been recorded and collected by researchers from the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University over the past fifty years.

This is the remarkable story of one of the Second World War's most unusual animal heroes – a 14-stone St Bernard dog who became global mascot for the Royal Norwegian Forces and a symbol of freedom and inspiration for Allied troops throughout Europe.

A unique perspective on the history of Great Britain as we know it. Surpassing modern boundaries, Alistair Moffat brings together a country that was once united in its Celtic culture and history.

First and foremost the Vikings were travellers, roaming far to the east, south and west in their magnificent ships - the lords of the seas.

Rowena Farre’s simply powerful and touching autobiography is a moving insight into the private affectation of the raw Scottish Highlands on an unassuming girl. Seal Morning is a fascinating read of discovery and identity.

Seawolves is an exciting and thorough examination of Scots connected to piracy, whether they are victims or villains, real or literary.

The Secret Still is the most comprehensive book ever devoted to Scottish illicit distilling.

Roddy Martine sifts through mounds of unfounded conjecture and fantasy about famous Rosslyn chapel and its surroundings. The Secrets of Rosslyn is the only book that lets the facts about Rosslyn speak for themselves, showing ultimately that the truth is no less amazing than fiction.

This book reveals the truth, and looks beyond the conspiracy theories and Grail rumours enshrining one of Scotland's most famous landmarks.

Seeds of Blood and Beauty sketches the lives and pratices of eighteenth and nineteenth century botanic explorers. In a time when the world was expanding through discovery, these men risked everything in search of the exotic and new.  

Settlement and Sacrifice is an introduction to the people who lived in Scotland from around 1500 BC to AD 200. It was a time when people built impressive houses and settlements, but also one of war and human sacrifice as society was disturbed by quarrels over resources, land and wealth.        

This book is part of a newly updated edition of the acclaimed Making of Scotland series produced by Historic Scotland and Birlinn which provides lively, accessible and up-to-date introductions to key themes and periods in Scottish history and prehistory.

This book breaks new grounds in telling the stories of almost forgotten campaigns of the Royal Navy in which Scotland played a major part.

One of the defining images of the Clyde and Glasgow are the great ships and yards which have dominated them through much of their history. In them was defined not simply a way of life, but a people and a nation. A great book that offers great tribute to a time now lost, and is now recorded in this one book.

This meticulously researched book is a reference guide to shipping losses off the coast of Scotland from Stonehaven northwards to Duncansby Head, then westwards to Cape Wrath and the Minch. A thoroughly informative read aimed at both specialists and the general reader with an interest in this specialist area.

What happened to Shirley could happen to anyone. Might you be the next person to pay the terrible price of innocence? A true story of persistence and endurance brought to the forefront of the Scottish political consciousness by a mere fingerprint.

Stuart McHardy introduces Scotland’s national musical instrument, its history, development and repertoire­ and examines the part that the piper himself has played in Highland and Lowland society over the centuries.

This remarkable biography of Walter Smith reflects on the life and times of a man who went from football enthusiast as a boy to being propelled into the limelight as one of football’s most notorious managers in Britain.

This is a fabulous treasury of legend and wonder; tales of monsters who dwell in lakes, of small people who trap humans in earthen mounds where time stands still, and of dark, shape- shifting spirits whose cloak of human form is betrayed by the sand and shells which fall from their hair.

This is the first book ever to be written on the collective history of the little group of islands between Ardnamurchan and Skye. Amongst the best known of the Hebrides, they are also amongst the least documented. A highly enlightening book on these little-studied islands.

Encompassing earthy and nautralistic themes, this captivating book of verse captures the extensive works of Domhnall Aonghais Bhain.          

The Soap Man brings to light a little known civil war between crofter and laird, lower and upper class, on the isle of Lewis.

This book forms a rich compendium of Gaelic song and history, and is a striking record of the vigour and range of the Gaelic tradition in Canada.

WINNER OF THE 2006 RATCLIFF PRIZE

In this anthology, Anne Lorne Gillies has compiled a collection of Gaelic songs collected from the deepest parts of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Including English translations, this book is truly a unique compendium that will preserve the ancient Gaelic arts.

Maritime historian Granville Allen Mawer resolves long-standing controversies in this detailed and highly readable account of ambition and adventure centred around the competing claims to the last continent.

Wilfrid Noyce was the first member of the 1953 Everest expedition to accomplish the ascent of the South Col, the small plateau just below the summit, from which Edmund Hilary's party set out to conquer the world's highest mountain.

The Sporting Scot reveals the immense diversity and heroics of sportsmen and women in Scotland and is a wonderful celebration of the Scots’ literary love affair with sport.

Raymond Lamont-Brown presents in his insightful book the history of St Andrews bridging from the time of the Picts to the 21st century. A comprehensive and complete history of this remarkable Scottish town.

Glasgow humour has always been characterised by a scant regard for caution and reserve, and its extrovert and often surreal nature. No one exemplifies all these aspects better than Stanley Baxter, Glasgow’s best known and greatest comic genius.

Possibly one of the greatest and most daring political stunts ever attempted is retold with spellbinding intensity in Stone of Destiny. With a foreword by Alex Salmond.

Instantly recognisable wherever she goes, Winnie Ewing is one of the most influential Scotswomen of her generation.

This collection of 42 stories comprises every type of tale found on the island of South Uist, including heroic Fingalian stories, international folktales, ghost stories and local historical and humorous anecdotes.

REPRINT AVAILABLE MAY 2008

From East Lothian to Wisconsin, this vivid yet subtle autobiography charts the journey across the pond and the trepid development of a child to an adult with an extraordinary natural talent.

Now reprinted for the first time since 1968, this is a collection of stories about the supernatural, collected in the late 1890s by Fatherr Allan McDonald, parish priest of the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides.    

This is the story of Glentrium - a family estate. Enduring many changes in volatile times, Sandra Hall vivaciously and fondly depicts the many industrious adventures she embarks upon in order to enjoy and survive the realities of Highland life.

The composed and hierarchal country estate was once a great functional animal in the 1920s. It was efficient, structured and social, and is generally thought to be lost in the 21st century with the great rise of the Bourgeoisie. However, this interesting book reminds us of a time that still exists, quietly adapting with the demands of modern life.

The Summer Walkers documents an archetypal and vanishing way of life.

REPRINT AVAILABLE MAY 2008

This book is the story of a remarkable quest; a search for the history behind a faded photograph album discovered in a second-hand bookshop in Stockport in 1986.

This book has now been firmly established for over fifty years as the great classic work on the origin, meaning and history of Scottish surnames.

With new archaeological research, the ‘material culture’ of the Picts – their settlement, ways of life and burial practice – is slowly coming into focus and is fully represented in this fascinating book.

The definitive, entertaining guide to Scottish country dancing.