George Mackay Brown. The Wound and the Gift
by Ron Ferguson
George Mackay Brown was one of the 20th century's finest poets and prose stylists, but was also an enigma, rarely leaving his native Orkney. In his prolific writings, Brown's spirituality and his love of his island's landscape came together to give us some of the most beautiful poetry and prose in the English language. His work is shot through with glimpses of the divine. In The Wound and the Gift, Ron Ferguson draws on previously unpublished letters and original conversations with many well-known writers and friends of George Mackay Brown to track his friend's literary and spiritual journey, including his controversial move from Presbyterianism to Roman Catholicism, quoting extensively from the poet's writings. He explores the darker, more tormented, side of Orkney's bard and uncovers the intense relationship between alcohol, suffering and creativity.
Northern Lights: The Age of Scottish Lighthouses
by Alison Morrison-Low
The Bell Rock Lighthouse, perched precariously on an outcrop 11 miles off the coast of Arbroath, is one of the great engineering achievements of the 19th century. And as part of Bell Rock's 200th anniversary celebration, the National Museums Scotland put together a comprehensive and wonderfully eclectic review of Scotland's lighthouses. Author Alison Morrison-Low, the Principal Curator of Science at the National Museums Scotland, presents lighthouse aficionados with a treasure trove of information, ranging from the history of Scottish lighthouses and their construction, to equipment, optics, personalities and curiosities, all lavishly supplemented by fascinating paintings, diagrams and illustrations.
Discover Your Scottish Ancestry
by Graham S. Holton and Jack Winch
Written specifically for tracing Scottish ancestors, this paperback is an indispensable guide for both the beginning and advanced genealogist. Newly updated, Discover Your Scottish Ancestry outlines the very latest resources available and covers Scottish primary and secondary sources in detail, providing illustrative case studies and lists of Web sites, archives and family history organizations and societies.
Good Beer Guide 2012: The Complete Guide to the UK's Best Pubs
Roger Protz, editor
Published by the Campaign For Real Ale, the authoritative Good Beer Guide provides a definitive rundown of the best places in Britain to get a pint of real ale, from country inns to slick city bars. Listings include information about pub facilities for families and disabled visitors, history, architecture, food, accommodations, local places of interest...and, of course, the beer itself: all British real ale breweries and their regular beers.
