Literature

Alan Cumming will interview Val McDermid for this year's Winter Words Festival

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Alan Cumming to interview Val McDermid as part of literature festival

What might have happened to Eric Linklater and the cause of Scottish nationalism if he had been successful in standing as a parliamentary candidate, asks Hamish MacPherson

What might have happened to Eric Linklater and the cause of Scottish nationalism if he had been successful in standing as a parliamentary candidate, asks Hamish MacPherson

BACK IN THE DAY

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More Scots should be aware of the work and legacy of this great writer

Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid will be hosting a book event together

Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid will be hosting a book event together

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Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid to host Christmas book lovers event

The free exhibition by the National Library of Scotland will explore the Scottish novelist's legacy

The free exhibition by the National Library of Scotland will explore the Scottish novelist's legacy

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Free Robert Louis Stevenson exhibit opens in Scottish city

Alan Riach invites you to an extraordinary event at Topping’s bookshop

Alan Riach invites you to an extraordinary event at Topping’s bookshop

Come and listen to our Voices at poetry reading in Glasgow

Anbara Salam (left), Ajay Close (top) and Margaret Elphinstone are among those shortlisted for the fiction award

Anbara Salam (left), Ajay Close (top) and Margaret Elphinstone are among those shortlisted for the fiction award

Women dominate fiction shortlist for Scotland’s National Book Awards

A Scot by adoption, poet Nada Shawa is also a Palestinian in exile

A Scot by adoption, poet Nada Shawa is also a Palestinian in exile

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New poetry collection is an antidote to despair for Gaza

Robert Fergusson is chiefly remembered these days as the man who most influenced Robert Burns to write in Scots as well as English

Robert Fergusson is chiefly remembered these days as the man who most influenced Robert Burns to write in Scots as well as English

BACK IN THE DAY

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Was Robert Fergusson a poet, prodigal son or tavern rat?

JK Rowling has revealed she turned down a peerage twice (Yui Mok/PA)

JK Rowling has revealed she turned down a peerage twice (Yui Mok/PA)

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'Turned down a peerage twice': JK Rowling rejects Kemi Badenoch's Lords offer

Writer and actor Gerda Stevenson at her Borders home

Writer and actor Gerda Stevenson at her Borders home

Alan Riach: Brownsbank Cottage celebration will mark Hugh MacDiarmid's influence

Laura Bissell edited the collection, which will see all proceeds donated to Palestinian aid efforts

Laura Bissell edited the collection, which will see all proceeds donated to Palestinian aid efforts

'Taking control of the narrative': Poets publish book to raise money for Palestine

Stephen Kerr in the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh

Stephen Kerr in the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh

REAL SCOTTISH POLITICS

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Wee Ginger Dug: Stephen Kerr's attack on Scots only exposes his own ignorance

Alan Riach and Jamie Reid Baxter discuss the work of poet Esther Inglis.

Alan Riach and Jamie Reid Baxter discuss the work of poet Esther Inglis.

Esther Inglis and the making of a Scottish Jacobean genius

Wigtown Book Festival offers a range of events from spoken word to live music

Wigtown Book Festival offers a range of events from spoken word to live music

Wigtown Book Festival

Review: Words don't do justice to diversity of Wigtown Book Festival

Part of the Big Burns Supper 2025 the quirky take on the traditional supper will be held in a custom-built underwater venue

Part of the Big Burns Supper 2025 the quirky take on the traditional supper will be held in a custom-built underwater venue

Dumfries and Galloway

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World's first underwater Burns Supper announced in Scottish Borders

We are not so cut off from nature’s reality as to be immured from its contact

We are not so cut off from nature’s reality as to be immured from its contact

Alan Riach: Trouble among the honey-scented heather hills

Daisy Yeung (right) and Lydia Man (left) recently ran Wigtown's Airbnb bookshop

Daisy Yeung (right) and Lydia Man (left) recently ran Wigtown's Airbnb bookshop

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We ran an Airbnb bookshop in a Scottish Borders town – here's how it went

Pam Ayres attended the festival as it opened on Friday

Pam Ayres attended the festival as it opened on Friday

Wigtown Book Festival

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Popular Scottish book festival gets underway with appearance from Pam Ayres

Copies of Irish author Sally Rooney's newly published book Intermezzo

Copies of Irish author Sally Rooney's newly published book Intermezzo

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Pat Kane: This book has given me back my lost appetite for the novel

Ian Rankin has sold more than 35 million copies of his John Rebus series

Ian Rankin has sold more than 35 million copies of his John Rebus series

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Ian Rankin on how death of his mother led to bestselling Rebus series

Caitlin Logan discusses the latest book from Jacqueline Wilson's

Caitlin Logan discusses the latest book from Jacqueline Wilson's

Jacqueline Wilson's new book is a love letter of sorts to her now grown-up readers

Glencoe has inspired many works of literature, writes Alan Riach

Glencoe has inspired many works of literature, writes Alan Riach

What a poetic journey through Glencoe tells us about culture

A who's who of Scottish musicians feature on Malachy Tallack's new album

A who's who of Scottish musicians feature on Malachy Tallack's new album

'Multi-sensory experience': Malachy Tallack releases album to accompany new novel

Scots Scriever Susi Briggs with Scots Writer o the Year Jim Mackintosh

Scots Scriever Susi Briggs with Scots Writer o the Year Jim Mackintosh

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Winners of Scots Language Awards revealed at first-time Ayrshire ceremony

Chris Brookmyre has now won the prize twice

Chris Brookmyre has now won the prize twice

Chris Brookmyre

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Chris Brookmyre named as winner of major crime writing festival prize

10 Years of a Changed Scotland features contributions from Neal Ascherson, Assa Samake-Roman and John Curtice

10 Years of a Changed Scotland features contributions from Neal Ascherson, Assa Samake-Roman and John Curtice

Scottish independence referendum

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We're publishing a book to mark 10 years since the referendum – pre-order now!

Jenny Graham became the fastest woman to cycle around the world unsupported in 2018

Jenny Graham became the fastest woman to cycle around the world unsupported in 2018

World record-breaking cyclist launches series of talks in Highlands

There are thought be 88 surviving copies of the Kilmarnock Edition left

There are thought be 88 surviving copies of the Kilmarnock Edition left

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Rare first edition of Robert Burns' poetry could fetch £60,000 at auction

Val McDermid (left) and Christopher Brookmyre (right) have both been nominated for a top crime writing prize

Val McDermid (left) and Christopher Brookmyre (right) have both been nominated for a top crime writing prize

Bloody Scotland

Val McDermid and Chris Brookmyre in running for crime writing prize

The Scottish independence movement and creatives used to work towards the same goal, Ali Heather told the Sunday National

The Scottish independence movement and creatives used to work towards the same goal, Ali Heather told the Sunday National

Creative Scotland

‘A disaster on a human level’: Artists on Creative Scotland cuts and indy

The artists in Alexander Moffat’s Poets’ Pub who circle MacDiarmid are, by and large, remembered and celebrated while a fitting memorial to the central figure decays

The artists in Alexander Moffat’s Poets’ Pub who circle MacDiarmid are, by and large, remembered and celebrated while a fitting memorial to the central figure decays

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Exploring the important legacy of key post-Second World War poets

Slains Castle was the intelligence base for a group of female Jacobite spies as outlined in a new book

Slains Castle was the intelligence base for a group of female Jacobite spies as outlined in a new book

New book recalls the Jacobite spies forgotten by history

Caden Armstrong is the owner of Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh

Caden Armstrong is the owner of Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh

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The UK's first ever romance bookshop opens in Edinburgh

This wasn’t the first Glasgow Worldcon as previous editions were held in 1995 and 2005

This wasn’t the first Glasgow Worldcon as previous editions were held in 1995 and 2005

I went to Glasgow's Worldcon – here's what made it so brilliant

The Moat Brae building, located in Dumfries, had been operating as a children's literature centre and is due to close this Friday

The Moat Brae building, located in Dumfries, had been operating as a children's literature centre and is due to close this Friday

Dumfries and Galloway

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200-year-old Scottish mansion which inspired Peter Pan story up for sale

Nicola Sturgeon made an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Nicola Sturgeon made an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Nicola Sturgeon

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Nicola Sturgeon on the key wish she has for political leaders

These poets are essential parts of the antidotes to the exploitative caricatures of Scots and Scottishness we still unfortunately suffer with

These poets are essential parts of the antidotes to the exploitative caricatures of Scots and Scottishness we still unfortunately suffer with

Alan Riach: Oppressors might not give up – but then neither do these Scots poets

It was the tellers that gave the story light, writes Alex Eavers

It was the tellers that gave the story light, writes Alex Eavers

Scottish Storytelling Centre

Scottish storytellers are the closest we get to modern-day rhapsodes

May Hooper (right) was friends with Alasdair Gray for almost 40 years before the writer's death

May Hooper (right) was friends with Alasdair Gray for almost 40 years before the writer's death

Close friend of Alasdair Gray to release new book on iconic Scottish author

New scenes have been filmed to celebrate a 200-year-old Scottish novel

New scenes have been filmed to celebrate a 200-year-old Scottish novel

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'Innovative' new app to celebrate Scottish crime novel's 200th anniversary

Pete Wishart is to release a book on the Scottish independence referendum

Pete Wishart is to release a book on the Scottish independence referendum

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SNP MP to release book to mark 10-year anniversary of independence referendum

Calanais standing stones on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland

Calanais standing stones on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland

Highlands & Islands

Alan Riach: Truth in a world of lies - a recommendation of latest poems

The two friends have written a novel which traces Stirling, and the surrounding areas of the Forth Valley, called Conflicts Of The Forth: Exploring 6000 Years Of Warfare At Scotland's Bloodiest Spot

The two friends have written a novel which traces Stirling, and the surrounding areas of the Forth Valley, called Conflicts Of The Forth: Exploring 6000 Years Of Warfare At Scotland's Bloodiest Spot

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Scotland's most historically important area for battles revealed in new book

Greg Moodie's latest satire focuses on the 2008 financial crash

Greg Moodie's latest satire focuses on the 2008 financial crash

Scottish writer in crowdfunder appeal for book on 2008 financial crash

Miriam Margolyes is a huge Dickens fan

Miriam Margolyes is a huge Dickens fan

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Miriam Margolyes at the Fringe: Dickens, politics and lots of charm

Moat Brae is set to close its doors, bosses have announced

Moat Brae is set to close its doors, bosses have announced

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‘Deep sadness’: Charity overseeing Scottish home which inspired Peter Pan shuts doors

Sacrifice of Iphigenia, 1733, fresco on the vault by Giovanni Battista Crosato (1756-ca 1697)

Sacrifice of Iphigenia, 1733, fresco on the vault by Giovanni Battista Crosato (1756-ca 1697)

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

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The greatest Greek tragedy told in Scots? Alan Riach on eye-catching Fringe events

After working in counter-terrorism, Ava Glass turned to spy fiction with a mission to introduce recognisable female characters instead of flimsy caricatures dreamt up by men

After working in counter-terrorism, Ava Glass turned to spy fiction with a mission to introduce recognisable female characters instead of flimsy caricatures dreamt up by men

Author spies gap in market of espionage fiction

Begonya Mezquita and Manel RodriguezCastelló have immediate connections with Scotland

Begonya Mezquita and Manel RodriguezCastelló have immediate connections with Scotland

Catalan independence

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Alan Riach: Introducing two Catalan poets heading to Glasgow this week

Sophie Gravia is to have her book A Glasgow Kiss turned into a TV series

Sophie Gravia is to have her book A Glasgow Kiss turned into a TV series

Best-selling Scottish book to be turned into TV series

Rebecca Brown recently released her novel Song of the Stag

Rebecca Brown recently released her novel Song of the Stag

New fantasy novel serves as an allegory for Scottish independence

The Scots Language Awards will take place in September

The Scots Language Awards will take place in September

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Public called on to nominate Scots language heroes ahead of awards ceremony

Man Carrying One Man Curragh Cruit Island, Photo E. H. Purser.

Man Carrying One Man Curragh Cruit Island, Photo E. H. Purser.

John Purser: A cruel tale heard in Ireland decades ago has never left me

Irvine Welsh at the Now Rest cafe in Leith, Edinburgh

Irvine Welsh at the Now Rest cafe in Leith, Edinburgh

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Irvine Welsh on Trainspotting, Labour and arguing on Twitter