Non-Fiction Books
Aimed at a general readership and tourists, this guide has a selection of the most important or well-known battles that have taken place in Scotland, including both local detail and anecdotes.
The Firth of Forth is one of the major gateways to Scotland,containing Scotland's capital and her main historical ports,some of the most significant islands in her past and a handful of her battlefields. Discover the dramatic story behind a church stone at Crail, the truth about a lighthouse keeper and his family wiped out in a tragedy, the Cockenzie folk who caught whales to feed their hungry children, and how Portobello came into being because a seaman had his ear cut off. Who were the contestants in the oyster wars? How many men did it take to build the Forth Rail Bridge and how many died in the process? What is the link between R.L. Stevenson's Treasure Island and a North Berwick inn? What dreadful trickery did monks perform off Aberdour beach with a knight's body in a lead coffin? These are just a few of the questions answered during this enthralling journey around the Forth coast.
Scotland is well-known for its wildlife. Every glen, every river, and every town harbours legends and wonders, tales of people and events and half-remembered beliefs which extend a debt to Scotland's wildlife. This book includes, among others, the spider which inspired Robert the Bruce, the nasty tale of the Linton Worm, the strange behaviour of cats and crows and kelpies and cuckoos, and the courage which lies behind the Lion Rampant.
The inspiration for the Selkirk trilogy , the original diary of Private Robert Brown from Methil, Fife, is printed verbatim. The bare account is augmented by chapters that detail aspects of the war, the culture of the Boer, the amount of foreign and Imperial commitment and thumbnail sketches of British and Boer leaders. Intended as a historical background to the war, the readable style should appeal to the general reader as well as the serious military historian.
The Ukrainian anarchist Maria Nikiforova (1885-1919) rose from the slums of industrial Alexandrovsk to become a ferocious terrorist and military commander who sacrificed everything for the cause of the Russian Revolution. A revolutionary from the age of sixteen, she fought for freedom of the oppressed on three continents, ended up on trial for her life on at least four occasions, and was sentenced to death twice. Her exploits became the stuff of folklore, but she was "blacklisted" by official historians and her story was lost for generations. Now, thanks to the good folks at Black Cat Press, her story is available again--and in English!
Few trades were so demanding and dangerous as whaling. The hunt for the whale and its precious oil, bone and ambergris took sailors to the frozen ends of the earth, on voyages that lasted years at a time. Harpoons were thrown by hand from an open boat, which at any moment the whale could reduce to matchwood with a single blow of its tail. This book is not a history of whaling, but the story of the whalehunters themselves. It tells of the experiences of men from little Scottish ports who risked everything for a tiny share in whatever their whaling ships managed to catch. Making a living in this way involved extraordinary adventures, harrowing ordeals and grinding labour: and a courage that was prepared to confront the mystery and terror of the sea.
Dundee in the nineteenth century was a very dangerous place. Ever since the Circuit judge Lord Cockburn branded the city 'A Sink of Atrocity' in his Memoirs, the image of old Dundee has been one of poverty and crime - but what was it really like to live in the streets and closes of Dundee at that time? In A Sink of Atrocity, Malcolm Archibald reveals the real nineteenth century Dundee and the ordinary and extraordinary crimes that took place. As well as the usual domestic violence, fighting and robberies, Dundee was also beset with a catalogue of different crimes during the century. There were the Bodysnatchers and Resurrection men who caused much panic in the 1820s and an epidemic of thieving in the 1860s. There were gang crimes, infamous murders and an astonishing outbreak of crimes committed by women, as well as the highly unusual theft of a whale at sea. Poverty and drink played their part and up against this tidal wave of crime stood men like Patrick Mackay, one of Dundee's Messengers-at-Arms, who was responsible for apprehending criminals before the advent of the police. It was not an easy job but those who were caught faced the full force of the law, from fines to jail and from transportation to hanging, as the authorities fought to bring law and order to Dundee.
A compelling introduction to the whaling and sealing industry in Northeast Scotland’s Moray Firth, Malcolm Archibald’s A Wild Rough Lot will guide you through the trade’s history, dangers and successes. Beginning with a brief look at the geography and maritime history of Northeast Scotland’s ports, the book introduces the Scottish whaling industry through contemporary journals and log books. Laden with illuminating examples, the book covers topics from the stages of a typical whaling voyage to the brutal, often bloody process of the sealing industry. In-depth details of the trade in Moray Firth concentrate on the successes of specific ports and ships in the area, including the short-lived whaling industry in Nairn, the prosperous trade and insurance case of Banff, the fortunes and dangers of the Arctic and prominent ship Felix, and a yearly account of the whaling and sealing trade in the most successful port, Fraserburgh. Beyond a glimpse into the industry, the book provides useful details of the vessels and an 1859 crew list useful for those seeking a chance to trace their family roots in the maritime industry.
There cannot be many cities where crime could mean anything from stealing a ship to singing a seditious song, but 19th-century Glasgow was a unique place with an amazing dynamism. Immigrants poured in from Ireland and the Highlands while the factories, shipyards, and mills buzzed with innovation. However, underneath the bustle was a different world as an incredibly diverse criminal class worked for their own profit with total disregard for the law. Robbers infested the highways and byways, a glut of garrotters gathered to jump on the unwary, drunken brawls disfigured the evening streets, prostitutes lured foolish men into dark corners, conmen connived clever schemes, and perfidious poisoners plotted. There were dark and dangerous places, such as the Tontine Close, and always the possibility of a major riot—with religion the excuse—as a volatile population became angry at unjust poverty and poor housing. It was perhaps not surprising that Glasgow formed Britain's first professional police force and men such as Superintendent James Smart fought to stem the crime that at times seemed to overwhelm the city. The forces of law had to be mobile, with the robbery of the Paisley Bank involving a coach chase as far as London, while the robbery of Walter Baird's shop in the Argyll Arcade took Acting Superintendent George McKay over the sea to Belfast. The police had an often thankless task, and The Real Mean City chronicles the century-long struggle of the forces of law and order to bring peace to a troubled city.
At the end of the 19th century, Dundee was Europe's premier Arctic whaling port. From humble beginnings in the 1750's this national industry had survived French and American wars, privateers, economic slumps, storms, heart-wrenching disasters and some amazing triumphs. From 1860 until the 1880's, Dundee built the most efficient Arctic vessels in the world. Despite being only a small city on the east coast of Scotland, as the 19th century closed, it was the most important Arctic whaling port in Europe. The Dundee Whaling Fleet gives an overview of Dundee's experience in Arctic whaling, including a valuable guide to every ship in the fleet with statistics, dates and a thumbnail history. It also gives sketches of the most prominent of the whaling masters, Dundee shipping companies and 350 of the tens of thousands of seamen who took the ships north.
Although the 19th-century elite looked on the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as a sporting paradise, for the indigenous population it was a turbulent place. Rather than a rural idyll, the glens and moors were home to poachers and whisky smugglers, while the towns were always ready to explode into riot and disorder. Even the Hebridean seas had their dangers while the islands seethed with discontent. This book reveals the reality behind the facade of romantic tartan and vast estates. Augmenting the usual quota of petty thefts and assaults, the Highlands had a coastal town where riots were endemic, an island rocked by a triple murder, a mob besieging the jail at Dornoch, and religious troubles in the Black Isle. Add the charming thief who targeted tourist hotels and an Exciseman who was hanged for forgery, and the hidden history of the Highlands is unearthed in all its unique detail.
For over 160 years, Dundee sent ships to the Arctic to hunt the whales. It was a brutal, dangerous business, but one which was vital to the economy of the city. As well as providing baleen or whalebone, the whaling ships brought home skins for the leather industry and oil that was essential for the scores of mills and factories. Ships built in Dundee became famous as possibly the best vessels for polar exploration of their time, and Dundee seamen were sought for their experience and skill. The McManus Museum in Dundee holds a whaling collection that is recognized as being of national importance. One of the most significant parts of the collection is the images of whaling ships, whaling men, and the Inuit of the Arctic. This book shows some of the most evocative images, together with explanatory text. There is also a brief introduction that explains the importance of the collection and the whaling industry to Dundee.
In the 19th century Scotland was depicted as a land of misty glens, engineering innovation, and inventive genius. But Scotland was also the home of brutal murder, terrifying riots, child cruelty, bank robbery, and acid attack. Women as well as men were capable of horrendous acts, and crime could strike anywhere: at home, on the road, and even at sea. From the Borders to the Northern Isles, crime was never far away. Edinburgh, with its reputation for polite decorum, was also the scene of poisoning and savagery; the dark streets of industrial Glasgow and Dundee harbored thieves and muggers, while the villages of coast and country hid wild men and vicious women. This book exposes some of the crimes, remembered and forgotten, that rocked the Scotland of our ancestors.
Hugging the coast and crammed between two rivers, Aberdeen grew up isolated from Scotland's other urban centers. Yet Aberdeen experienced its share of crime in the 19th century. The city was plagued by a plethora of prostitutes, ravaged by riots, and aggravated by assaults. There were streets such as Shuttle Lane which respectable people were well advised not to enter; a military garrison that could be more trouble than it was worth; and dead bodies buried behind a girl's school. Trying to keep the city under control were the Town Sergeants and an infant police force that, according to Superintendent George Cran, relied on the Spengie switch by day and the oaken staff by night. The surrounding countryside was every bit as rough. As if truculent fishermen and murderous railway navigators were not enough, there were also thimble riggers and the Cock o' the North to contend with, while both city and countryside were plagued by juvenile criminals. But overshadowing all, and bringing this part of Scotland on the map of international crime, were the fraudsters. The North East seemed to breed an extraordinary number of women who lived their lives by deceiving others. One such was Mrs Gordon Baillie from Peterhead, who fooled and beguiled people from Melbourne to New York, and her story is now revealed along with the other crimes of 19th century Aberdeen and the North East.
Now world famous for soccer and music, in the 19th century Liverpool had a very different reputation. One of the greatest ports in the world, and Europe's western gateway to the Atlantic, Liverpool's emerging wealth and prosperity brought with it a huge influx of crime to the streets, and a new breed of men whose job it was to try to enforce law and order on the increasingly unruly city streets. Much of Liverpool's crime was based around the docks and the sea. Crimps and runners waited to lure the homecoming seamen to dens of immorality where over 2,000 known prostitutes and rot-gut spirits would separate them from their money and their liberty. Tough, hardcore sailors—known as Packet Rats—caused mayhem at sea while in the stinking alleys around Scotland Road the High Rip gang wielded vicious power. Liverpool in the 19th century was a place full of stories of assault, robbery, and murder as well as poachers, footpads, and highwaymen who preyed on the unwary. Against this tide of lawlessness stood men like Constable Casey of the Liverpool police, who disarmed two pistol wielding terrorists, and his police colleagues who not only dealt with the day to day crimes but more unusual crimes such as bombs in the town hall and redcoats rioting in the streets. Liverpool was, without doubt, a challenging and exciting place to live and work in the 19th century as the battle for the streets between the criminals and the lawmen raged on.
Dance If Ye Can is an introduction to the huge variety of battles fought in Scotland, or fought by the Scots in the nearly nine hundred years when they were an independent nation. The first part of the book serves as an introduction to Scottish history, while the second section portrays the Scottish soldier throughout history. Part three gives an alphabetical guide and brief notes of the many hundred battles, skirmishes and sieges that pepper the history of Scotland. Unlike most battle books, Dance If Ye Can does not concentrate solely on the well-known battles. Rather, it gives space to many of the near-forgotten skirmishes and clan battles, as well as the more famous encounters such as Bannockburn and Culloden. The earliest battles concern the Roman invasion of 83 AD, while the last was the German attack on the Royal Navy in the Firth of Forth in 1939. In between are mentions of the wars against the Norse and the English, with various civil wars and disturbances, the Jacobite Risings and the clan wars of the Borders and Highlands. The final section is a timeline of Scottish history that brings the book to the post-devolution period in the twenty-first century.
The fascinating new book from the winner of the Dundee International book prize.
This thematic book introduces the history of the Firth of Forth, the gateway to the east of Scotland and Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. Chapters cover the glory days of Sir Andrew Wood and Great Michael, the ‘greatest ship afloat’ as well as the day that shipwrecked Spaniards from the Armada called at Anstruther. There is a chapter on the doomed emigrant ships that carried optimistic Scots to tragedy in the New World and on invasion fleets that hovered off the coast. The fighting Leith smacks are mentioned, together with the German air force’s first attack on Great Britain – and their first losses as the Spitfires of 602, City of Glasgow and 603, City of Edinburgh squadron met them head on. There are whaling ships and fishing boats, great tea clippers with a Forth connection and the Leith built Sirius that was the first ship to cross the Atlantic under steam power alone. The historical background to each of the Forth islands is covered, with tales of shipwreck and holy men, pirates and lighthouses, plague victims, grim prisons and a Jacobite fortress that held out against the Scottish Navy. The part played by Inchkeith in the Normandy landings, and the batteries that defended the Forth are mentioned, as well as the Battle of May Island and the German U-boats that infested the rugged seas. The Forth skies saw early hot air balloons and the airship that was first to cross the Atlantic, flying from Drem in Midlothian. The characters are not neglected, with Alexander Selkirk, the original Robinson Crusoe and Samuel Greig, ‘father of the Russian Navy’ featured; neither is John Paul Jones the Scottish born American seaman, and Reverend Shirra, his Kirkcaldy nemesis. The legendary ferry William Muir is also given her well-deserved slot in history. Finally, there are the bridges - three of them now - each one a work of art and testimony to the skill of a different generation of engineers. The Forth Bridge, built by the Briggers, many of whom lost their lives; the Forth Road Bridge with its elegant span, and the new Queensferry bridge, due to open in 2017; a triple thrust across the Forth that was once known as the Scottish Sea.
Murders, riots, strikes and runaway horses. Midlothian in the 18th and 19th centuries was an interesting place to live. This book introduces the reader to the hard lives of the colliers, the birth of the rural police force and the impact the army had on life in the county south of Scotland's capital city. Highwaymen and grave robbers, footpads and murderers, illicit distillers and murderous poachers; all lived or worked in Midlothian at a time when Scotland was changing from a rural to an industrial nation. Midlothian Mayhem opens the door to this time and place, giving you a view of this fascinating area through different eyes.