Scotland Books

I bought this book at my husband's request. He is of Scottish descent, and we have visited his cousins in Caithness, Scotland, so this book was of great interest to him. He has enjoyed the book immensely, learning lots of interesting and unusual facts about the country and it's people, and has even started contacting various Scotsmen he knows to check out and verify some of those facts. Most interesting to him was the information about John Ross, and he is now trying to find relatives or descendants of John Ross.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of Scotland...it has been a great read for my husband, quite enjoyable and at times very humorous.
Written in the voice of a Scotsman, the book is eloquent yet succint.

A great look at King David I of Scotland. Very informative and well written. With several older brothers David never expected to be King he spent most of his time before then in the background or riding the coat tails of his sister Edith/Matilda Queen of England before becoming King of Scotland. Even after becoming King he still had to worry about other relatives trying to take the throne with him while trying to establish a archbishop in Scotland instead having to rely on the English on among other things. Its a great book

This is not nearly as nice as another David Robert's book, Egypt: Yesterday and Today, but the images are just as beautiful, even in their reduced size. His work is truly amazing and after traveling in Egypt you really appreciate his vision of the past.

Whether she's the reigning "Queen of Crime" or not (and she probably doesn't care!),
P.D. James is unbeatable with the police procedural. And her latest, "Death in Holy
Orders" is, once again, James par excellence. What scope, what depth, what sheer writing
talent when it comes to a gripping, mesmerizing, no-holds-barred whodunit! James
brushes aside her critics and continues writing in the way she knows best, unassuming and
literate, psychological and breath-taking!

And her main man, Adam Dalgleish is back, along with his trusted assistants, Kate Miskin
and Piers Tarrant, as the superintendent enters ecclesiastical waters in this episode. A
theological student has been found dead on the East Anglian shore, a tragedy ruled
"accidental." However, pressed by the student's father, Dalgleish re-examines the ruling
and James is off to the races in typical (read that "exciting") style. Known as the "dark
poet of Scotland Yard," Dalgleish finds himself, once again, in familiar territory, as he
recalls having visited the College of St. Anselm in his youth; however, momentary nostalgia
aside, he finds more than he could possibly have anticipated. Of course, there is soon
another death and Dalgleish's own "little gray cells" begin working overtime! Indeed, this
may be the more horrifying case he's encountered, as James explores evil as she's never
done before.

Once again, James takes some time to present Dalgleish, the man, as well. Each of the

books in his series provides more and more insight into this incredibly complex policeman.
Dalgleish fans will welcome this, of course. "Death in Holy Orders" is yet another of those
books that find themselves almost impossible to put down. James and Dalgleish--what a
combination, what a read!

Though billed as a Bob Skinner book he is not prominently a part of the story until the last 4th of the book. Again, a well crafted story that keeps your attention. Jardine's prose and style are hard to put down. I recommend this book.

Of the three Eilean Dubh novels, I enjoyed this one the most. I was thrilled to catch up with the characters I had already met and was delighted to meet new ones. Seeing Jean and Darroch settle down to a contented family life was miorbhuileach -- and watching the island reach out to the world (not much, but just enough) by having a folk festival was a nice touch. I hope that there will be a fourth Eilean Dubh novel -- I want to see Rosie grow up and get into trouble -- and I know she will! Thanks, Audrey, for a nice read!!

Lynn
Augusta, GA

Sir Edward Elgar is, arguably, England's greatest composer (remembering that Handel was actually a German living in England)but is scarcely given his place among the greats. This well-written, quite readable biography is recommended to spark interest in this great figure and inspire those unfamiliar with his music to explore its richness.

Aloys Senefelder discovered the lithographic process in 1798. It was subsequently introduced to the publishing community of Scotland in 1815. The earliest lithographic printer traced in the directors of Scotland was John Robertson of Edinburgh in 1820. This new art form spread rapidly through Scotland's printing establishment and great to more than 180 lithographic printers by 1870. David Schenck's Directory Of The Lithographic Printers Of Scotland 1820-1870 is the first detailed investigation of the development of lithographic printing in Scotland. This impressive work of exhaustive research and painstaking scholarship lists over 700 practitioners within the 50 year span of 1820 to 1870. Included are all of the printer's dates, addresses, and works. This seminal reference work will be of inestimable value to students of early Scottish lithographic, artistic printmaking, and the history of printing.

The latest in the outstanding "Stories of Canada" series from Napoleon Publishing, Discovering The Arctic: The Story Of John Rae by John Wilson is an enthralling black-and-white history for young readers detailing the efforts of 19th century explorer John Rae. Black-and-white photographs nicely illustrate this amazing tale of one of the first Europeans to respect Inuit customs and who learned from their survival skills when he found himself dealing with harsh Arctic terrain. Rae's dramatic exploits, terrible findings, and vehement enemies are spoken of in clear terms that bring this remarkable and recommended biography to vivid life.

I fell in love with Distance & Proximity the moment I opened the book. Thomas A. Clark's prose poems left me with a sense of awe and wonder. I didn't want to put it down! Now, as I slip into a good pair of walking shoes and venture outdoors, I'll remember to to stay focused and enjoy nature at its fullest. Thank you, Thomas A. Clark!