Scotland Books

Scotland has a small but important legal system, for Scotland is what is called a "mixed legal system". Like South AFrica, Quebec and Louisiana Scotland has been influenced by the civilian (Roman law) tradition from continental Europe; and (due to its proximity to England) by the common law, anglo-american tradition. While unusual, as the European Union works towards harmonisation of its private law, Scotland is taking on a pivotal role. The Scottish legal system is a working example of how common law and civil law can work together in one system. Scotland therefore finds itself at the centre of European harmonisation projects.

This background perhaps explains the involvement of one of the editors of the volume, Professor Reinhard Zimmermann. He, one of the foremost legal academics in Germany, is a proponent of the new jus commune (common European private law). The other editor, Kenneth Reid is a Law Commissioner (a law reformer), and Professor of Property law at Edinburgh University.

Together the editors have collected the cream of Scottish academia to produce a definitive history of private law in Scotland (Specifically the law of property, and the law of obligations (comprising the law of unjustified enrichment, contract, and delict (or tort)). The articles focus on discrete subjects in private law, and allow authors in tracing the historical development to assess the extent to which the law stems from old Scottish common law, English influence, or influence from the civilina tradition (particularly through Dutch writings).

This is a majestic publication, virtually every article being of the highest quality. It is unfair to select particular contributions, but the following stand out for this reviewer. Firstly Professor John Cairns has produced a concise history of Scots law. This is masterful, and acts as a wonderful introduction to historians and lawyers to Scottish legal history.

Singling out contributions is unwise but a special mention should be made of Prof John Blackie's chapter on the law of defamation and verbal injury. It is a majstic work, clearly demonstrating the influence of Voet, a Dutch jurist, on the writing of Bankton, a Scottish writer; and thus demonstrating the influence of the Dutch work on the future development of Scots law.

To know a country's law and to determine how a country's laws should be chnaged one needs to know about the country's history. this book ably satisfies this requirement. It is one of the most important Scottish legal textbooks of the twentieth century. Its influence will live long.

Anyone interested in legal history should acquire this book.

Although Watson's work is now over half-a-century old, it is still irreplacable as a starting point for the study of Scottish place-names. Scholars disagreeing with Watson still have to give very cogent reasons for doing so. Despite the regrettable exclusion of Scottish place-names of "teutonic" origin (Scandinavian, English, Anglo-Norman), this is an essential item for any etymologist with an interest in British place-name studies. In a word, a classic!

Compiled and edited by R. Andrew McDonald (Assistant Professor, Department of History and Fine Arts, University College of Cape Breton) History, Literature, And Music In Scotland 700-1560 is an impressive collection of informative, scholarly essays by a variety of educated authors delving into the nuances of Scottish history and culture ranging from Tudor family politics, to connections in the medieval music of Scotland and Ireland. Exhaustively researched and highly recommended for academic reference collections and supplemental reading lists, History, Literature, And Music In Scotland 700-1560 is a college-level presentation of ideas, art, political machinations and offers a representative cross-section of medieval Scottish history.

Home Again casts forth a dark shadow that far too many who profess a faith in Christ and an abiding love of God share-a tree, with branches outstretched and raised toward the heavens, proclaiming a love of the Sun, the rain, the rich earth-all gracious gifts of life, abundantly bestowed by a loving Father-, yet bringing forth fruit that is rotten with worldly ambition, and crawling with the worms of passion, lust, greed, and, rising above all others, the idol-self.

Richard Coleman is, in the eyes of his narrow world, and, more specifically his own mind, a good man; a young man who, having been well-educated at his simple father's expense, is anxious to make a name for himself. The son of a hardworking, God-loving, kindhearted farmer who has willingly and lovingly given all that he has-spiritual as well as material-to his only son with the single hope that he will follow as God may direct.

Richard feels the farm and manual labor beneath him, while his father has increasingly become an embarrassment to one of his elevated expectations. Unfortunately, Richard, not unlike the majority of us, has gazed into the mirror of the Universe and has seen reflected, as the Sun, an image in his own likeness. He eagerly departs the farm with his father's blessings, prayers, and lifesavings in order to radiate forth his manifold talent's to a world that is, in his opinion, anxiously awaiting his arrival that it may, with due awe and reverence, worship and praise this newly-formed star.

Richard soon discovers that the world for which he holds such esteem is not quite so free to bow and offer up its praise. He finds himself surrounded by a constellation of would-be luminaries with little to differentiate the brilliance of the true suns from the reflected light of the lesser moons. Left alone to his own devices, Richard soon, to his chagrin, learns the bitter lesson that true life is far, far above the base goals that he so vigorously chosen to pursue. He is forced to view his reflection through the eyes of truth, and is forever changed by that which he sees.

The process of rebirth, of life from death, is, while never easy, oft times extremely painful and exceedingly unpleasant. The realization that a life has been falsely lived, that independence is a fallacy, that the god of self (self-reliance, self-gratification, self-worth, self-indulgence, self-pride) is the greatest lie of all, serve to insure that true conviction and repentance are processes bathed in both the tears of shame and remorse as well as those of joy-born of the realization that a loving Father did not, would not, abandon His child.

MacDonald, with the skill of a master theologian and storyteller, traces such a rebirth through the life of Richard Coleman as the man of the world grows, suffers, and matures into a child of God.

Come visit the Coleman family, for by so doing, you will discover a true taste for Heaven and an abiding dislike of hell.

i personally dont own this book my friend does. ive read his 5 times and it never gets old. buy it. treasure it. read it. its worth it.

If the Clydesdale horse is at the center of this unusual book, it is a meadering horse who visits many aspects of the remnants of traditional horse culture in Scotland. For me, the strong pull of chapters on farriers and blacksmiths--especially icons like David WIlson and Jock MacKenzie--made this book a must-have, and then a must-read. But I didn't think I would see David flirting with his wife Mary in his youth, or see him in his first car. The details of the book are unpredictable and make this a one of a kind book. I particularly enjoyed the photos of the horsemen and want to read the author's other books. If Clydesdales could speak, would they tell these personal stories of their farriers and teamsters...or would they keep the ancient secrets that are so openly shared in the pages of this book? You can decide when you read it.
--Fran Jurga, Editor/Publisher, Hoofcare & Lameness Journal and www.hoofcare.com

i am totally enjoying this story. and since we just got back from the uk and couldn't see everything, i am getting to 'visit' the hebrides through this author's experiences. she is a good writer and her story is interesting and funny and gives lots of insight into island life so different from our suburban lives. i've read lillian beckwith's books and this story is similar, but without the very broad humor of beckwith - more realistic. which is great. and this bed and breakfast that they established is still operating; so you could read the book and make reservations and visit the very place you are reading about.

This book features the main character in Gerald and Elizabeth. Now that his sister is happily married, Gerald has a little more leisure time. But his new job working for his brother-in-law is anything but soft, and he must confront industrial espionage. Between fighting off villains and falling in love, he does a little deer hunting too. Sometimes her endings are a little abrupt, and I felt this was one of those times, but still very enjoyable.

CMB

Well written, well illustrated and well worth the price. Hugh Miller is a major figure in paleontology and this book is a fitting tribute to him.
This man proved that anyone can make great observations in science if they put their mind to it!

The book is based on a clear understanding of the last 1500 years of Scottish history and myth creation. Ferguson has produced an even-handed and accurate book about the development of Scottish nationalism.

The languages spoken in Scotland in the Middle Ages including Pictish, Norse, English, Welsh and Gaelic. Pictish dominated the north and Welsh in the south with large numbers of Gaels in Galloway and Argyll.

In the tenth-eleventh centuries Gaelic was the dominant language of Scotland. During this time the Kingdom of Scots acquired Lothian, which had been part of the Kingdom of Northumbria established by the Angles. The Angles introduced Scots English to Scotland. Edinburgh, in Lothian, did not become the Scottish capital until the fifteenth century.

The Scots (Gaelic speaking) in the north and the Angles in the south of Scotland presented a united front to Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The Gaelic myth of creation was used many times as a unifying element to oppose union with England, proposed by many Scots such as John Major (1470 - 1550)

This book explains the loss of power and prestige of the Gaels and the growth of Scots English, the language brought to Scotland by the Angles.The contributions of Hector Boece, George Buchanan, Robert Burns and many others are considered. The stereotypes of Goth (English speaker) versus Gael are explored as well as the influence of the Ossianic Controversy on nationalism.