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In James Robertson, Scotland has a writer of the highest literary quality and cultural acuity. He recently served as the Scottish Parliament’s first Writer in Residence and his second novel, Joseph Knight, won the two major Scottish literary prizes in 2003/4 – the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year. He has published two novels, stories, poetry, anthologies, compiled a Scottish Dictionary of Quotations and is also editor of an educational Scots imprint. James lives in Angus.
Leading Scottish novelist, James Robertson has teamed up with illustrator, Jill Calder to retell the story of Robert the Bruce. It’s bold and colourful, a record of one of the great heroes of Scottish history. Like for Like Reading Robert the Bruce: King of the Scots, Ronald McNair Scott A History of Scotland, Neil Oliver
Reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 28 March 2007.Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2006. Lyrical writing with a great storyline that takes its starting point from the discovery of an ancient manuscript. It’s a novel that can be read on two levels – firstly, as a compelling, incredibly imaginative and entertaining thriller and secondly, on a deeper level, it’s immensely thought-provoking given the religious implications for the characters. Longlisted for the Booker and deservedly so, this is a novel you’ll dwell on long after you’ve finished it, which for me is the sign of a good book. A real star is born.
Future Money explains in plain language and convincing detail how our money system is propelling us toward the self-destruction of our species - and what we should do about it. Our present money system frustrates the well-meaning efforts of active citizens, NGOs and governments to deal with our present ills and problems - including worldwide poverty, environmental destruction, social injustice, economic inefficiency and political unrest and violence within and between nations. Failure to reform the world's money system urgently and radically - that is, from its roots up - could bring disaster for human civilisation before the end of this century. Future Money shows clearly how our money system operates and how it could be reformed so that it acts for the benefit of people and society rather than the opposite, and describes the obstacles that currently prevent that reform. The world's financial experts and leaders in politics, government and business, and most mainstream academic and media commentators, have demonstrated that they are not yet able or willing to diagnose and treat the profound and pervasive problems that are directly caused by the money system. Future Money speaks explicitly to active, independent-minded citizens, including young people, with the hope that it will help them to understand why people committed to careers in almost every important walk of life today find it difficult to recognise the problem and grasp the nettle. It shows why we have to take the initiative now, and urgently, to get the issue on to mainstream agendas worldwide.
Dramatically illustrated with archival images and objects and compelling contemporary photography, this book delivers a surprise on every page: from precious personal mementos to forgotten battle sites; from newly recovered glass-plate negatives that reveal long-obscured photographic details to long-lost documents
Due to massive demand Itchy Coo is proud to publish this miniature edition collecting the work of Scotland's National Bard. This board book is in the format of the hugely successful Katie series. Wee Rabbie's Rhymes is unique in bringing the best-loved lines of the poet to the very youngest readers. A simple, funny, colourful introduction to Burns, Wee Rabbie's Rhymes will entertain the bairns and encourage parents and teachers not only to recite the lines from the poems but perhaps also to sing the tunes to songs like Ca the Yowes and Ye Banks and Braes , A Red, Red Rose and, as a grand finale, Auld Lang Syne .
And the Land Lay Still is the sweeping Scottish epic by James Robertson And the Land Lay Still is nothing less than the story of a nation. James Robertson's breathtaking novel is a portrait of modern Scotland as seen through the eyes of natives and immigrants, journalists and politicians, drop-outs and spooks, all trying to make their way through a country in the throes of great and rapid change. It is a moving, sweeping story of family, friendship, struggle and hope - epic in every sense. The winner of the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award 2010, And the Land Lay Still is a masterful insight into Scotland's history in the twentieth century and a moving, beautifully written novel of intertwined stories. 'Toweringly ambitious, virtually flawlessly realized, a masterpiece and, without a doubt, my book of the year' Daily Mail 'A jam-packed, dizzying piece of fiction' Scotland on Sunday 'Gripping, vivid, beautifully realized' The Times 'Engrossing' Daily Telegraph 'Powerful and moving. A brilliant and multifaceted saga of Scottish life in the second half of the twentieth century' Sunday Times 'Brilliant and thoughtful. Eminently readable, subtle and profound' Independent on Sunday 'Bold, discursive and deep, Robertson's sweeping history of life and politics in 20th-century Scotland should not be ignored' Ian Rankin, Observer Books of the Year James Robertson is the author of three previous novels: The Fanatic, Joseph Knight and The Testament of Gideon Mack, which is available in Penguin. Joseph Knight was awarded the two major Scottish literary awards in 2003/4 - the Saltire Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year - and The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, picked by Richard and Judy's Book Club, and shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year award.
Katie's Zoo is the sixth in the Katie -series, following the bestselling success of Katie's Coo , Katie's Moose , Katie's Ferm , Katie's Beasties and Katie's Year . In this new book, Katie spends a day at the zoo, meeting some of the bonnie, braw animals and birds that stay there, among them the tiger 'in his strippit coat', the koalas with 'hairy lugs', and an array of bright and beautiful birds and reptiles. But Katie's favourite animals are kept till last...Who could that be bringing up the rear of the penguin parade? Each Katie book is slightly different, and in this one the story is told in short, easy sentences containing simple Scots words. Katie is as cheery and inquisitive as ever, and there are lots of things to look at and point to in Karen Sutherland's wonderful illustrations. Katie's Zoo should prove just as popular as its predecessors.
Katie's Year is the fifth in the best-selling Katie series of board books. In this new book, Katie makes her way through the months of the year, experiencing the changing seasons and some of the key events of the calendar - from wind and snow to rain and sunshine, from spring days with new lambs and bright flowers to summer days on the beach and in the garden. Winter celebrations include Halloween, Bonfire Night and of course Christmas. Simple Scots words in rhyming couplets guide the reader through the months of the year, and Katie is as cheery and inquisitive as ever. Her Granda and some of her animal pals from previous books also make an appearance, and there are some new friends too. With lots of things to look at and point to in Karen Sutherland's bright and cheery illustrations, Katie's Year should prove just as popular as its predecessors.
Katie Bairdie had a coo, Black and white aboot the mou. Wasna that a dainty coo? Dance, Katie Bairdie. Mini Katie's Coo is the compact format of Itchy Coo's popular first publication specially for babies and very young children, Katie's Coo, a delightful board book illustrated in full colour throughout and containing some much-loved traditional Scots rhymes along with a few that are less well known.Parents and grandparents will enjoy singing or chanting the words to babies and toddlers while the bairns will love the combination of Scots words and sounds with the bright and simple illustrations by award-winning artist Karen Sutherland ( Animal ABC , A Moose in the Hoose , Eck the Bee ). Rhymes featured include favourites like The Three Craws , Katie Bairdie , Wee Willie Winkie and Ally Bally Bee .Developed in consultation with Craigmillar Books for Babies and the Scottish Book Trust, Mini Katie's Coo is a safe, fun introduction for young children to easy Scots rhymes.
Spanish Town is an old town. As Jamaica's capital for nearly 350 years and subsequently as a major urban centre, its streets and squares witnessed key political and social transitions. But although the once proud city has lost all its ancient glory, Spanish Town has a rich and textured legacy. James Robertson guides the reader through the landmarks, identifying sites and scenes long lost and showing what is still there to be appreciated. His account of Spanish Town's long history is firmly rooted in the streets and lances of the town, its nooks and niches, sounds and smells. The urban landscape he presents is a peopled landscape, inhabited by rich and poor, enslaved and free, notables and eccentrics, Africans and Europeans. He shows convincingly that the colonial capital provided both a cultural and political counterpoise to the colony's merchants and plantations and that its diverse in habitants had created a `creole town' as early as 1750 when they were still preparing to build Spanish Town's splendid Georgian square in the midst of its multiplying yards. The work is based on extensive research in scattered archives and is illustrated by a variety of rare and wonderful images.
Katie visits her grandparents' farm and goes in search of the mischievous cat Tam, who keeps one step ahead of her all the way. Katie asks all the animals if they have seen Tam.
Originally published in 2000 by Polygon to mark the 250th anniversary of Fergusson's birth, this new edition contains all Fergusson's finest poems in both Scots and English, and features a new introductory essay, revised orthography, a substantial section of notes and a glossary. Acknowledged as a crucial influence on Burns, Robert Fergusson was a remarkable poet in his own right. All his work was produced during a few brief years, delighting readers with its vigour and power. Although he wrote much verse in the then fashionable style of Augustan English, it is his Scots verse which, in its great warmth, humanity, satire, and hilarious comedy, is his enduring legacy. His work covers the whole gamut of human emotions and experience and his subject matter ranges from drunken encounters with the notorious City Guard to quieter reflections on pastoral themes. Fergusson died in 1774 at the age of only 24.
Reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 28 March 2007.Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2006. Lyrical writing with a great storyline that takes its starting point from the discovery of an ancient manuscript. It’s a novel that can be read on two levels – firstly, as a compelling, incredibly imaginative and entertaining thriller and secondly, on a deeper level, it’s immensely thought-provoking given the religious implications for the characters. Longlisted for the Booker and deservedly so, this is a novel you’ll dwell on long after you’ve finished it, which for me is the sign of a good book. A real star is born.
Katie Bairdie had a coo, Black and white aboot the mou. Wasna that a dainty coo? Dance, Katie Bairdie. Itchy Coo's first publication specifically for babies and very young children, Katie's Coo is a delightful board book. Illustrated in full colour throughout, the book contains some much-loved traditional Scots rhymes, along with a few that are less well known. Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, big brothers and sisters, they'll all enjoy singing or chanting the words in Katie's Coo to babies and toddlers. And the bairns will love the combination of Scots words and sounds with the bright and simple illustrations by award-winning artist Karen Sutherland (Animal ABC, A Moose in the Hoose, Eck the Bee). Rhymes featured include favourites like 'The Three Craws', 'Katie Bairdie', 'Wee Willie Winkie' and 'Ally Bally Bee'. Developed in consultation with Craigmillar Books for Babies and the Scottish Book Trust, Katie's Coo is a fun introduction for young children to easy Scots rhymes.
`A book of such quality as to persuade you that historical novels are the true business of the writer.' Daily Telegraph A gripping, shocking story of history, enlightement and slavery from the bestselling author of THE FANATIC. JOSPEH KNIGHT confirms James Robertson as one of our foremost novelists. Exiled to Jamaica after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Sir John Wedderburn made a fortune, alongside his three brothers, as a faux surgeon and sugar planter. In the 1770s, he returned to Scotland to marry and re-establish the family name. He brought with him Joseph Knight, a black slave and a token of his years in the Caribbean. Now, in 1802, Sir John Wedderburn is settling his estate, and has hired a solicitor's agent, Archibald Jamieson, to search for his former slave. The past has haunted Wedderburn ever since Culloden, and ever since he last saw Knight, in court twenty-four years ago, in a case that went to the heart of Scottish society, pitting master against slave, white against black, and rich against poor. As long as Knight is missing, Wedderburn will never be able to escape the past. Yet what will he do if Jamieson's search is successful? And what effect will this re-opening of old wounds have on those around him? Meanwhile, as Jamieson tries to unravel the true story of Joseph Knight he begins to question his own motivation. How can he possibly find a man who does not want to be found? James Robertson's second novel is a tour de force, the gripping story of a search for a life that stretches over sixty years and moves from battlefields to the plantations of Jamaica, from Enlightenment Edinburgh to the back streets of Dundee. It is a moving narrative of history, identity and ideas, that dramatically retells a fascinating but forgotten episode of Scottish history.
This book is a comprehensive introduction to the Scottish Parliament, both past and present, written in accessible, straightforward modern Scots. Part One describes the modern institution, re-established in 1999 after nearly a 300-year absence: its functions, powers, activities, buildings and personnel, and its relevance to the everyday lives of Scots. A brief history of the politics of post-Union Scotland, the establishment of the Scottish Office and the growing demand for devolved government in the 20th century, is also given. Part Two describes the historical Parliament, from its medieval origins to its fully-fledged development as an arm of government under the Stewarts, through to the Act of Union in 1707. The main events of this period, together with descriptions of incidents and individuals associated with the Parliament, and extracts from some of the many interesting pieces of legislation it passed, are given.
An impressive debut from an exciting new Scottish voice - a stunning novel about history, identity and redemption. A no. 2 best-seller in Scotland. It is Spring 1997 and Hugh Hardie needs a ghost for his Tours of Old Edinburgh. Andrew Carlin is the perfect candidate. So, with cape, stick and a plastic rat, Carlin is paid to pretend to be the spirit of Colonel Weir and to scare the tourists. But who is Colonel Weir, executed for witchcraft in 1670. In his research, Carlin is drawn into the past, in particular to James Mitchel, the fanatic and co-congregationist of Weir's, who was tried in 1676 for the attempted assassination of the Archbishop of St Andrews, James Sharp. Through the story of two moments in history, `The Fanatic' is an extraordinary history of Scotland. It is also the story of betrayals, witch hunts, Puritan exiles, stolen meetings, lost memories, smuggled journeys and talking mirrors which will confirm James Robertson as a distinctive and original Scottish writer.
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