In celebration of St. Andrew’s Day (30 November), here are ten Scottish books to enjoy. The list is by no means an exhaustive “best of”, just a personal, eclectic and perhaps slightly random collection of recommendations. Hopefully you’ll find something to enjoy, perhaps accompanied by a dram or glass of Irn Bru. So here they are, in no particular order…
Sunset Song – Lewis Grassic Gibbon
The first in the Scots Quair trilogy, this was once voted the greatest Scottish novel of all time so it comes with a lot of hype, but it’s worth it. An exploration of rural community life, as well as a coming-of-age story with political and social themes. The language is very interesting; the narrative is designed to evoke the colloquial Scots of the region without being inaccessible to English speakers, and protagonist Chris grows up bilingual, speaking Scots in her village but shamed and forced into exclusively using English at school in a nearby town, evidencing a systematic elitism based on class, language and, also, nationality.
Knots and Crosses – Ian Rankin
I don’t read a lot of crime/detective fiction, but every now and again I do enjoy returning to the streets of Edinburgh in the company of John Rebus. Rankin, who expertly depicts the capital, makes him seem like an old, if rather troubled, friend and the beauty of the series is that you can jump in at any point. Knots and Crosses is the first Rebus novel and so, if you started with some of the later books (as I did), this is like going back to his origins and gaining a better understanding of the character, seeing the slightly raw material that would become an international sensation. Also, it’s an excellent story and still one of the best.
Trackman – Catriona Child
Few novels will have a better soundtrack than this one. Davie is the Trackman, equipped with a magic MP3 player that knows just what song to play at the right moment, but for a book with such a fantastical premise, this is one that is deeply, painfully real. Child’s evocations of Edinburgh are as relatable as Rankin’s and beyond a touching and funny story, this is an examination of modern Scottish life as well.
Glasgow Coma Scale – Neil D.A. Stewart
If you saw a former teacher and mentor living on the streets, would you invite them into your home? That’s what Lynne did when she bumped into her former art teacher, Angus, whose approval she once craved so desperately. As their fractious relationship evolves, Stewart grittily explores his city and probes at social themes, not least of all homelessness.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Muriel Spark
A short and witty read, this classic is a fascinating character study, telling the story of egocentric schoolteacher Miss Brodie, who is very much in her prime, thank you very much, and possibly has a penchant for fascism as well, and her band of young protégés. This is a tale of loyalty and betrayal, of instruction and discovery, of influence and manipulation.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane by J.K. Rowling (translatit intae Scots by Matthew Fitt)
Come on, I had to, right? A worldwide phenomenon, not much needs to be said about this series, and we all know the first one was written in an Edinburgh café, just over the road from where I stayed in my final year of undergraduate study, in fact. Harry Potter must have been translated into just about every language you can think of, and one of them is Scots, in this edition published by Itchy Coo.
Hings – Chris McQueer
Bursting onto the Scottish literary scene in the last few years after sharing his mental short stories on social media, I’m proud to say I’ve been there since the beginning, following McQueer on Twitter before I even knew he dabbled in writing. After reading the first story he shared, I knew I’d be buying his book when it was announced 404 Ink would publish it. His stories are witty surrealist twists on everyday life, always bizarre but with the best ones having, beneath their absurdity, social commentary, taking on themes such as class and toxic masculinity.
The Valley at the Centre of the World – Malachy Tallack
One of my favourite reads from this year (although it was published in 2018). A wonderful debut novel set in Shetland. See my full thoughts on it
The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle
Rebus may be the Edinburgh detective, but Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective created by an Edinburgh writer. It is always a pleasure to be in the company of Holmes and Watson, whether in short story or novel form. I can’t possibly pick a favourite book or story, but if you’ve only read the short stories, give the novels a go.
And the Land Lay Still – James Robertson
Probably my pick for the most important Scottish novel, certainly of this century. It is nothing less than the political history of modern Scotland and Robertson carries off his ambitious premise with aplomb, weaving together the lives of various characters to tell the story of a nation.
What are your favourite Scottish books? Share your recommendations in the comments and on social media.