A powerful new history of the Great Strike in the miners’ own voices, based on more than 140 interviews with former miners and their families. Forty years ago, Arthur Scargill led the National Union of Mineworkers on one of the largest strikes in British history. A deep sense of pride existed within Britain’s mining communities who thought of themselves as the backbone of the nation’s economy. But they were vilified by Margaret Thatcher’s government and eventually broken: deprived of their jobs, their livelihoods, and in some cases, their lives. In this groundbreaking new history, Robert Gildea interviews those miners and their families who fought to defend themselves. Exploring mining communities from South Wales to the Midlands, Yorkshire, County Durham, and Fife, Gildea shows how the miners and their families organized to protect themselves, and how a network of activists mobilized to support them. Amid the recent wave of industrial action in the United Kingdom, Backbone of the Nation highlights anew the importance of labor organization―and intimately records the triumphs, losses, and resilience of these mining communities. Read more

The Great Tapestry of Scotland is an outstanding celebration of thousands of years of Scottish history and achievement, from the end of the last Ice Age to Dolly the Sheep and Andy Murry’s Wimbledon victory of 2013. More than 1000 stitchers spent a total of 55,000 sewing hours on the 160 panels that make up this extraordinary work of art.This book shows in full colour all the finished panels of the tapestry – one of the biggest community arts projects ever to take place in Scotland – together with descriptive and explanatory material on each panel and lists of all the stitchers involved. Read more

Explore new places with this up-to-date map of Scotland.Bestselling map of Scotland. More than 1,000 places of tourist interest plotted and named on the map. The features have been plotted onto an up-to-date and attractive Collins map of Scotland.A clear, easy to follow road map with colour classified roads. Ideal for tourists with hundreds of distinctive tourist symbols and tourist information centres all shown.This map includes:• The whole of Scotland on a double sided sheet at 5 miles to 1 inch• Over 25 categories of tourist information shown on the map including youth hostels, picnic sites and ferries as well as the more obvious tourist sites such as castles, wildlife parks and museums• Detailed town centre maps of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Perth• New places of interest including Japanese Garden (near Dollar), Macallan Distillery centre, Moat Brae (Dumfries) and Scottish submarine centre (Helensburgh)• Road updates include the new Dalry bypass, Maybole bypass under construction, A9 dualling sections• New stations of Robroyston and KintoreScale: 1:316,800 (5 miles to 1 inch).There is a comprehensive index to both place names and places of tourist interest. Read more

Exam Board: SQALevel: National 5Subject: History Two books in one! Combining a revision guide and a full set of practice test papers, this fantastic resource is all you need to revise for the exam.The revision guide• Covers all of the topics in the CfE National 5 History curriculum, broken down into manageable chunks for easy revision• Clearly explains key concepts, research evidence and real-life applications• Contains Quick Tests to let students check their knowledge and understanding as they go alongThe practice test papers• Are in the format and the style of the SQA exam, giving students an opportunity to practice taking the National 5 History exam• Marking instructions and sample answers are provided online, so students can check their progress Read more

A highly popular and informative guide to the Scots language in an attractive format. Contains words and phrases from both literary and everyday language, this is the perfect wee dictionary of Scots for native and non-native speakers alike.This is by far the most popular guide to the language of today’s Scotland, with nearly 1800 everyday words and phrases from all over Scotland clearly explained and with lots of helpful examples of usage. Colour text makes this best-selling dictionary even more user-friendly. With its durable and eye-catching cover, this is a must for every bookshelf. Read more

Handy little full colour map and guide of Snowdonia National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:119 000 (1.2cm to 1km, 1.9 miles to 1 inch).This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the Snowdonia National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of North Wales.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your tripInformation on historic railways, stargazing, mountain biking and places of interestDiscover more about the walking routes at this National Park with the Snowdonia Park Rangers Favourite Walks (ISBN: 9780008439132). Read more

'If a house could gossip, this is the book that Hampton Court would whisper. An enjoyable and readable stroll through 500 years of Hampton Court history: royal residents, common visitors, thieves, invaders and ghosts’ PHILIPPA GREGORYFor centuries, Hampton Court has been a place of power, scandal and intrigue: a stage for events that shaped the nation. The Palace raises the curtain on 500 years of British history with royals, politicians, criminals, and geniuses all playing their parts.Hampton Court has been an arc of monarchy, revolution, religious fundamentalism, sexual scandals, and military coups. In this rich and vivid history, Gareth Russell moves through the rooms and the decades, each time focusing on a different person who called Hampton Court their home.Beginning with the Tudors, Russell takes the reader from the kitchens of Henry VII and the dreams of Anne Boleyn to Elizabeth I’s brush with death and the staging of Shakespeare’s plays. To the commissioning of the King James Bible, the republican victories of Oliver Cromwell, the many mistresses of Charles II and their laxative-laced attempts to embarrass one another. The gossip and feuds of Georgian aristocrats lead into the era of the Windsors when Hampton Court becomes the place to host Elizabeth II’s coronation ball and hide the last Tsar’s sister.Fascinating and engaging, The Palace is as atmospheric as it is gossipy and through the many sovereigns and servants that lived and worked in its halls reveals the personal tragedy and political importance of this extraordinary place. Read more

For over three centuries, the inhabitants of North Britain faced the might of Rome, resulting in some of the most extraordinary archaeology of the ancient world.This book explores the complex, often tumultuous, and frequently brutal interaction between the world’s first superpower and the peoples who would ultimately form the country we now call Scotland.Drawing on his on his extensive archaeological experience, John H. Reid considers many of the controversies surrounding Roman Scotland, several of which remain points of lively debate. From a reassessment of the loss of the Ninth Legion and the reasons for building and maintaining Hadrian’s Wall, to considering what spurred at least four Roman Emperors to personally visit the edge of the Empire, he offers an informed view of what it was like to be at the dark heart of imperialism and slavery, and to be on the receiving end of Rome’s merciless killing machine. Read more

*THE NO.3 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER* 'Raw, compelling, wise and tender' Dolly Alderton'Motherwell is razor-sharp, fearless and wonderful' Adam Kay'Utterly candid and staggeringly good, both as the history of a woman and the history of a place' India KnightJust shy of 18, Deborah Orr left Motherwell - the town she both loved and hated - to go to university. It was a decision her mother railed against from the moment the idea was raised. Win had very little agency in the world, every choice was determined by the men in her life. And strangely, she wanted the same for her daughter. Attending university wasn't for the likes of the Orr family. Worse still, it would mean leaving Win behind - and Win wanted Deborah with her at all times, rather like she wanted her arm with her at all times. But while she managed to escape, Deborah's severing from her family was only superficial. She continued to travel back to Motherwell, fantasizing about the day that Win might come to accept her as good enough. Though of course it was never meant to be.MOTHERWELL is a sharp, candid and often humorous memoir about the long shadow that can be cast when the core relationship in your life compromises every effort you make to become an individual. It is about what we inherit - the good and the very bad - and how a deeper understanding of the place and people you have come from can bring you towards redemption. Read more

Below Scotland's capital, hidden for almost two centuries, is a metropolis whose very existence was all but forgotten. For almost 250 years, Edinburgh was surrounded by a giant defensive wall. Unable to expand the city's boundaries, the burgeoning population built over every inch of square space. And when there was no more room, they began to dig down . . . Trapped in lives of poverty and crime, these subterranean dwellers existed in darkness and misery, ignored by the chroniclers of their time. It is only in the last few years that the shocking truth has begun to emerge about the sinister underground city. Read more

James VI and I, the first monarch to reign over Scotland, England and Ireland, has long endured a mixed reputation. To many, he is simply the homosexual King, the inveterate witch-roaster, the smelly sovereign who never washed, the colourless man behind the authorised Bible bearing his name, or the drooling fool whose speech could barely be understood. For too long, he has paled in comparison to his more celebrated Tudor and Stuart forebears.But who was he really? To what extent have myth, anecdote, and rumour obscured him?In this new and ground-breaking biography, James’s story is laid bare and a welter of scurrilous, outrageous assumptions penned by his political opponents put to rest. What emerges is a portrait of Elizabeth I's successor as his contemporaries knew him: a gregarious, idealistic man obsessed with the idea of family, whose personal and political goals could never match up to reality. With reference to letters, libels and state papers, it casts fresh light on the personal, domestic, international and sexual politics of this misunderstood sovereign.'A real page-turner for lovers of history' - Philippa Gregory Read more

The dramatic story of Scotland - by charismatic television historian, Neil Oliver.Scotland is one of the oldest countries in the world with a vivid and diverse past. Yet the stories and figures that dominate Scottish history - tales of failure, submission, thwarted ambition and tragedy - often badly serve this great nation, overshadowing the rich tapestry of her intricate past.Historian Neil Oliver presents a compelling new portrait of Scottish history, peppered with action, high drama and centuries of turbulence that have helped to shape modern Scotland. Along the way, he takes in iconic landmarks and historic architecture; debunks myths surrounding Scotland's famous sons; recalls forgotten battles; charts the growth of patriotism; and explores recent political developments, capturing Scotland's sense of identity and celebrating her place in the wider world. Read more

As a QC tries to get a pardon in Scotland for those accused of witchcraft in the past, this new edition of Scottish Witches explains why Scotland pursued witches - 4000 people were accused of witchcraft and 2000 were killed by strangulation at the stake, burning and drowning. Prejudice, discrimination, intolerance and fear possessed Scotland before and during the Reformation and caused King James I and VI to lead a period of superstition, intolerance and killing. Read more

From the world's oldest indoor loo to a theatre where spectators fill their pockets with poo, the definitive guide to the stranger side of Scotland shows there's a lot more to the place than tartan, haggis and tossing the caber. Inside you'll find: The world's longest man-made echo A city where aliens are welcome What the Royals really think of it Britain's weirdest wig The worst Scottish accents ever Our tallest hedge and oldest tree Loch monsters nastier than Nessie A road you can roll up Scots in Space Whether it's Ruthven or Ruthven? Britain's loneliest bus stop (and its loveliest) A school for spies The cost of burning witches An aeroplane made from seaweed . . . and why the Queen needs rubber glovesPraise for Bizarre London: 'In a market niche that's now as crowded as the 18:22 to Reading, Bizarre London pummels its bantamweight rivals with knockout clouts of trivia that even this weary correspondent hadn't encountered before.' The Londonist Read more

For more than two thousand years the people of St Kilda remained remote from the world. Their society was viable, utopian even; but in the nineteenth century the islands were discovered by missionaries, do-gooders and tourists, who brought with them money, disease and despotism. In 1930, the few remaining islanders were evacuated, no longer able to support themselves.An exploration of the life and death of the remote Hebridean society, Island on the Edge of the World is a moving account of human endeavour. Read more

'The finest book ever written on nature and landscape in Britain' GuardianIntroduction by Robert Macfarlane. Afterword by Jeanette WintersonIn this masterpiece of nature writing, Nan Shepherd describes her journeys into the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland. There she encounters a world that can be breathtakingly beautiful at times and shockingly harsh at others. Her intense, poetic prose explores and records the rocks, rivers, creatures and hidden aspects of this remarkable landscape. Shepherd spent a lifetime in search of the 'essential nature' of the Cairngorms; her quest led her to write this classic meditation on the magnificence of mountains, and on our imaginative relationship with the wild world around us. Composed during the Second World War, the manuscript of The Living Mountain lay untouched for more than thirty years before it was finally published. Read more

International bestselling author The Hebridean Baker shares stories and adventures alongside his best selection of recipes yet. Be whisked away to his island home where he brings delightful dishes to fill your kitchen with Hebridean Hygge. With songs, stories and beautiful photography that will inspire your next visit to the Hebrides.Fàilte! I'm Coinneach, and this is my Hebridean home...In my kitchen, flavours become stories, bakes become family favourites and recipes are shared with friends from across the islands. Join me where the rolling hills of the Hebrides meet the rolling pins of my kitchen! For this book, I travelled from Islay, via Barra, Uist, Berneray and Harris before arriving home to Lewis. I've shared recipes and stories that have been handed down through the generations, bakes that celebrate the flavours of Scotland and simple dishes that you can whip up from your store cupboard ingredients.The Hebridean Baker at Home is filled with comforting cakes and bakes from his Double Dram Cake to Marmalade Shortbread, Fern Cake to Ecclefechan Tarts. Alongside delicious, hearty savoury dishes, including Leek Bread & Butter Pudding and Salmon Wellington, which are served up with a chapter full of Celtic recipes and signature Christmas bakes.Fasten your apron, switch the oven on, and prepare to embark on an adventure that will transport you to the heart of the Hebrides from your very own kitchen. Welcome to my home. Welcome to my kitchen. Read more

Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing AwardsIn The Hidden Ways, Alistair Moffat traverses the lost paths of Scotland - its Roman roads tramped by armies, its byways and pilgrim routes, drove roads and railways, turnpikes and sea roads - in a bid to understand how our history has left its mark upon our landscape. As he retraces the forgotten paths that shaped and were shaped by the lives of the now forgotten people who trod them, Moffat charts a powerful, surprising and moving history of Scotland. Read more