Homecoming Scotland 2009
BooksfromScotland.com is the world’s only bookshop and information site dedicated to Scottish books – from golf to Gaelic, fiction to folk music, we have it all under one roof.
In 2009, Scotland will host its first ever Homecoming year which has been created and timed to mark the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet, the international cultural icon Robert Burns. From Burns Night to St Andrew’s Day 2009 a country-wide programme of over 200 exciting Homecoming events and activities will celebrate some of Scotland's great contributions to the world, including Burns himself, Whisky, Golf, Great Scottish Minds and Innovations, and Scotland’s rich culture and heritage which lives on at home and through the global Scottish family.
"In nations as diverse, multilingual, and complex as Scotland, it is literature that maps the land – literally and metaphorically. Scottish tourism is inextricably linked to its writers, past and present – think of Scott, Buchan, Rankin and Rowling – who continue to stimulate the curiosity that draw people to Scotland, visitor and native alike" Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature, Scottish Arts Council
BooksfromScotland.com are proud supporters of Homecoming Scotland and will be featuring here each month exclusive articles, interviews, competitions and reading guides on the Homecoming themes to bring you the best in Scottish writing and culture.
Scotland’s writers have been making names for themselves all over the world for 500 years, from Robert Burns, to J K Rowling. But could you choose 10 Scottish books that have had a truly global impact, changing the course of history as we know it?
As part of the Homecoming Year celebrations, Publishing Scotland presents a thought-provoking exhibition – Scotland, Ink: 10 Scottish Books That Changed the World.
September and October
The Clan Gathering has been and gone, Edinburgh's major festivals are finally behind us, but that's not to say that Homecoming is over - far from it. September sees more Burns celebrations, such as Orkney's For A'That at their Science Festival and the nationwide Tam O Shanter music and dance festival. October hosts another book festival - this time in Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway, and Glasgow is celebrated in a large-scale outdoor theatre project along the banks of the Clyde.
We have been inspired by the Doors Open Days project, who are opening the doors to many of Scotland's fascinating buildings for free. Over 900 buildings are opening their doors - from Windmills to Museums, and Castles to Airfields. Our new reading guide on Scottish architects, buildings and architecture features the best books on a wide range of buildings, from the earliest days of prehistory to modern projects such as the Scottish Parliament.
2009 was chosen as the "Year of Homecoming" as it celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, one of our most famous sons and our national bard. In our new guide to the latest books on Robert Burns, we show how important it is to remember Burns as a poet - and not just as a celebrity figure.
More Robert Burns Features
- Interview with Donald Smith
- Extract from Andrew O'Hagan's A Night Out With Robert Burns
- Illustrations from The Merry Muses of Caledonia
- The James Barke Quintet of Novels
Whether you are an active golfer, or just interested in the history of the ancient Scottish game, our guide to golf books has something for everyone. And to get you started, we have a handy top 5 guide to golf books.
Whisky could easily be described as the backbone of Scottish life: economically, socially and culturally - indeed, the very name, Uisge Beatha, means "water of life". There is a huge range of books about Whisky (but not the Irish or American whiskey, of course).
There's a wealth of resources available to help you research your Scottish family history - both online and in our guide to genealogy books. And if you are very lucky, you might belong to an ancient clan with a historical tartan. In Repatriation, poet Kona Macphee explains how she made Perthshire her home after years of living in Australia and Cambridge
The BooksfromScotland.com editor asks "where are all the good books on Scotland's scientists and inventors?" in a blog entry first posted in 2007.
