
This weekend, and only on our new website, readers can enjoy 20% off across the full range of books published under the Birlinn, Polygon, John Donald, BC Books and Arena imprints. Explore the site to find the perfect Christmas gift. (Note: Discounted prices are shown on book pages.)
Or take the perfect shortcut –
For travellers and adventurers:
- Scotland: Mapping the Nation – ‘mixes lavish illustration with academic rigour and engaging anecdotes’ – Sunday Herald
- Scotland: Mapping the Islands – ‘an informative delight to read and view’ Genealogy
For cooks – and armchair cooks:
- A Taste of Scottish Islands – ‘if you have foodies on your gift list, this book will be a surprise to be remembered. And treasured’ – Cooking by the Book
- The Scottish Vegan Cookbook – ‘packed with nutritional side notes and lovely food photography’ – Scottish Field
- Dear Alfonso – ‘simply delightful!’ – Alexander McCall Smith
For young cooks:
- Easy Peasy: Real Cooking for Kids –’Fantastic recipes designed to be cooked by children’ – Press and Journal
Stocking fillers:
For the host:
- 101 Champagnes and Sparking Wines to Try Before you Die
- 101 Gins to Try Before you Die
- 101 Rums to Try Before you Die
For the music lover:
- Detroit 67 – ‘A book, and a trilogy, that evokes an extraordinarily creative and culturally progressive time that now feels far distant’ – Observer
- Memphis 68 – Music Book of the Year, Rough Trade
- Harlem 69 – ‘An impressively granular month-by-month deep dive into Harlem’s fertile musical response to a time of social and political upheaval’ – Financial Times
For the poetry lover:
- Moder Dy – ‘Held me in thrall‘ – A New Statesman Book of the Year
- A Gathering: A Personal Anthology of Scottish Poems selected by Alexander McCall Smith – ‘A haunting personal mixtape that gives voice to the ghosts of Scottish poetry’ – Herald on Sunday
- Hamish Henderson Collected Poems – ‘A new and long-overdue edition‘ – The Scotsman
Crime and Mystery fans:
- The Unmaking of Ellie Rook – ‘Ireland’s denouement is both exciting and unexpected‘ – David Robinson
- The Case of Constant Suicides – ‘the acknowledged master of the genre’ – David Robinson
- A Breath on Dying Embers – ‘What a way to end this book!!! I sure hope there is another one coming. There must be!!!!‘ – Good Reads
- Thunder Bay – ‘Exquisite language, credible characters, and unrelenting suspense—this crime novel has it all’ Publishers Weekly starred review!
- The End of the Line – ‘A well-crafted ‘whodunnit’ with an intriguing storyline’ – Wee Review
For History buffs:
- Scotland: Her Story – ‘a really fine book, and an important one’ – BBC Radio Scotland
- Facing the Bear: Scotland and the Cold War – ‘an interesting look back at the Cold War era in Scotland’ – Washington Times
- Insurrection – ‘fascinating reading, both painful and uplifting‘ – The Scotsman
- The King Over the Water – ‘Seward’s style is approachable and eminently readable, leading you through the many twists and turns. Deserves to be widely read‘ – Undiscovered Scotland
- Britain’s DNA Journey Now the subject of a major ITV programme
Alexander McCall Smith fans
- Pianos and Flowers – ‘These are tales bound by the heart-warming possibility of friendship, love and happiness. Delightful‘ – Sunday Post
- The Peppermint Tea Chronicles – ‘gossipy tales from Scotland Street‘ – The Oldie Books of the Year
- The Second Worst Restaurant in France – ‘The smart money is on a deliciously happy ending‘ – David Robinson
For walkers and adventurers
- Travels with a Stick: A Pilgrims’ Journey to Santiago de Compostela – ‘an inspiring read and a journey well worth taking’ – Dundee Courier
- The Fife Pilgrim Way – ‘an ideal, illustrated companion’ – Church Times
Reflecting on financial woes:
- The Rise and Fall of the City of Money – A Financial Times Book of the Year!
For those seeking memoir and biography:
- Appointment in Arezzo – A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
- The Shepherd and the Morning Star – ‘Orr’s life is by any standard a remarkable one‘ – Northwords Now
- Life is not a Long Quiet River – ‘clear and accessible, well seasoned with a wry sense of humour’ – A Dundee Courier Book of the Week
- Walking Through Shadows – ‘a fine, descriptive writer’ – The Scotsman
For the youngest readers Clever Dog Kip
- Sticker Atlas of Scotland – ‘Each colourful sticker is a mini work of art‘ – West Coast Review
- Little Seal
When the stress of Christmas gets too much – lose yourself in a fine novel:
- Black Camp 21 – ‘Excellent – a story I never heard before, told with pace and power, and no pulled punches. Highly recommended’ – Lee Child
- Muriel Spark’s The Driver Seat – ‘Spark may be best known for Jean Brodie, but this is her greatest work, and one of the finest novels of the 20th century’ – The Herald’s 25 Scottish Books You Must read
or try a little colouring in
These are just a tiny selection of titles to give and receive this Christmas. Browse the site for more gems.