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: 

• The Chain Bridge Honey Bible
• The Little Book of Scottish Beasties 
• Scottish Wildlife Calendar 2020 

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

• The Colouring Book of Scotland

These are just a tiny selection of titles to give and receive this Christmas. Browse the site for more gems.