Officially launching on 15 September 2023, Scotland by-the-Book is a brand-new free app which brings books on history, geology, mapping, cooking, fiction, travel, poetry, politics and more to readers across the globe with an interest in Scotland. The app includes an interactive map of Scotland featuring the most exciting books, bookshops and literary events this country has to offer. Created in collaboration with digital agency Zudu, the app is the latest project by Birlinn Limited, an Edinburgh-based independent publisher bringing Scotland’s writing to the world.

Publicity and Marketing Director Jan Rutherford first conceived the idea as a way to share Scotland’s stories with people no matter where in the world they are, a long-standing mission at Birlinn, in a forward-thinking and innovative way. Jan commented, saying,

‘With the shift to mobile-focused business models, we are excited to expand our digital offering with an intuitive app to reach more readers and different communities. This app is for booklovers, travellers, students and staycationers – anyone with an eye on Scotland – offering an immersive book experience through the stories of a nation’.

With authors and books relating to every region of the country, you can use this app to find the finest writing, the best local bookstores in your area and literary festivals close to your destination. Jan explains, ‘We are connecting the curious and the traveller with passionate experts and sublime storytellers. By downloading the app, you will discover a multitude of unique voices with nearly 600 brilliant books to explore’.

Birlinn’s aim to advance in the ongoing digital age extends beyond Scotland-by-the-Book. The publisher has joined forces with Tanner Ritchie, a leader in historical digital publishing, to create Scotland’s History Online, a complete subscription-based e-library of Scotland’s most important historical research, with fast keyword searches throughout the whole collection. These are vital works, of interest to anyone studying Scottish and British history – academics, students and general readers – with more being added all the time. Scotland’s History online is supported by The StrathMartine Trust.

For thirty-two years, Birlinn have published books across all aspects of Scottish life, and with these new digital tools, they will reach new reading communities and make Scotland’s vibrant, diverse stories as accessible as ever.

This is Scotland’s leading writers at their finest, challenged but unfiltered, understood by their publishers and presented on the world stage. No matter where you want to explore in Scotland – there’s a book about it.

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or read more about how to use it here.