Beautiful yet forbidding, the Scottish capital has been home to many writers and thinkers over the centuries. This anthology presents a history of the city in the words of its inhabitants, selected from letters, diaries, novels and journalism, from the sixth-century poet Anuerin to Ian Rankin and including Walter Scott celebrating its pageantry, Robert Louis Stevenson exploring its sinister alleys, and Muriel Spark satirizing its snobbery and puritanism.
From one of the earliest mentions of its name in the sixth century to the Covid lockdowns of the twenty-first, this is a magnificent portrait of one of the world's great cities in its many iterations, from 'Edinburgh, the sink of abomination' to the Athens of the North and everything - including the home of the Enlightenment, the Festival City, the Aids Capital of Europe and a Mecca for tourists seeking tartan tat - in between.
As the nation's capital it has been critical to its progress and a witness to epochal events, such the tumultuous reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Reformation, the Forty-Five rebellion, the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament. All of these and more feature. But this is not simply a book about the great and good, the famous and infamous. There is testimony aplenty from ordinary folk who may not have made their mark on history but who have contributed to Edinburgh's ever-expanding tapestry.
There are stories of body snatching and murder, drunkenness and drug-taking, sex and shopping, as well rants against inclement weather and the city council.
Reasons to shop at Postscript
Independent bookseller Established in 1987, we’ve been sharing reading recommendations for decades.
Books you won’t find elsewhere Discover new authors among our frequently changing bookshelves, along with almost-forgotten gems and a wealth of unusual titles you won’t find elsewhere.
Eco-friendly packaging Orders are carefully packed in recyclable cardboard boxes, eco-friendly bubble wrap and solvent-free labels, paper and tape.
Condition and price All our books are new, unused and unread, and they’re all up to 75% off RRP.
FREE monthly catalogue Featuring over 400 handpicked titles, our unique catalogue is carefully curated and includes new and unusual titles, special features and exclusive collections.
Email newsletters Our tailored newsletters are written by our booksellers, and we always highlight the books that we have talked about most in the Postscript office.
Footnotes blog Some books spark ideas and conversations that our catalogue can’t contain – our Footnotes blog offers a deeper dive into a wealth of topics to inspire further reading.
Aftercare We are all serious book people and we understand the value of reading. This is why we package our books so carefully and employ a helpful in-house customer services team to promptly resolve any queries you may have.
Delivery information
UK
Free UK standard delivery on all online orders over £25
Unlimited books in one delivery charge:
• Standard: £3.20 (3-5 working days)
• Click & Collect: £3.20 (3-5 working days)
• Next Day (orders must be placed before 1pm, Monday–Friday): £4.50
• Royal Mail Tracked48: £5.50 (2-4 working days)
Highlands and Islands delivery: standard delivery only (5-7 working days)
Overseas
All orders: delivery costs for orders outside the UK are based on country of destination and product weight.
You can view your overseas delivery cost using the Summary section within the Basket.
For more information on delivery/overseas orders please refer to our Delivery Information.
https://www.psbooks.co.uk/edinburgh-7545559Edinburghhttps://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/4/545559_media-0.jpg7.997.99GBPInStock/Non-Fiction/Categories/British Isles/Non-Fiction/Highlights/Books About ScotlandBeautiful yet forbidding, the Scottish capital has been home to many writers and thinkers over the centuries. This anthology presents a history of the city in the words of its inhabitants, selected from letters, diaries, novels and journalism, from the sixth-century poet Anuerin to Ian Rankin and including Walter Scott celebrating its pageantry, Robert Louis Stevenson exploring its sinister alleys, and Muriel Spark satirizing its snobbery and puritanism.Hardback00https://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/4/545559_media-1.jpghttps://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/4/545559_media-2.jpgadd-to-cartrrp_info:£20.00productId:182350bic_code:HB, HBJD1, HBTB, HD, WQHHB, HBJD1, HBTB, HD, WQH£20.00Ed. Alan TaylorGeneral240x160mmBirlinnYesHardbackHistory
