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This lavishly illustrated book examines the enormous palace of the premier peers of Scotland, and the hundreds of outstanding works of art acquired by twelve Dukes over 300 years.In 1882, Hamilton Palace stood grandly to the south of Glasgow. Home to the Dukes of Hamilton since the sixteenth century, its magnificent walls contained treasures to rival the British Royal Collection. Yet by 1920, tens of thousands of items had been auctioned off, and the awe-inspiring building was about to be demolished.Today, many of the greatest treasures of Hamilton Palace are on display in museums and collections all over the world, including the National Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.This is the story of Scotland’s lost treasure house – the definitive book on the subject.

Dramatic Highland landscapes, heroic histories, tartan and bagpipes are among the defining images of Scotland for many people around the world.From the Romantic movement of the 18th and early 19th centuries to Queen Victoria’s Highland idyll at Balmoral, Wild and Majestic considers the origins of these ideas and explores how romantic interpretations of the cultural traditions of the Scottish Highlands and Islands became enduring symbols of wider Scottish identity.This book accompanied a landmark exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in 2019. It charts Scotland’s journey into the global imagination and invites you to think again about the meaning and relevance of ideas that continue to define Scotland today.

'For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door And Leerie stops to light it, as he lights so many more...' The picture of a small boy peering from a window at dusk to watch the lamplighter in the street is one of the enduring images of 19th-century Edinburgh, and the child probably the most famous ever brought up there. Robert Louis Stevenson loved to conjure up a dashing, romantic lineage for himself, dreaming that he was descended from the colourful outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. The reality was less flamboyant but no less remarkable and he would learn that the street lamps of Edinburgh owed their brilliance to the scientific work of his own great-grandfather. This welcome addition to the Robert Louis Stevenson canon gives a concise account of his life - his family background, childhood and adolescence in a Calvinist, hard-working household in Scotland, his travels in three continents and his final years in the South Seas.It examines his relationships with his parents and his nurse, with English and American friends, particularly the family into which he married, and with the Samoan islanders among whom he died at the age of 44.Stevenson's childhood experiences and Scottish identity fed his fertile imagination wherever he found himself. His legacy includes travel writing, essays and poetry, and novels such as "Treasure Island", "Kidnapped", "The Master of Ballantrae", "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", "St Ives" and "Weir of Hermiston", still read and enjoyed more than one hundred years after his death. "Robert Louis Stevenson: The Travelling Mind" is an insightful introduction to the life and work of one of the world's best-loved writers.

The Scottish highlands played a pivotal role in the secret development of special service training during the Second World War. The remote and rough terrain came into its own as a training and testing ground for new types of fighting. "Commando Country" looks at the variety of special training establishments set up (mostly highland shooting lodges), and at how use was made of the landscape and coastline and of specialist civilian skills such as stalking and mountaineering. It stresses how these new methods of warfare, tested in Scotland, spread internationally into the present day elite status of 'special forces' world-wide.The story involves many famous names from a variety of backgrounds such as actors David Niven and Alec Guinness, mountaineer John Hunt, and polar explorer Martin Lindsay, as well as famous military figures such as David Stirling, founder of the SAS and Special Operations Executive agent Violet Szabo. Conveying the atmosphere of remote highland locations, the book makes strong use of photographs and personal testimony collected from those involved, bringing a unique Scottish perspective to a popular subject.

Dr Isabel Grant (1887-1983) was a pioneer who, early in life, was intrigued by the lives and ways of living of her fellow Highlanders. She eventually pursued this by collecting objects - farming, fishing, crofting and domestic - from across the Scottish Highlands and presenting them to the public, initially as an exhibition in Inverness in 1930, then in Iona, and later in a dedicated museum Am Fasgadh ('the Shelter'). The tenacity shown by Dr Grant in pursuit of an idea that first struck her while on a childhood visit to Sweden is revealed in her own words. In the face of indifference, little money, sexism and the erratic Scottish climate, Dr Grant succeeded in presenting items which told of the working and home lives of the people she so admired. Am Fasgadh continues today as the popular Highland Folk Museum at Kingussie and Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

In this book on the history of flight in Scotland you can: find out about the man who tried to fly off the wall at Stirling Castle and about Percy Pilcher and his fragile 'Bat' glider; be amazed at the story of Vincenzo Lunardi, and his balloon flight in 1785 from Edinburgh to Fife; see how aircraft are used in war, from the airships, and planes with open cock-pits, in World War I, to the Cold War V-bombers; read about UFOs in the 'Falkirk Triangle', the short-lived Rocket Post and much more; and check out how you can visit Concorde Alpha Alpha at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian, and the other flying machines there.

Devils, witches and evil - the insubstantial but terrifying world of the supernatural as it was seen by Robert Burns and his contemporaries is examined in this new book, brought out for the 250th anniversary of the poet's birth. Several of Burns' poems dealt with the supernatural, the most famous of which, "Tam o Shanter", is examined in detail. It is from this poem that the book's title comes: 'And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" And in an instant all was dark And scarcely had he Maggie rallied When out the hellish legion sallied.' In contrast with the 'other world' was the everyday lives of the country people and the nature of the material world in which they lived; the book also examines this and the changes that were taking place in Burns' time.

"Robert Burns in Time and Place" is a brand new title in the "Scotties Books" series which contain a wealth of interesting facts, stimulating activities, web sites and suggestions for places to visit. The year 2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns but studying the life and work of the poet is no longer just a celebration around his birthday, but can be embedded across the school curriculum. The book looks at Ayrshire, Scotland and the wider world as they were in his time and which shaped his experiences and his work.

"Scotties" are exciting, full colour information books for young readers. Each title contains a wealth of interesting facts, stimulating activities, websites and suggestions for places to visit. An 8pp pull-out black and white section with games, puzzles and drawings for colouring-in can be used at home or photocopied for classroom use. In this brand new title find out about: Ghosts and Graveyards - including the Undead Sailor, and the Weeping Tombstone; Haunted Houses - such as Haddington House with its ghostly horse; Witches - good spells and bad spells; Hallowe'en - guising, and Mischief Night; Fairies - fallen angels, household helpers, changelings, and more; Glaistigs and Brownies - a glaistig is a thin woman with a face like 'a grey stone overgrown with lichen'; and, Merfolk - from golden-haired mermaids to the Blue Men of the Minch.

This book gives a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of inventing, developing and perfecting the art of pedal-powered transport over the years from the the original 'hobby-horse' velocipede to the the notorious bone-shaker, and from the grand but tricky penny-farthing to Graeme Obree's world-beating home-made suprbike. This second edition has been updated to take in Chris Hoy's amazing three gold medals in the 2008 Olympics.

From the wrath of Macbeth to the kindness of Margaret, from the warrior-like Robert I to the poetic charms of James I, from the romantic spirit of Mary, Queen of Scots to the trend-setting George IV - the Kings and Queens of Scotland are brought vividly to life in this colorful pageant of characters, and there are many tales of plotting and fighting along the way. The book features photographs, portraits, prints and etchings, and interesting objects from National Museums Scotland and other national collections. It also contains an additional 8-page section of facts and activities for children of 7-10. You can find out: which King was known as 'Great Chief' or 'Big Head'; what Robert the Bruce learned from the spider; which King died because of a blocked drain; which King used to wander about in disguise; and, how Mary, Queen of Scots escaped from an island castle. The new look Scotties are exciting, full-color information books containing a wealth of interesting facts, illustrations and photographs, stimulating activities, places of interest, and selected websites.

Scots have explored planet Earth since at least the very beginning of the 17th century. Here are incredible stories of bravery, triumph and tragedy, and scientific discovery, often under near-impossible conditions. A unique index lists dates and places of birth of over 120 Scottish explorers, 41 of whom were scientists.

Parliaments existed in Scotland, off and on, from about 1200 till there was the Union with the English Parliament in 1707. In 1998 the Scotland Act decreed that 'There shall be a Scottish Parliament' and the new, devolved Parliament opened on 1 July 1999. This Scotties activity book for children aged 9-12 gives the early history of Parliaments in Scotland and then looks in more detail at how the present Parliament in Holyrood works. Scotties are exciting, full-colour Scottish information books for young readers. Each title contains a wealth of interesting facts, stimulating activities for home or classroom use, a list of websites, and suggestions for places to visit.

When John Napier published his invention of logarithms in 1614 he was announcing one of the greatest advances in the history of mathematics, and log tables were used universally until the mid 1970s. With his Rabdologia, an ingenious calculating tool composed of numbered rods which came to be known as 'Napier's Bones', he enabled people in the marketplace to do multiplication sums without knowing any multiplication tables. Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this most extrordinary man was that his great inventions were made without the stimulus of talking to other mathematicians in mainstream Europe. Working away in comparative isolation in a tower house in Scotland, Napier produced methods of calculation that literally changed lives all over the world. He is the father of the slide-rule and the grandfather of today's calculators. Despite his achievements, he remains curiously uncelebrated, and this absorbing story of his life aims to give John Napier his true status. This new edition has been redesigned in a new format and has a new cover.

The Millennium Clock first chimed on 1 January 2000 and crowds still gather round it in the National Museum of Scotland. The finished clock tower echoes the form of a medieval cathedral, standing just over ten metres high. It marks the passing of time but is also a summary of the best and worst of the twentieth century. The animated construction comprises four sections: The Crypt, The Nave, The Belfry and The Spire. Each has its own stories to tell and secrets to reveal. This edition is in a new format and has 12 superb replacement photographs which give close-ups of some of the clock's intricate details. The clock tower is a collaboration between E Bersudsky, A Sandstrom, T Stead and J Tubbecke.

Scotties are exciting, full-colour, Scottish information books for young readers, with a photocopiable black/white 8pp section for home or classroom use. The book looks at the landscape of Scotland before people, and at the islands, coasts, moorlands, machair, lochs, rivers and flora and fauna that we know now. It also discusses topics such as climate change, renewable energy and carbon footprint and at how the countryside can be enjoyed and protected.

Dan Klein and Alan J. Poole began collecting in the late 1970s and over the subsequent thirty years assembled on the most comprehensive collections of modern British and Irish glass. The book includes work by over one hundred makers at the very cutting edge of their art. This dazzling collection was gifted to National Museums Scotland in 2009.

The story of the Dundee mill girl who, inspired by David Livingstone, became a missionary herself in Calabar, a part of Africa known as 'the White Man's Grave'. There she adopted many children who would otherwise have been left to die; when her mediating skills were recognised she became the British Empire's first woman magistrate. Her name lives on in the Mary Slessor Foundation, a charity working in Africa to improve health, skills training and facilitate agricultural projects. Mary Slessor was one of the most remarkable Scotswomen of any generation and the first to be depicted on a Scottish banknote. First published in 2001; this edition has had some material updated and two replacement photographs.

Set in the months before the outbreak of the Great War and in print for almost 100 years The Thirty-Nine Steps is John Buchan's most popular novel. This timely look at the book - what inspired it, its themes and metaphors - and at its author - how much of John Buchan's own self and experiences are in it - will greatly enhance the reader's enjoyment.

An up-to-date geological excursion guide to the Stirling and Perth area.

This book tells the history of Scotland between 1249 and 1371 from the Golden Age of Alexander III to Robert II, the first Stewart king. This takes in the Scottish Wars of Independence: William Wallace and the Battle of Stirling Bridge; and Robert the Bruce and the decisive Battle of Bannockburn. Find out ...* Who was the 'Maid of Norway' * How John Balliol got his nickname * What was the 'Ragman Roll' * What the name Wallace means * What is the Stone of Destiny

In the middle of the nineteenth century a sympathetic relationship between art, science and technology laid the groundwork for photography to flourish, including camera obscura and the panorama. This is a lavishly produced book on the eventful first thirty years of photography in Scotland - around 1840 - 70. The photographers whose work is discussed include David Octavius Hill, Robert Adamson, James Valentine, Thomas Annan and George Washington Wilson plus practitioners not previously mentioned in any publication. Julia Margaret Cameron's encounter with Scotland is also described as is the work of Scottish photographers abroad.

Professor Matthew Heddle (1828-97) was a larger-than-life character, a renowned academic and one of Scotland's most famous mineralogists. His rich legacy includes: Encyclopaedia Britannica 9th edition (section on Mineralogy) A fossil fish Heddleichthys A mineral named after him (Mattheddleite) A summary of the Mineralogy of Scotland (published posthumously) 55 scientific papers 5,700 specimens from his collection now housed in the National Museum of Scotland and the National Museums Collection Centre. 10 children This book, by Heddle's great-great-grandson, is not an account of his scientific work but is about Heddle the man; it provides a much fuller picture of him than anything that has appeared before.

Tales of pirates, whether in fact or fiction, have long excited young imaginations. The pirate stories here all have a Scottish connection. The title is part of the Scotties series of activity books for young readers and includes an 8pp black and white section of activities which are photocopiable for home or classroom use.

Showcases over a hundred treasures from the collections of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, from the departments of Scottish History and Archaeology/Art and Design/Science and Technology/Natural Sciences/World Cultures.

This book is based on the artwork of Sue Jane Taylor. She is no stranger to extreme working environments, having worked for over thirty years recording the lives of workers in the North Sea oil industry on sites such as Piper Alpha, Piper B, Forties platforms and recently Murchison in the Northern Seas. Her work now extends to the offshore renewable energy industry. The book brings a unique perspective to the relationship between art, environment and industry while revealing a relatively alien way of life on board a North Sea oil platform. Among other themes it will consider the future of energy in Scotland. The book has an introductory essay by Elsa Cox, Senior Curator of Technology at National Museums Scotland, illustrated by relevant objects from the collections in the National Museum. This is followed by Sue Jane Taylor's artwork, with extended captions.

Topics discussed in these recorded oral interviews with residents of Stranraer and district, in south-west Scotland, include tattie howking, war, the capsizing of the Larne-Stranraer ferry and the stormy winter of 1947. The interviews took place over a period of time, the first being with Helen Davies who was 87 when recorded in 1997.This is the first book based on research carried out by the European Ethnological Research Centre (EERC) as part of their current research programme: Dumfries and Galloway: A Regional Ethnology - part of a wider research programme, The Regional Ethnology of Scotland Project.Co-published by NMS Enterprises Ltd - Publishing and the EERC.

The breadth of National Museums Scotland's collections, together with the support of The Glenmorangie Company, puts National Museums in a unique position to reveal the role of silver in the development of the first kingdoms of Scotland. It was silver, not gold, which was the most important and powerful precious metal in Scotland for over six hundred years and, as well as showcasing beautiful objects, the book builds on the Glenmorangie Research Project to gives fresh insights into this formative period of Scottish history. Based on the exhibition Scotland's Early Silver which was at the National Museum of Scotland and is now on tour.

Miss Kate Cranston opened four Glasgow Tea Rooms at the end of the 19th century/beginning of the 20th, including the famous Willow Tea Rooms. Ahead of her time, Miss Cranston ensured that her Rea Rooms were designed and furnished by talented young artists like Charles Rennie Mackintosh.Miss Cranston: Patron of Charles Rennie Mackintosh was first published in 1999 and is long out of print. It is being reissued to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. This new edition has some rewriting and updating; it is in a larger format; it now has around 60 colour+black&white photographs and illustrations.