East Highland Gothic II

These poems build on the first volume of the same name in looking at local history over the centuries. This one evokes the Pictish (Iron Age and Early Medieval) culture, left behind in many richly carved stones up and down the east of Scotland. Some of these still stand in their original locations, some have been taken into the care of museums, such as Groam House in Rosemarkie in the Black Isle, where the author used to volunteer. The Rosemarkie Cross is the pride of their collection. The second part of this volume looks at Later Medieval history, up to the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Throughout the collection, the past comes to life in vivid detail as the seasons change, people live and die and nature is always beautiful. The cover shows the Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial ground outside Inverness.