Books published by Birlinn General

The official guidebook to the West Highland Way.

Never surpassed since its original publication, this is the essential companion to Scottish surnames, featuring over 8,000 families.

The archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland are the products of some of the most dramatic events which have occurred in the Earth's history.The Shetlands are the eroded roots of a vast mountain range that once soared to Himalayan heights and extended from Scandinavia to the Appalachians. Around 65 million years ago, this mighty chain was split asunder by the shifting of the Earth's tectonic plates, and the North Atlantic Ocean was formed. In earlier times, the area was occupied by a huge freshwater lake - Lake Orcadie - which existed for almost 10 million years and was home to a wide range of primitive species of fish. Later, during the last Ice Age, the area was completely submerged beneath ice sheets which left an indelible mark on the landscapes of both island groups.This book tells the incredible geological story of the most northerly outposts of the British Isles.

From the Ice Age to the recent Scottish Referendum, historian and author Alistair Moffat explores the history of the Scottish nation.

Classic book of black-and-white photographs in the Outer Hebrides.

From the multi-award-winning Denise Mina comes a radical new take on one of the darkest episodes in Scottish history - the bloody assassination of David Rizzio in Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers in Holyrood Palace.

From humble beginnings in a small village in Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger has come to symbolise the opportunities that exist for anyone willing to work hard. Fiaz Rafiq uses in-depth interviews with Schwarzenegger's peers to tell the life story of the one-time Governator, featuring exclusive interviews.

Portrays the islands from Arran to Lewis in all their diversity, with swift and perceptive cameos of everyday life drawn with humor and affection alongside gorgeous landscapes which capture the magical beauty of the Hebrides.

Ian Williams examines the extraordinary rise of the Chinese surveillance state, how information is controlled and how it affects the population. The book also considers the wider implications for all of us, and how we are all tracked, monitored and followed with every click, view and search we make.

This is the inspiring story of a Highland estate, which was rescued from the catastrophic effects of decades of human interference, and is now one of the most successful examples of rewilding in the UK.

Explore Edinburgh's hidden music heritage, plus a few of its more tuneful tall tales, with this eye-opening guide of the city's music milestones, famous gigs, infamous incidents and colourful characters.

The story of Muck as told through the eyes of Lawrence MacEwen, working farmer and much-loved laird.

A colouring book to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh's birth.

Run Forever aims to distil the essence of the sport for readers who are looking for access, insights, and a way to get started, get fast, stay fast, and run forever

Oyster is the second collection from prize-winning Edinburgh poet Michael Pedersen. Here he vividly illuminates scenes with an energy that is both witty, humourous but also deeply intelligent. Oyster features bespoke illustrations from the late Frightened Rabbit lead singer and songwriter Scott Hutchison.

The follow-up to the international best-selling novel The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. This spirited novel explores the most inspiring and passionate terrain: the human heart following the interwoven stories of two women living thousands of miles apart and separate lives yet sharing a similar existence.

Presents the story of wartime bootlegging in the Scottish islands. Wartime food rationing is bad enough, but when the whisky supplies run out on the Hebridean islands of Great and Little Todday, nothing seems to go right. Then the fifty-thousand-bottle cargo of the shipwrecked S S Cabinet Minister brings salvation.

Everyday Gaelic was originally published by Gairm Publications in 1984 and had been reprinted many times. This is an expanded and updated edition which feature up-to-date orthography.

A new book from one of the bestselling and most highly regarded Scottish historians.

An imaginative and beautifully observed travelogue of Lewis and Harris