Books published by Luath Press Ltd

A different Scotland is possible. Caledonian Dreaming: The Quest for a Different Scotland offers a penetrating and original way forward for Scotland beyond the current independence debate. It identifies the myths of modern Scotland, describes what they say and why they need to be seen as myths. Hassan argues that Scotland is already changing, as traditional institutions and power decline and new forces emerge. He outlines a prospectus for Scotland to become more democratic and to embrace radical and far-reaching change. REVIEWS An intelligent, brave and much needed contribution to the debate around the referendum in Scotland. This, along with other great contributions, like Lesley Riddoch's Blossom, are hugely important to the general discourse and much needed research into the country we have been, the country we now are and the country we could become. ELAINE C. SMITH, actress and campaigner. This is a remarkable book - balanced and brave, insightful and incisive, intelligently blending the personal and the political. Whatever the referendum result, if Scotland really wants to be 'the best place in the world to grow up', Gerry Hassan's suggestions for 'a new democracy' would be an excellent starting point. SUE PALMER, author, Toxic Childhood Gerry Hassan sets out to challenge the lazy presumptions that are around about Scotland and its future. He invites the reader to think and think again. STUART COSGROVE, broadcaster. Understanding that the old stories we tell ourselves influence the new stories we go on to write, Gerry Hassan has crafted a brilliant book unpacking the political narratives that have shaped modern Scotland in order to create a space to imagine anew. A book about Scotland important to anyone, anywhere, dreaming a new world. STEPHEN DUNCOMBE, author, Dream: Re-imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy The independence referendum changes what is possible regardless of its outcome. It forces people in Scotland to confront far more directly the nature of their country rather than continue to accept the myths that build up when there is no option to go it alone. In Caledonia Dreaming Gerry Hassan skillfully traverses these key myths to show that, if Scotland were to gain independence, it would have to confront internal realities that were hidden when Westminster could be blamed for so much. If the Scots prove the bookies wrong, if events over the summer of 2014 turn so that independence is achieved, then this book demonstrates that the new Scotland will be further from many possible idealised European utopias than many nationalists had ever imagined. It is a key contribution to the debate no matter where you stand. DANNY DORLING, author, Injustice: Why Social Justice Persists, Professor of Human Geography, Oxford University. With one bound Scotland could be free! How tempting that looks to the progressive-minded on both sides of the border. If only it were that easy. Gerry Hassan drills down to deeper reasons why the many dysfunctions of British democracy could dog an independent Scotland too. With a non-partisan but beady eye on society both sides of the border, in this clever book here are tougher questions to consider than a mere Yes/No. POLLY TOYNBEE, writer and journalist, The Guardian

Acclaimed hillwalking writers Ian R Mitchell and George Rodway tell the fascinating story of Aberdeen-born Alexander Kellas, and his contribution to mountaineering from the 20th century to the present day. Now a largely neglected figure, Kellas is the pioneer of high altitude physiology, his climbing routes still in evidence today. Follow Kellas' journey, which takes him from the Scottish Cairngorms to the Himalaya, and discover how his struggles and explorations have impacted upon mountaineering today.

From the summit of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, 20 mountains can be seen. These mountains, the 'Arthurs' form Caleb's List. This is not only a guide to climbing the Arthurs, but also the story of how the list came about, and how becoming an Arthurist helped the author in his battle with AIDS.

Donald Smith's third historical novel investigates where Mary Queen of Scots' history ends and legend begins through the captivating use of contemporary prose ballad. Smith seeks a truthful narrative about not only Mary Carmichael but also Seton, Beaton, Livingston and Fleming by integrating firsthand accounts and dramatic testimony. It marks 500 years since Flodden and the Birth of John Knox.

Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Davie was about to leave the MP3 player lying on the pavement when something stopped him. A voice in his head. You'll regret it if you leave it. You'll only come back for it later. Can a song change your life? Can a song bring people, places and moments in time alive again? Davie Watts is the Trackman. He knows what song to play to you and he knows exactly when you need to hear it. Davie seeks out strangers in need and helps them using the power of music. REVIEWS: In her debut novel, Catriona Child has all the makings of a cult hit... She handles the tension between the fantastical premise and the raw and sensitive matter of a dead schoolboy tastefully, and the book's sense of place makes it a delight for lovers of Edinburgh. THE HERALD This tale of loss and isolation is a powerful piece of contemporary Scottish literature that expertly blends fantastical subject matter with a profound look at the destructive effects of bereavement. THE SKINNY This is a beautifully crafted book, fluid and rhythmic... Trackman is an inspiring and powerful novel that explores harsh realities with humour. THE STUDENT It's a story that will resonate with creative types across Edinburgh and indeed the world. TEN TRACKS Catriona Child has a pitch perfect ear for contemporary dialogue and a professional's eye for the detail of a city that the tourists rarely notice. Trackman will be on replay in your head for a long time. NORTHWORDS NOW Don't let the idea of a fantastical magic mp3 player put you off; this is an incredibly powerful piece of contemporary Scottish literature that expertly weaves the power of music through out what becomes a profound and life affirming tale. STV LOCAL Can a song change your life? Can a song bring people, places and moments in time alive again? Set in Edinburgh, this touching, funny and quirky new novel is an entertaining read for music lovers. SCOTS MAGAZINE Trackman is a book which understands the power of music, but is one which has an ability to bring comfort to those who need it...SCOTS WHAY HAET There is a common beleif that at the best and worst of times music can help. Songs that we previously never noticed can get straight to the point, or can unexpectedly creep up on you to offer comfort here is a common beleif that at the best and worst of times music can help. Songs that we previously never noticed can get straight to the point, or can unexpectedly creep up on you to offer comfort BACK COVER: Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Trackman Davie was about to leave the MP3 player lying on the pavement when something stopped him. A voice in his head. You'll regret it if you leave it. You'll only come back for it later. Can a song change your life? Can a song bring people, places and moments in time alive again? Davie Watts is the Trackman. He knows what song to play to you and he knows exactly when you need to hear it. Davie seeks out strangers in need and helps them using the power of music.

Guide to author's favourite hills under 2,000 feet, on the Scottish mainland, including some that are rarely climbed, some that are well-known and iconic, and all of which offer a distinctive hillwalking experience. These are all hills with great character, they have attitude rather than altitude.

An alternative look at notable figures and events as seen through a unique Caledonian perspective. The attributes associated with being Scottish are applied to well-known quotes and events. Covering topics such as war, politics, cinema, religion and more, the text will be accompanied by light-hearted and witty illustrations making this an ideal book for the gift market both in Scotland and further afield.

Poetry meets landscape in this collection, garnered over thirty years, of poems inspired by the ever-changing landscape of Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park.

Sang fur the Wandert is a new collection of poetry from award-winning Janet Paisley.

Forgive by Jenni Daiches

A Defferent Exonomy & Work by Stephen Boyd et al. Open Scotland, book 8.

She had made me envious. Strange as it might seem, I had not known envy before. Surely there must be other ways of living, I thought, not hand-to-mouth, alone, in a draughty old shack looking out at the same scene, day after day. Was this to be my future? It's 2137, and the future's dark. Sixteen-year-old Flora is scraping out a humble living, selling homegrown supplies from her late grandparents' run-down Shell Shack and keeping her illegal copy of Pride and Prejudice hidden from the terrifying Uzi soldiers. But Flora's life changes when she meets Li-li, the daughter of a powerful Rice Lord. Flora is seduced by the lavish lifestyle of her rulers, but also sees the brutality that underpins their lifestyle. What choices will she face on her last days in Eden? An innocent adrift in a world ripped apart by greed and want...The year is 2137, but the people of Eden are reduced to living in medieval fashion. The human race is deeply divided and the world has been brought to its knees by the Oil Wars and rising sea levels. Flora is trying to hold on to her humanity as her world changes forever. Costa Award winning author Ann Kelley's disturbing vision of the future has much to say about our own times. It's a disturbing, compulsive read that makes you realise that not so very much needs to shift for this to happen here. HELEN DUNMORE on Runners The author as artist evokes people and places with delicacy, humour and truth - a novel of outstanding beauty. COSTA AWARD JUDGES on The Bower Bird

Enjoy a laugh at the antics and wicked humour of Scottish referee Big Erchie, a powerhouse at five foot five, and a top grade referee who strikes fear into the hearts of managers and players alike as he applies the laws of the game.

This unique reflection on the world of Robert Burns places a range of photographic artworks by celebrated Scottish artist Calum Colvin alongside poems written in response to each work by 'weel-kent' Scots poet Rab Wilson.

Are you ready to tackle The Ultimate Mountain Trivia Quiz Challenge? This is a quiz book for people who love the mountains and the outdoors. It will put your brain through its paces on a wide range of topics including the world's mountains, camping, weather, history, films... Add cryptic clues, anagrams and a whole pot pourri of teasers and twisters and there's something here for everyone. The author of 100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains and The Ultimate Guide to the Munros series brings his quizzing skills and encyclopaedic knowledge of the outdoors to a book that will both inform and delight. Whether you're sitting by the campfire or in an armchair, the result is a thoroughly interesting and entertaining collection, as challenging as any mountain. Have fun but be warned that quiz-surfing can become addictive. Please surf responsibly.

There is only one argument for Scottish independence: the cultural argument. It was there long before North Sea oil had been discovered, and it will be here long after the oil has run out. How have perceptions of Scottish culture been shaped by its role within Britain? What would be different about culture in an Independent Scotland? Why is culture the key to the independence debate? ALEXANDER MOFFAT and ALAN RIACH take a hard look at the most neglected aspect of the argument for Scotland's distinctive national identity: the arts. Their proposition is that music, painting, architecture and, pre-eminently, literature, are the fuel and fire that makes imagination possible. Neglect them at your peril. For Moffat and Riach, jobs, health and trade are matters of material fact that need to be enlivened by imagination. How can we organise society to help us approach what the arts have to give. Why have we been so poor at representing our arts comprehensively, both within Scotland and internationally? What can be done? How might things be different? The arts are of paramount importance in the modern world. Moffat and Riach take the argument out of the hands of politicians and economists and beyond the petty squabbles of party politics. Praise for Arts of Resistance An inspiration, a revelation and education, as to the extraordinary richness and organic cohesion of twentieth-century Scottish culture, full of intellectual adventure and openness to the wider world... full of passion and intelligence... This is a landmark book. THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

Danny is in trouble. A wannabe animal rights activist and modern day hero, none of this was supposed to happen. After his first attempt at animal liberation ends badly, things go rapidly downhill. In the supermarket where he works his behaviour is becoming more erratic and a number of people, including his boss (a big Jim Davidson fan), a Goth grocery girl (and also teenage poet) and a security guard (enough said) are all out to get him. The woman he loves, Shona, is becoming more extreme by the minute and when they hook up with some hunt saboteurs she's more interested in digging up human graves and stealing the remains than saving foxes. Danny doesn't waste his time at the hunt either - thanks to him the fox gets torn to pieces. It's treble or nothing time, and next week the Circus is coming to town.

Glasgow's mean streets just got meaner. Can Davie McCall survive? Meet Davie McCall. Beaten, bloody... brutal. Irrevocably damaged by the barbaric regime of an abusive father, and haunted by memories of his mother's murder, there is a darkness inside him. Enter Joe the Tailor. A sophisticated crimelord with morals, he might be the only man in the city Davie can trust. But then the bodies begin to mount...In 1980s Glasgow, the criminal underworld is about to splinter. Battle lines are drawn, and the gap between friend and enemy blurs as criminals and police alike are caught in a net of lies, murder and revenge that will change the city forever. Scotland's foremost true-crime author. THE SCOTSMAN The city's dark underbelly complete with knives, razors, guns and gangs... DAILY MAIL You follow the plot like an eager dog, nose turning this way and that, not catching every single clue but quivering as you lunge towards a blood-splattered denouement. DAILY EXPRESS The Glasgow of this period is a great, gritty setting for a crime story, and Skelton's non-fiction work stands him in good stead... he's taken well to fiction... the unexpected twists keep coming. THE HERALD

Illustrated with historical and modern black and white photographs, Mitchell takes the reader off the unbeaten track for urban walks around Glasgow's rich history.

The second volume in Torrance's collection of the greatest speeches by Scots or made in Scotland.

The Tattoo Fox is the story of a young fox who makes her home at Edinburgh Castle. Intrigued by everything she hears about the Tattoo, she endeavours to find out more. Her quest takes her to some of Edinburgh's most famous landmarks as she befriends the local animals and sees the local sights. But nothing can prepare her for the fantastic spectacle of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. BACK COVER The Tattoo was a brilliant sight The fox went back there every night. A little fox makes her home by Edinburgh Castle and with the help of her new friend, the Castle Cat, she settles in well. But there is one question the Castle Cat refuses to answer. What is the Tattoo? 'Just wait and see,' he tells her. Will she ever find out? This heart-warming tale was inspired by a real-life encounter between the Producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and a fox, late one night on the Castle Esplanade.

Based on its predecessor, Short Walks in the Cairngorms, and companion to Hill Walks in the Cairngorms (2005), this book is a clear and comprehensive guide to some of the easier, level walks in 'Monarch of the Glen Country'.

The Edinburgh of Angus Calder's poems is not the city of summer tourism and landmark buildings. It is the all-the-year-round arena of lingering mists or brilliant sunlight on grey stone, where seagulls and pigeons command the early-morning streets, curlers sweep their ice at Murrayfield and coarse sportsmen revel on the Meadows.

Jenni Calder was born Jennifer Rachel Daiches to a Scottish-born mother and English-born Jewish father in Chicago, one of America's great melting-pot cities. Not Nebuchadnezzar traces her journey from then to now. Through this book, Calder discovers that her true sense of identity can only develop from finding out who she is not.

An audio recording to accompany the Luath Scots Language Learner book, which conveys the authentic pronunciation, especially important to readers from outside Scotland.