The Provost

In this lively edition of a once‑private manuscript, the late provost of Gudetown offers a rare glimpse into the workings of civic power at the turn of the century. The narrator, a contemporary editor, discovers the notes tucked among the official records—detached observations that reveal both the grandeur of public duties and the quirks of everyday life in a bustling Scottish burgh. As the editor wades through petitions, council debates, and the provost’s own reflections, the volume becomes a portrait of ambition, duty, and the personal cost of navigating three tenures as the town’s chief magistrate.

The book balances meticulous municipal detail with the provost’s candid musings, inviting listeners to hear the voice of a man who trusted his experience should serve as guidance for future generations. While the editor must prune anecdotes that stray from public relevance, the remaining passages retain the provost’s wit and earnestness, offering a vivid, approachable window onto a bygone era of local governance.