In Byways of Scottish History

The author sets out on a literary journey, tracing the routes once marked by railway and steamboat advertisements, only to wander off the main road and discover Scotland’s quieter corners. Each essay stitches together vivid scenery with the tangled politics of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, offering listeners a mosaic of events that larger histories often overlook. From forgotten battles to the everyday lives of townsfolk, the volume invites you to hear the echoes of a landscape where stone castles meet rolling glens.

Among the pieces, a thoughtful portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots examines the enduring fascination with her tragic fate, while other chapters revive obscure legends such as the “Longtail” myth and bring to life medieval French poems and Latin verses. The author's careful translations and lively commentary make these fragments feel immediate, allowing you to wander through Scotland’s past as if you were stepping along its hidden paths.