First published in 1983, Hugh MacDiarmid: The Terrible Crystal is a detailed introduction to the poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid. Hugh MacDiarmid’s poetry shows a persistent search for a consistent intellectual vision that reveals, in all its facets, the source of creativity recognised by the poet as ‘the terrible crystal’. This introduction to his poetry shows that MacDiarmid’s great achievement was a poetry of evolutionary idealism, that draws attention to itself by a series of culture shocks. It places MacDiarmid as a nationalist poet in an international context: a man whose unique concept of creative unity enabled him to combine the Scottish tradition with the linguistic experimentation of Joyce and Pound. Hugh MacDiarmid: The Terrible Crystal is ideal for those with an interest in the poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid, Scottish poetry, and poetry and criticism more broadly.

The kingdom of Scotland has had a turbulent history, at points the site of a tribal contest and of a far-reaching political controversy. This guide traces the history of the Scottish crown from Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD to Jame VI in 1603 when the crown became one with England.This informative guide is filled with family trees and colour photographs of fascinating portraits and artefacts from Scotland's history. It provides an accessible and informative introduction to the story of the country's monarchy and the complex and dangerous competition that surrounded the crown.This well-researched guide covers each Scottish house and ruler in separate comprehensively detailed sections, all the way until George III was acknowledged as the Stuart successor in 1807.Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel, including others in a series of historical titles about Scotland.

First published in 1979, this work presents the history of the ballad, including its origin, style, content and preservation. It explores how ballads have adapted and changed over time, particularly with the rise of mass literacy and printing and the decline in the oral tradition, and in doing so, demonstrates the versatility of the genre. With separate indexes for names and ballad titles, this book will be a valuable resource to those studying English ballads and early modern and modern poetry.

First published in 1983, Hugh MacDiarmid: The Terrible Crystal is a detailed introduction to the poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid. Hugh MacDiarmid's poetry shows a persistent search for a consistent intellectual vision that reveals, in all its facets, the source of creativity recognised by the poet as 'the terrible crystal'. This introduction to his poetry shows that MacDiarmid's great achievement was a poetry of evolutionary idealism, that draws attention to itself by a series of culture shocks. It places MacDiarmid as a nationalist poet in an international context: a man whose unique concept of creative unity enabled him to combine the Scottish tradition with the linguistic experimentation of Joyce and Pound. Hugh MacDiarmid: The Terrible Crystal is ideal for those with an interest in the poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid, Scottish poetry, and poetry and criticism more broadly.

First published in 1979, this work presents the history of the ballad, including its origin, style, content and preservation. It explores how ballads have adapted and changed over time, particularly with the rise of mass literacy and printing and the decline in the oral tradition, and in doing so, demonstrates the versatility of the genre. With separate indexes for names and ballad titles, this book will be a valuable resource to those studying English ballads and early modern and modern poetry.

Combining encyclopedic information as well as a critical guide to the poetry of Robert Burns, this work attempts to show the complex nature of this supposedly uncomplicated poet. Born a farmer's son in 1759, Burns lived through many of the most important events of his century. The work is divided into six sections. Part I places Burns in context with a chronology, "The Burns Circle" and a topography. Part 2 looks at the Burnsian issues of religion, politics, philosophy, drink, drama and sex. Part 3, an essay on Burns as a poetic phenomenon, is sure to provoke debate about the relevance of Burns to his time and ours. The fourth and longest section of the book examines 25 poems, 18 verse epistles and 26 songs as well as commenting on the letters, political ballads and Common Place Books. A select bibliography and four appendices are followed by a glossary of Scots words and indices of poems and names.

This is an account of life in a fishing community on the east coast of Scotland seen through the eyes of a young boy.