ONE SAVVY SCOT SKIPPER

Ever wonder what it was like to be the Captain of a Clyde Puffer -- that is, a steamship on the beautiful lochs of the Scots highlands at the beginning of the twentieth century?

Enter now the captivating world of Captain Para Handy and the irascible crew of "The Vital Spark, " called by it's captain "the best boat in the tread."

Join Para Handy, (or, rather, Captain John Macfarlane, his real name) and his crew of characters, the wondrous Hurricane Jack, the effete engineer Dan Macphail, the superstitious ship's mate Dougie, Colin the Tar and his cousin Davie Green.

Para Handy loses command of his beloved boat -- for a while. Read about a lost child, and the startling fate of a canary. Chuckle over Dougie's payday trouble with his wife. Plus a very odd Scots recipe.

Take a deep whiff of the distillery, keep an eye out for Nessie, grab yourself a bagpipe and a bowlful of haggis and get the kilt charmed off you in these delightful tales

THE BAGPIPE, THE SPORRAN, AND THE DIRK

Colin had a melancholy homecoming from University to his father's house in the shire of Argile and the fabled highlands of Scotland.

The year is 1744. The land of peaceful glens, misty lochs and the skirl of pipes in the heather is embroiled in change.

From the fractious clan battles has arisen the famous Montrose, who sacks Inveraray and then wins the battle of Inverlochy. The Marquis of Argile, Gillesbeg Gruamach, wishes to return from clan warfare to peace and lawful commerce and opposes Montrose.

Colin meets the swaggering character Iain Aluinn -- known to his compatriots as John Splendid -- who serves his Marquis, but longs for rebellion and battle.

Colin finds adventure and romance in tumultuous homeland -- and far, far more.

Called by some the first truly authentic Highland novel, this colorful and exciting novel is a treasure of Scotland's great heritage.