This book is an account of the people of Fife and their villages and hamlets, from medieval times to the present day. At one time or another, these habitations were the core of the country's community life, and their individual stories provide a rich source of Scotland's local and national history. Fife has seen many of the major events in Scottish history, and this book covers the places, parishes and people; their leaders, labour and leisure, and the part all strata of village society played in the vibrant country with the pretentions of a kingdom. From Kingsbarns to Saline and from Wormit to Dysart, Raymont Lamont-Brown reveals the myriad of villages, showing how they are as alive today as they ever were, still contributing to the ongoing story of Fife. In addition, he also seeks out the lost villages, the almost vanished prehistoric settlements, and shows what village names can tell us about locations, historical events and personages, and the life and industry of the people who lived in them. He also reviews the village heart of such larger places as St Andrews, Cupar, Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. 

Fife has always been one of Scotland’s most distinctive counties. Though never a ’kingdom’ in its own right, its geographical position as a peninsular county between the firths of Tay and Forth has helped maintain its self-contained identity through the ages, and even today Fifers are notoriously proud of their varied and beautiful corner of Scotland. Although the county has played a central role in Scotland’s history since earliest times, its period of greatest historical prominence was during the pre-Industrial age. St Andrews was one of the country’s great ecclesiastical centres from the tenth century onwards, as well as the home of Scotland’s first university (1412). During Stewart times, Dunfermline and Falkland were two of Scotland’s most important towns. Not surprisingly for a county of such extraordinary historical resonance, Fife contains a huge number of churches, castles and houses that witnessed events that have quite literally shaped the nation. In this book, Raymond Lamont Brown introduces the reader to these places and those associated with them - from the great abbeys of Lindores and Balmerino and the major towns of St Andrews, Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy to the beautiful villages of the East Neuk and the islands of the Firth of Forth. In addition, he also introduces some of the less familiar details from Fife’s to produce the most complete introduction to this fascinating county currently available.

St Andrews is without doubt one of Scotland's most historic and beautiful cities. Once the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, it played a prominent role in the nation's political life until the seventeenth century. In addition, it is also home of the nation's oldest university; and whilst claims that it is the birthplace of golf may remain controversial, there is no doubt it is regarded as world capital of the game today. This fascinating and comprehensive account of St Andrews traces its history from Pictish times to the present day. It is based not only on a huge amount of original research, but also on an intimate knowledge of the town which Raymond Lamont-Brown accumulated in over twenty years' residence there. In addition to facts and figures, the book also introduces many of the people who have featured prominently in the story of St Andrews - from doughty residents such as Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair and Cardinal Archbishop David Beaton to illustrious visitors like Mary, Queen of Scots, John Knox and Samuel Johnson.

Ever wondered how fat Henry VIII really was? Or what made Mary I 'Bloody'? Over many hundreds of years, British royalty has had its fair share of accidents, rumours, scandals, misrepresentations and misconceptions. For instance, could Richard III be innocent of the deaths of the 'Princes in the Tower'? And what really happened between Queen Victoria and her Highland servant John Brown? In today's world, where newspapers clamour to report new revelations about the Royal Family, this informative and quirky book gives the inquisitive reader an in-depth look at the secrets of our past royals. For anyone curious about what went on behind the palace walls, Raymond Lamont-Brown answers those intriguing, confusing and mysterious questions we might have about our monarchs.

A century after Queen Victoria's death, debate still rages surrounding her relationship with her gillie, John Brown. Were they ever married? What was the extraordinary hold he had over her? This biography aims to shed new light on these questions and to discover the truth behind Brown's hold on his royal employer. Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, the Queen found solace in the companionship of John Brown, who had commenced his royal employment as a stable hand. He became "The Queen's Highland Servant" in 1865 and rose to be the most influential member of the Scottish Royal Household. While the Queen could be brusque and petulant with her servants, family and ministers, she submitted to Brown's fussy organization of her domestic life, his bullying and familiarity without a murmur. Despite warnings of his unpopularity with her subjects by one Prime Minister, the Queen was adamant that Brown would not be sacked. The Queen's confidence was rewarded when Brown saved her from an assassination attempt, after which he was vaunted as a public hero. The author reveals the names of republicans and disaffected courtiers who related gossip about Queen Victoria and John Brown and their purported marriage and child, and identifies those who plotted to have Brown dismissed. Based on research in public, private and royal archives, as well as diaries and memoirs of those who knew Brown and interviews with his surviving relatives, this text analyzes the relationship between Queen Victoria and Brown.

One of the brilliant scientists of his day, Humphry Davy was acclaimed for his work as a chemist, notably for the isolation of iodine, and later the invention of Davy safety lamp. This book provides and account of the life and achievements of this man.