Scottish News December 2004

Welcome to the fourth issue of Books from Scotland and a new Scottish bestseller list.

1. The Real Mackay
2. McCrae's Battalion
3. Little Boss
4. Peter Lorimer
5. With Friends in High Places
6. The Pocket Scottish Movie Book
7. On Both Sides of the Fence
8. The Highland High Way
9. Armed Candy
10. Wait 'Til You Hear This

McCRAE'S BATTALION remains a consistent bestseller but it has been shunted from the top spot by THE REAL MACKAY, the autobiography of Scottish footballer Dave Mackay which has gone straight in at No.1. Dave Mackay played for Hearts, Spurs and Derby County and remains one of the best-loved and respected footballers of all time. Hundreds have been turning out to his signing sessions and ex pat Scots can still meet him when he signs at the Spurs Store in the Harvey Centre, Harlow on 16th December at 5.30pm and at the Spurs ground, White Hart Lane on 18th December, 11/30-12.30. As usual the No.1 book is offered at £1 off p&p free to Mainstream on line customers so if you haven't bought it already check out THE REAL MACKAY.

LITTLE BOSS is a surprise addition at No.2. Published some years ago it is the biography of Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish entrepreneur who took America by storm. It is written by James Mackay who is the author of biographies of Allan Pinkerton, Alexander Graham Bell and Mary Queen of Scots.

New Scottish books this month include INDIAN PETER, a fascinating true story about a Scottish boy who was kidnapped and shipped to America where he was shipwrecked captured by Indians, fought the French and eventually sent back as a prisoner of war and WAIT 'TIL YOU HEAR THIS, the biography of popular entertainer Andy Cameron.

I like to think of our books as inspirational but one of the strangest stories I have heard is that of a Glaswegian living in Wales who is so passionate about DEADLY DIVISIONS by well-known criminal Paul Ferris and social worker Reg McKay that he has spent a fortune customising his Vespa scooter with scenes from the book.

And Finally...

We were intrigued to read a Scottish bestseller list published in a national newspaper which claimed that McCRAE'S BATTALION by Les McKeown was at No.6.

Les was in fact the lead singer of The Bay City Rollers and to the best of our knowledge is no expert on World War 2 history!

Photographs used on our homepage from time to time to depict Scottish interest titles are taken from Scotland: A Visual Journey price £17.99 by Douglas Corrance.