The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature

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A podcast series brought to you by Birlinn Limited, an independent publishing house based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Featuring readings, interviews with authors round-ups of the best new books from Scotland and beyond. Established in 1992, Birlinn Limited p

The Birlinn Limited Podcast


    • Aug 4, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 27 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature

    Douglas Skelton introduces A Rattle of Bones with Jane Hamilton

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 29:19


    Listen to Douglas Skelton, author of the acclaimed Rebecca Connolly thriller novels, introduce his latest book, A Rattle of Bones. Douglas is in conversation with The Daily Record's Jane Hamilton as they discuss Douglas' career in journalism, his interest in historical crimes, and what's next for the Rebecca Connolly series.

    An introduction to Fringed With Mud and Pearls by Ian Crofton

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 8:32


    In this video, Ian Crofton gives an introduction to his book Fringed With Mud and Pearls: An English Island Odyssey, published on 6th May 2021. Find out more about this boko on the Birlinn website here: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/fringed-with-mud-pearls/

    Alastair McIntosh - Riders on the Storm: The Climate Crisis and the Survival of Being

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 22:25


    Climate change is the greatest challenge to humankind today. While the coronavirus sheds a light on the vulnerability of our interconnected world, the effects of global warming will be permanent, indeed catastrophic, without a massive shift in human behaviour. Writer, scholar and broadcaster Alastair McIntosh speaks exclusively to the Birlinn Limited Podcast about his new book Riders on the Storm: The Climate Crisis and the Survival of Being ahead of the re-scheduled COP26, which will take place in Glasgow in November 2021. Riders on the Storm is available to buy now from your local bookshop and also at https://birlinn.co.uk/product/riders-on-the-storm/.

    Alistair Moffat - In Search Of Angels: Travels to the Edge of the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 19:55


    Join award-winning writer and historian Alistair Moffat as he travels through the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the steps of the extraordinary Holy Men who first brought the word of God to Scotland fourteen centuries ago. In this delightful podcast episode, Alistair Moffat details the lengths he went to in order to capture the 'spirit of place' experienced by the Holy Men, whether it was sleeping on the beach, journeying up the steepest road in Britain or even - possibly - coming face to face with an angel. In Search of Angels: Travels to the Edge of the World is available to buy now from https://birlinn.co.uk/product/in-search-of-angels/ and your local bookshop.

    Ray Perman - The Rise and Fall of the City of Money: A Financial History of Edinburgh

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 32:56


    In this fascinating interview with fellow Birlinn author Bob Wylie, Ray Perman discusses his most recent book The Rise and Fall of the City of Money: A Financial History of Edinburgh. The Rise and Fall of the City of Money is available to buy now from https://birlinn.co.uk/product/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-city-of-money/ and your local bookshop.

    Bob Wylie - Bandit Capitalism: Carillion and the Corruption of the British State

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 21:08


    In this exclusive launch-day episode of the Birlinn Limited Podcast, Bob Wylie is interviewed by fellow Birlinn author Ray Perman about Bob's latest book, Bandit Capitalism: Carillion and the Corruption of the British State. Bandit Capitalism is published on 10th Sept 2020 and is available to buy from https://birlinn.co.uk/product/bandit-capitalism/ and your local bookshop.

    Stuart Cosgrove - Cassius X: A Legend in the Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2020 28:28


    In this exclusive launch-day episode of the Birlinn Podcast, Stuart Cosgrove is interviewed by Heath Common about his latest book Cassius X: A Legend in the Making. Cassius X is published on 3rd September 2020 and is available to buy from https://birlinn.co.uk/product/cassius-x/ and from your local bookshop.

    Blair Bowman and Nikki Welch: The Pocket Guide To Whisky (New Edition)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 15:15


    Join Birlinn authors and world-class whisky experts Blair Bowman and Nikki Welch as they discuss the new edition of The Pocket Guide to Whisky. Available in July 2020 from https://birlinn.co.uk/product/the-pocket-guide-to-whisky-2/ and your local bookshop.

    Whisky Galore read by the Birlinn Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 17:15


    To celebrate World Whisky Day 2020, here's the first chapter of Whisky Galore, Compton MacKenzie's classic tale of wartime rationing, shipwreck and intoxication in the Hebrides. Read by members of the Birlinn team from their homes while on lockdown in May 2020. You can find out more about the novel here: birlinn.co.uk/product/whisky-galore/ Sound effects credited to soundbible.com.

    Reading from A Day Like Any Other by Isla Dewar

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 8:42


    Here's an exclusive episode with Isla Dewar, reading from her new novel A Day Like Any Other. Published May 2020 and available to buy from www.birlinn.co.uk/product/a-day-like-any-other/ or your local bookshop.

    The Lost Poets at the National Library of Scotland

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 64:12


    A recording of a unique event at the National Library of Scotland in February 2020. The Lost Poets are: Ron Butlin, Andrew Greig, Liz Lochhead, Brian McCabe and James Hutcheson, along with his band The Great Deep.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: At Bloody Scotland 2018 - Various Artists

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2018 61:15


    In our first episode on location, Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr talk to a selection of crime writers at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival, held in Stirling in Septemeber 2018. Featuring (in order of appearance) Michael Malone, James Oswald (6:00), Charlie McGarry (16:25), Denzil Meyrick & Douglas Skelton (24:45), Graeme Macrae Burnet & Simone Buchholz (35:20), Kaite Welsh (46:08), and Karen Robinson of the Times and Sunday Times Crime Club (49:25). Our thanks to all the authors who took part, to Fiona Brownlee, and all who make Bloody Scotland a truly special event on Scotland's literary calendar.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 15 - Gail Honeyman

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2018 48:47


    In this episode Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr talk the smash hit novel of 2017-2018, Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. They are joined by novelist Isla Dewar to talk about her new novel, It Takes One to Know One.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 14 - Alexander McCall Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2018 43:00


    Alexander McCall Smith joins us at the Hay Literary Festival to talk about global sensation, the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this summer. The conversation includes news of his forthcoming titles: the next Precious Ramotswe book, which sees her making a foray into politics; and an anthology of Scottish poetry.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 13 - Ron Butlin - The Sound Of My Voice

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2018 57:23


    In this episode Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Polygon Books talk Ron Butlin's newly reissued 1987 novel, 'The Sound of My Voice'. The author himself joins to to tell us about its composition, about writing poetry to order, writing for children, and the many types of Scottish rain. The poems Ron reads are from his collection 'The Magicians of Scotland' (Polygon) available in print and eBook with audio formats.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 12 - The Robinsons of Defoe And Spark

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2018 58:46


    In this episode VIkki Relly and Kristian Kerr explore Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. With 2018 seeing the continuing publication of a complete set of the novels Muriel Spark, they speak with Candia McWilliam about Spark's second novel, Robinson.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 11 - Muriel Spark - The Comforters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2017 47:41


    Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd discuss Muriel Spark's first novel, 'The Comforters', before talking to author Alan Taylor about his new book, 'Appointment in Arezzo: A Friendship with Muriel Spark'.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 10 - John Buchan - Sick Heart River

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2017 55:48


    Join Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr for a discussion of Sick Heart River, John Buchan's final, haunting novel. They also talk to Robert J Harris, author of a new Richard Hannay novel, The Thirty One Kings, just published by Polygon.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 9 - Ian Rankin - Black & Blue

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2017 56:04


    This episode, Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr talk Scottish crime writing with a discussion of Ian Rankin's Black and Blue and a reading from the latest book in Denzil Meyrick's Argyll-set DCI Daley series, One Last Dram Before Midnight

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 8 - Emma Tennant - Two Women Of London

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2017 57:41


    In this episode of a regular podcast on Scottish Literature Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd talk Emma Tennant's Two Women of London, a 1989 retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. They talk Stevenson with Kevin MacNeil about his novel, A Method Actor's Guide to Jekyll and Hyde and his new RLS anthology, a selection planned by Jean Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares but hitherto unpublished.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 7 - James Hogg

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2017 57:01


    In this episode of a regular podcast on Scottish Literature Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd talk James Hogg's 1824 masterpiece, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, and talk to author Sheila Szatkowski about her brand new Enlightenment Edinburgh: A Guide.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 6 – Naomi Mitchison – Travel Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2017 55:09


    Episode 6 of The Hitchhikers Guide to Scottish Literature podcast sees Kristian Kerr and Vikki Reilly visit fantastical and magical worlds. We take a look at Naomi Mitchison's 'Travel Light', and speak to our very own Joan Lennon about her latest adventure story for young teens, 'Walking Mountain'.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 5 – Iain Crichton Smith - Consider The Lilies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2017 61:42


    In the latest episode of a new podcast dedicated to Scottish books, Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd talk about Iain Crichton Smith's classic novel, Consider the Lilies. We shed more light on the Highland clearances with an interview with the acclaimed historian, James Hunter, who has recently published the award-winning Set Adrift Upon the World. Kevin MacNeil reads Crichton Smith's poetry.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 4 - Elizabeth Melville - Ane Godlie Dreame

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2017 59:06


    In this latest episode of a new podcast about Scottish books, Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd discuss Elizabeth Melville's Ane Godlie Dreame. We stay in 16th century Scotland with Shirley McKay, author of the Hew Cullen mysteries, a hugely enjoyable historical crime series.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 3 - Irvine Welsh - Trainspotting

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2017 57:44


    In this episode of the Hitchhikers Guide to Scottish Literature, Kristian Kerr and Vikki Reilly of Birlinn Ltd discuss Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting. We chat to Neu Reekie, otherwise known as Kevin Williamson and Michael Pedersen, about shaking up the Edinburgh lit scene, and Michael performs poems from his debut Play With Me, and forthcoming collection Oyster. WARNING: CONTAINS SALTY LANGUAGE.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 2 - Nan Shepherd - The Living Mountain

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2017 48:24


    In the second episode of a new podcast about Scottish books, Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd discuss Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain. We continue to celebrate the Cairngorms with Patrick Baker, author of The Cairngorms: A Secret History, and the marvellous Andrew Greig shares a couple of his mountain poems. Poems by permission of Andrew Greig from Getting Higher: The Complete Mountain Poetry (Polygon); ‘The Loch of the Green Corrie' recorded at The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh (2015); ‘Knoydart Revisited' from the forthcoming CD Clean By Rain (SoundMagic Productions), lyric Andrew Greig, music Brian Michie. Out March 2017 and for sale via Andrew-greig.weebly.com or Birnam CD Online Shop. Join in the conversation on Twitter: @BirlinnBooks And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birlinnbooks/?fref=ts#

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Scottish Literature: Episode 1 - Robert Burns, Poems (Kilmarnock Edition)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2017 44:21


    A regular podcast presented by Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd. Travelling the highways and byways of Scottish literature. In the first episode of a new podcast about Scottish books, Vikki Reilly and Kristian Kerr of Birlinn Ltd discuss Robert Burns' Kilmarnock Edition of Poems, 'Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect'. Helping them celebrate the work of Burns are historian, Christopher Whatley and poet William Letford. Join in the conversation on Twitter: (url for Birlinn Twitter page) And Facebook: (url for Birlinn Facebook page)

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