Rediscovering the Poetry of Louisa Agnes Czarnecki, a 19th-Century Edinburgh Writer and Musician Today we are publishing a blog by Ash Mowat, a volunteer in the Civic Engagement Team, on a little known 19th-century Scottish poet. The Edinburgh-born Louisa Agnes Czarnecki (née Winter) …Continue reading →

‘Nothing is Here for Tears’: Helen Cruickshank Bids Farewell to F. Marian McNeill TAGS: F. Marian McNeill | Helen B. Cruickshank This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of folklorist F. Marian McNeill on 22 February 1973. Edinburgh University Library holds the manuscript of a memorial poem written by …Continue reading →

William Drummond’s ‘Flowres of Sion’: A Unique Copy of a Major Work TAGS: William Drummond of Hawthornden This year marks the quatercentenary of the publication of Flowres of Sion (1623), an important volume by William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585-1649), one of Scotland’s major 17th-century poets and one …Continue reading →

Good Riddance to an ‘Intolerable’ Year: James Hogg Bids Farewell to 1831 To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of James Hogg (1770-1835), we are featuring a peculiarly timely manuscript from Edinburgh University Library’s collections. Hogg’s poem ‘1831’ will strike a …Continue reading →

Bicentenary of Sir Walter Scott’s ‘The Abbot’ TAGS: Corson Collection | Joseph Mallord William Turner | Mary Queen of Scots | Sir Walter Scott This week marks the bicentenary of Sir Walter Scott’s twelfth novel The Abbot, published in Edinburgh on 2 September 1820 and in London two days later. Alone among the Waverley …Continue reading →

Centenary of Hamish Henderson TAGS: Hamish Henderson Yesterday a plaque was unveiled at the School of Scottish Studies Archives celebrating the centenary of Hamish Henderson, who was born in Blairgowrie on 11 November 1919. As a songwriter, …Continue reading →

‘Not a Varsity Bird’: William Soutar’s Student Years TAGS: William Soutar 100 years ago this week, one of Scotland’s best-loved poets became a student of Edinburgh University. On 13 October 1919, the 21-year-old William Soutar added his name to the university’s …Continue reading →

‘This Single Song of Two’: Centenary of the Marriage of Edwin and Willa Muir TAGS: Edwin Muir | George Mackay Brown | Willa Muir 7 June 2019 marks the centenary of the marriage of Edwin and Willa Muir, one of Scottish literature’s great creative partnerships. Acclaimed in their own right as poet and novelist …Continue reading →

Fifty Years of ‘An Orkney Tapestry’ TAGS: Charles Senior | George Mackay Brown | Helen B. Cruickshank | Norman MacCaig | Scottish Literature This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of two of George Mackay Brown’s landmark publications, An Orkney Tapestry and A Time to Keep. While Brown was already well established as a …Continue reading →

Anniversary of Andrew Lang TAGS: Andrew Lang | Fairy Books | Leonora Blanche Alleyne | Scottish Literature March 31 marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of one of Scotland’s most prolific and versatile writers, Andrew Lang (1844-1912). The author or co-author of 249 volumes, Lang worked …Continue reading →