Thursday, February 25, 2010

Scottish Miscellany - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave

So, time to come clean...

I'm onto the final stretch of my newest non-fiction book. Entitled Scottish Miscellany, in the best-selling tradition of What is Myrrh Anyway?, it answers all the questions you never knew you had about the Land of the Scots.

How do you play the bagpipes? What's the deal with men in skirts - sorry - kilts? What should haggis really taste like? Why is the thistle the national flower of Scotland? How do you toss the caber (and why would you want to)? When does a broth become Scotch Broth? Why is Scotland called Scotland? And is there really a prehistoric monster living in Loch Ness?

All these questions - and more! - are answered in the book, which includes recipes for traditional Scottish fare and even a beginner's guide to Gaelic. And to support its publication in the autumn, I've started a dedicated blog, which you can find here.


Scottish Miscellany is being produced by Skyhorse Publishing, who are based in New York. They were the guys behind the American edition of What is Myrrh? entitled Christmas Miscellany. (Do you see a pattern forming here?)

Here's Bill Wolfsthal to tell you a little more about the company...

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4 Comments:

Blogger Alex said...

What can we expect for you to explain to the Americans? Tea. The royal family? Eastborne?

February 26, 2010 at 4:17 AM  
Blogger Jonathan Green said...

None of those things really, as they don't have anything to do with Scotland - apart from the Queen, and I think the Americans are pretty clued up as to who she is already.

February 26, 2010 at 8:23 AM  
Blogger Alex said...

Ah, I actually meant: Will we see follow-up books to this on a variety of misunderstood topics? ie. English fascination with Tea. Eastborne as the UK retirement village etc. Is there a Welsh Miscellany - Everything You always Wanted to Know About Wales the Leek in the works? ;)

February 27, 2010 at 9:40 AM  
Blogger Jonathan Green said...

Well never say never.

I do happen to have an idea for a book about English traditions/eccentricities and there may well be an Irish Miscellany at some point in the future.

February 27, 2010 at 10:03 AM  

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