Literature of Scotland

'An excellent resource.' - Caroline McCracken-Flesher, University of Wyoming, USA 'Clear, lucid and accessible.' - Douglas Gifford, University of Glasgow, UK Reviews of the previous edition 'Roderick Watson's The Literature of Scotland is a masterly survey of 600 years of writing in Gaelic, Scots and English. It is accurate in its facts, fair in its judgements, brilliant in its compression and a pleasure to read.' - The Weekend Scotsman 'Roderick Watson has done a notable service to Scottish letters. This is a book which should be in every house in Scotland.' - P. H. Scott, Books in Scotland 'A substantial piece of work, written in a lively, flowing style, which combines clarity with concision. The wealth of detail packed into its less than 500 pages makes it an invaluable addition to the shelves of any scholar wishing to know more about Scotland's long and continuing literary tradition.' - Aonghas MacNeacall, The West Highland Free Press 'An essential reference work.' - James Roberson, Glasgow Herald '...a book of formidable scholarship that can be easily dipped into for specific, sought-after information, yet general reader and specialist alike can read Watson's lucid prose from cover-to-cover with pleasure.' - Scott Lyall, Scottish Studies Review '[Watson]...writes with clarity and detail, avoids over-simplification of complex issues and informs anyone not up to speed on the leading events of the period...When dealing with individual writers within a period or century, Watson writes with enthusiasm and enjoyment as well as critical and cultural insight.' - Allan Ronald, The Use of English

This second edition of one of the most comprehensive accounts of Scottish life and literature now focuses on Medieval to Victorian times, exploring the growth of the idea of a nation from the early ballads and oral tradition to the achievement of Burns, Scott and Carlyle. The modern literature which followed is discussed in the companion volume.This second edition of one of the most comprehensive accounts of Scottish life and literature now focuses on Medieval to Victorian times, exploring the growth of the idea of a nation from the early ballads and oral tradition to the achievement of Burns, Scott and Carlyle. The modern literature which followed is discussed in the companion volume.