Modern Scottish Culture

Surely the sparkiest of the young generation of Scottish cultural commentators, Michael Gardiner has produced a remarkable freehand sketch of the modern nation. At his best he writes with incisive disrespect, and with an insightful sense of achievement and possibility. From Enlightenment to bhangra, from philosophy to film, Modern Scottish Culture presents its subject in a way that is jargon-free, provocative, and entertainingly wide-ranging. -- Robert Crawford, University of St Andrews A stimulating survey of Scottish cultural and political identity, from law to football, literature to architecture, education to religion, kailyard to parliament and more. Gardiner reassesses in witty fashion what those often unexamined words 'Britain' and 'Scottish' might mean today, not to mention the status of that other stateless nation 'England'. His field is wide and from the Highland clearances to the 'cultural clearances', from Macbeth to Shallow Grave, Gardiner offers a highly entertaining primer on the state of Scotland, backed up by probing questions and excellent lists of further reading. A lively book from start to finish, informed, insightful, quick and irreverent. -- Roderick Watson, University of Stirling A lively, wide-ranging and insightful introduction to Scottish identity... The book appears intended as a college text on teh subject. It's a good one. Gardiner's style is clear and readable. Because he expresses his opinions, the narrative itself has a rugged, partisan Scottish personality. i know no bettersingle-volume introduction to contemporary Scotland and Scottish society. If you would get a handle on Scotland, people and soul, and how its past shapes its present, this is the way. British Heritage Surely the sparkiest of the young generation of Scottish cultural commentators, Michael Gardiner has produced a remarkable freehand sketch of the modern nation. At his best he writes with incisive disrespect, and with an insightful sense of achievement and possibility. From Enlightenment to bhangra, from philosophy to film, Modern Scottish Culture presents its subject in a way that is jargon-free, provocative, and entertainingly wide-ranging. A stimulating survey of Scottish cultural and political identity, from law to football, literature to architecture, education to religion, kailyard to parliament and more. Gardiner reassesses in witty fashion what those often unexamined words 'Britain' and 'Scottish' might mean today, not to mention the status of that other stateless nation 'England'. His field is wide and from the Highland clearances to the 'cultural clearances', from Macbeth to Shallow Grave, Gardiner offers a highly entertaining primer on the state of Scotland, backed up by probing questions and excellent lists of further reading. A lively book from start to finish, informed, insightful, quick and irreverent. A lively, wide-ranging and insightful introduction to Scottish identity... The book appears intended as a college text on teh subject. It's a good one. Gardiner's style is clear and readable. Because he expresses his opinions, the narrative itself has a rugged, partisan Scottish personality. i know no bettersingle-volume introduction to contemporary Scotland and Scottish society. If you would get a handle on Scotland, people and soul, and how its past shapes its present, this is the way.