Books & Poetry

Laura Cumming took the Book of the Year for Thunderclap

The Saltires 2024: Thunderclap by Laura Cumming wins Scotland's Book of the Year
Thunderclap by Laura Cumming has won 'Book of the Year' at Scotland's National Book Awards 2024.

Guilt, regret and cursed love for a Scottish icon

Herald Media Partner

Joanna Basford: 'Books are wonderful ways to escape into new worlds'

Doug Maughan spotted this sign in a Helsinki hotel. “Not sure about the final instruction,” he says. “Is it compulsory?”

Doug Maughan spotted this sign in a Helsinki hotel. “Not sure about the final instruction,” he says. “Is it compulsory?”

Herald Diary: News flash: don't do this on your holiday

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah

The incredible life of Mohamed Salah - the world’s best-known Muslim player

Aberdeenshire council warned library closures will 'deepen inequality'

Aberdeenshire council warned library closures will 'deepen inequality'

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Aberdeenshire council warned library closures will 'deepen inequality'

Tasty fish and chips: but what about the vinegar?

Tasty fish and chips: but what about the vinegar?

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Herald Diary: So does Glasgow's West End have the poshest fish and chips?

Author Douglas Skelton

Author Douglas Skelton

Danger lurks around every corner in Scottish author's immersive historical thriller

Paul Paris beside a memorial to Janet Horne in Dornoch

Paul Paris beside a memorial to Janet Horne in Dornoch

Tragic death of Scotland's last witch is Scottish Book of the Year

Uncover the darker side of Christmas with our ancestors’ scariest seasonal traditions

Author Katy Lironi

Author Katy Lironi

Scottish author's memoir of raising five children is a moving and memorable read

A vision of a terrible future – so how close are we to it?

If you’ve ever cared for someone, this is required reading

Kenny Moore is now eager to discover how much it costs to purchase five discs…

Kenny Moore is now eager to discover how much it costs to purchase five discs…

Herald Diary: Attention anyone who loves a bargain....

Spotted in Dublin Zoo by Rod Graham, who says: “The administrators of that zoo obviously have plenty of compassion, though just not for the human race.”

Spotted in Dublin Zoo by Rod Graham, who says: “The administrators of that zoo obviously have plenty of compassion, though just not for the human race.”

Herald Diary: Warning: here's how you could be a menace to wildlife

The most entertaining biography since Taylor and Burton memoir: 10 books to read next

Waterstones book shop in Glasgow

Waterstones book shop in Glasgow

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Scots author nominated for Waterstones top award

Collins dictionary announces word of the year

Collins dictionary announces word of the year

Collins Dictionary announces Word of the Year for 2024

The High School of Glasgow is the first independent school in Scotland to achieve Gold in Scottish Book Trust’s national ‘Reading Schools’ programme

The High School of Glasgow is the first independent school in Scotland to achieve Gold in Scottish Book Trust’s national ‘Reading Schools’ programme

Independent school becomes first in country to get gold in national reading award

Anbara Salam is one of the authors up for the awards

Anbara Salam is one of the authors up for the awards

Women authors dominate Scottish Book Award nominations as shortlists announced

Former Prime Minister David Cameron with his Bullingdon Club chums

Former Prime Minister David Cameron with his Bullingdon Club chums

Hauntingly truthful novel skewers the cruelties of the British elite

German Nazi SS troops guarding members of the Jewish resistance captured during the suppression of the Warsaw ghetto uprising in 1943. About 13,000 Jews died during the uprising. Most of the remaining 50,000 residents sent to concentration camps

German Nazi SS troops guarding members of the Jewish resistance captured during the suppression of the Warsaw ghetto uprising in 1943. About 13,000 Jews died during the uprising. Most of the remaining 50,000 residents sent to concentration camps

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Heroism and bravery vie with treachery and betrayal in this war-time thriller

Author Jenny Lindsay at Glasgow Art Club

Author Jenny Lindsay at Glasgow Art Club

Kevin McKenna Interview

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Jenny Lindsay: I was hounded for saying women's rights must be protected from self-id

Should Glasgow's Cenotaph be moved?

Should Glasgow's Cenotaph be moved?

Letters: People of Glasgow should have a say on future of George Square's statues

Filling in time: see

Filling in time: see

Herald Diary: Make the Commonwealth Games bigger, not smaller. Here's where to start

Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby

Dark sexual desires, domestic angst, and the horrors that divide men and women

Scots Word of the Week: Sweirt

This Scots beach has stunning sands, majestic hills and enchanting forests

The main character Jack has lived all of his 63 years on Shetland

The main character Jack has lived all of his 63 years on Shetland

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Moving family tale links a love of country music from Scotland to the States

JK Rowling has revealed she turned down a peerage twice

JK Rowling has revealed she turned down a peerage twice

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JK Rowling reveals she turned down peerages twice after Kemi Badenoch offer

Joe Pasquale: see

Joe Pasquale: see

Herald Diary: What would Joe Pasquale be doing at Glasgow Central Station?

Ally McCoist's new book will be serialised

Ally McCoist's new book will be serialised

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Ally McCoist's new book to be serialised exclusively in The Herald

Scots Word of the Week: Begowk

Taylor Swift: see

Taylor Swift: see

Herald Diary: Why Taylor Swift beats Scotland hands down

Author Maureen Cullen

Author Maureen Cullen

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Was Clydeside in the 1960s really this grim? Coming-of-age story pulls no punches

Dean Village and Edinburgh old town

Dean Village and Edinburgh old town

The pub's vegan haggis fritters gave me an intense love of all things Scottish

Chris Robertson spotted this sign at a gig, obviously hung by the stage hands. Says Chris: “They’re honest toilers who are honest about their toil.”

Chris Robertson spotted this sign at a gig, obviously hung by the stage hands. Says Chris: “They’re honest toilers who are honest about their toil.”

Herald Diary: A close encounter with philosophical roadies

The Wombles, icons of the 1970s.

The Wombles, icons of the 1970s.

Herald Diary: Remember the Wombles, icons of punk. Wait ... what?

Author Ali Smith

Author Ali Smith

Startling new novel from inspiring Scots author: 10 books to read right now

Stuart Murdoch (L) of Belle & Sebastian performs during the 2017 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park on August 11, 2017 in San Francisco, California

Stuart Murdoch (L) of Belle & Sebastian performs during the 2017 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park on August 11, 2017 in San Francisco, California

Dad carried me into ambulance: Belle and Sebastian singer on inspiration for novel

It was Robert Burns who erected a stone at Robert Fergusson's unmarked grave

It was Robert Burns who erected a stone at Robert Fergusson's unmarked grave

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'Overlooked' Scots poet who influenced Burns honoured in sell-out event

Homes & Interiors

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'Scots are getting braver' - Australian TV judge on cutting-edge Caledonian style

Here's what The Herald's critics have been looking at over the last week or so.

Here's what The Herald's critics have been looking at over the last week or so.

REVIEW round up

'A masterclass' – What Herald critics say about this week's most exciting arts events

David Coulthard: see

David Coulthard: see

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Herald Diary: Why David Coulthard's Monaco win was nothing special

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Palace of Holyroodhouse’s dramatic past revealed in first official history

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster in the 1931 film adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster in the 1931 film adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel

How Dundee helped inspire Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Heading for a tragedy? See

Heading for a tragedy? See

Herald Diary: Maybe now we know what Shakespeare liked to drink

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How 'communistic' community on edge of Scotland was turned into 'an isle of the dead'

Sign up for Herald Arts and get weekly info and insight into arts and culture from Scotland and beyond

Sign up for Herald Arts and get weekly info and insight into arts and culture from Scotland and beyond

Herald Arts 🖼️

So why do I only read books written by women now?

A pungent slice of folklore-inspired fantasy about the legend of selkies

Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson

Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson

Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson headline sold-out Wigtown Festival finale

Anne Brown Essay Prize winner Sarah Whiteside, pictured with the award trophy in Wigtown

Anne Brown Essay Prize winner Sarah Whiteside, pictured with the award trophy in Wigtown

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'My son is autistic and so am I - but there’s nothing wrong with either of us'

Rescue of a puppy during the Blitz, London, in 1940.

Rescue of a puppy during the Blitz, London, in 1940.

10 best books to read right now

Forget the spirit of the Blitz, serial killers stalked the streets during the war

Project celebrating Scotland's first black footballer among library prize nominees

Project celebrating Scotland's first black footballer among library prize nominees

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Project celebrating Scotland's first black footballer among library prize nominees