Within the past month or so there was a wonderful post on this forum about what to read and watch before going to Scotland. I have been trying to find this post without success. Would appreciate if someone could provide me with a link or Title of this post.
Thank you.
This was it, but for whatever reason it has been deleted- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/books-and-movies-before-scotland-trip
(maybe message the webmaster to see if this has been an over sensitive spam filter)
Thank you. I have followed up with the company's customer service email. Hopefully, they will be able to share this previous post.
We checked on this, and the post was deleted by the original poster. When a member removes their own post, we’re not able to restore it or provide its contents, unfortunately. We’re sorry it’s no longer available, but hopefully others here will be happy to re-share their favorite Scotland reading and viewing recommendations.
I thought this book was interesting: How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World & Everything in It
Some of these older posts might help:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/scotland-best-background-books
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/what-to-read-before-going-to-scotland
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/outlander
Lois, Rick Steves actually has a long list of books, movies, and shows to read or watch before going to Scotland. You might be able to find some good information there. https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland/books-movies
I would also recommend Susanna Kearsley who has written a number of books that take place in Scotland. One of my favorites is "The Winter Sea" and I just love it. You can find out more information at her website and she allows you to read the first chapter for free so you can see if you like it. https://susannakearsley.com/books/the-winter-sea/
Other books of hers that take place in Scotland are The Vanished Days and The King's Messenger.
Even though you may not be going to Orkney, I enjoyed the movie The Outrun with Saoirse Ronan. It was filmed on a small island in the Orkney Islands called Papa Westray.
There’s always Ann Cleves’ Shetland series with Jimmy Perez. Of course Shetland might not be the area you’re going to. I particularly enjoyed the audiobooks, they have a great Scottish reader.
Hello Lois
Books
Scotland's Forgotten Past. Alistair Moffat. 30 very short chapters. One favorite chapter titled Bad Spelling begins with "Over 99% of Scots have difficulty in pronouncing the names of 50% of the geography". I felt better about my botched attempts at Buachaillie Etive Mor.
Culloden Tales. Hugh Allison. Wonderful book with unexpected 'Tales"
The Boy with the Bronze Axe. Kathleen Fidler. This is a wonderful story about Skara Brae and it's demise. I think it was written for children but is a great read even for adults.
Videos
BBC A History of Scotland , Neil Oliver. This is a 5 disk set. It is rather too dramatized for my liking but others might enjoy it.
I thought it was because it was something I had posted!
Anyway, will reiterate the YouTube channels:
Scotland History Tours, very knowlegeable and presented by a stand up comedian.
Scotland Unplugged, again knowlegeable and history focused.
Astonishing Glasgow.
I have learned stuff from all three and I live here.
