Scotland Vs England 2014


Book Description

On the 18th September 2014, a mere 700-and-a-bit years after the Battle of Bannockburn, the struggle for power between Scotland and England will reach another milestone - this time probably without the swords, horses and armour. It is, without question, the most serious subject of the year, but there is a funny side too. Now Ian Black, master of the witty remark, king of the one-liner and enthusiastic unfurler of the Saltire sets his mind to the lighter side of Independence. With more pro-Independence and anti-No-voter jokes and tales than you can shake a stick at, Scotland vs England is the antidote to a very serious year. This book explains that the new Scots currency will be the Dreichma, perfect if our usual weather combines with Greek-style financial meltdown anytime in the future, or possibly the Punt, though apparently all of the punts are in the south-east of England. Mr Black also explains that occasional mutterings of "durty English bastards" north of the border refer not to the great majority of English folk but to the filthy goings-on in Westminster.And there are answers to some of the great questions, like: "What goes 'putt' and what goes 'putt, putt, putt, putt'", to which the answer is: a Scottish golfer and an English golfer on the Old Course at St Andrews. Scotland vs England may not help you make up your mind about which way to vote, but in the serious months ahead when all will seem lost and there will be no escape from politicians, it will be very welcome.




The Grudge


Book Description

Murrayfield, the Calcutta Cup, March 1990. England vs. Scotland--winner-takes-all for the Five Nations Grand Slam, the biggest prize in northern hemisphere rugby. Will Carling's England are the very embodiment of Margaret Thatcher's Britain--snarling, brutish, and all-conquering. Scotland are the underdogs--second-class citizens from a land that's become the testing ground for the most unpopular tax in living memory: Thatcher's Poll Tax. Fifteen men in blue jerseys are plotting the downfall of the English oppressors. In Edinburgh, nationalism is rising high--what happens in the stadium will resound far beyond the pitch. The Grudge brilliantly recaptures a day that has gone down in history. This is the real story of an extraordinary game, told with astounding insight and almost unprecedented access to key players, coaches, and supporters on both sides (Will Carling, Ian McGeechan, Brian Moore, and the rest). Tom English has produced a gripping account of a titanic struggle that thrusts the reader right into the heart of the action. Game on.




Culloden


Book Description

The Battle of Culloden has gone down in history as the last major battle fought on British soil: a vicious confrontation between Scottish forces supporting the Stuart claim to the throne and the English Royal Army. But this wasn't just a conflict between the Scots and the English, the battle was also part of a much larger campaign to protect the British Isles from the growing threat of a French invasion. In Trevor Royle's vivid and evocative narrative, we are drawn into the ranks, on both sides, alongside doomed Jacobites fighting fellow Scots dressed in the red coats of the Duke of Cumberland's Royal Army. And we meet the Duke himself, a skilled warrior who would gain notoriety due to the reprisals on Highland clans in the battle's aftermath. Royle also takes us beyond the battle as the men of the Royal Army, galvanized by its success at Culloden, expand dramatically and start to fight campaigns overseas in America and India in order to secure British interests; we see the revolutionary use of fighting techniques first implemented at Culloden; and the creation of professional fighting forces. Culloden changed the course of British history by ending all hope of the Stuarts reclaiming the throne, cementing Hanoverian rule and forming the bedrock for the creation of the British Empire. Royle's lively and provocative history looks afresh at the period and unveils its true significance, not only as the end of a struggle for the throne but the beginning of a new global power.




Burns for Every Day of the Year


Book Description

An invigorating collection of Robert Burns to accompany you through the seasons. From spring's transient, blossoming beauty in 'Afton Water' to a celebration of everlasting love in summer's 'O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose'; from Tam o' Shanter's rowdy supernatural adventures in autumn to the simple conviviality of the 'Selkirk Grace' at wintry festivities . . . Robert Burns's words, both famous and lesser-known, mingle here in tribute to his unique literary output. With Burns for Every Day of the Year, Scotland's national bard will earn the place in your heart - and on your bedside table - that he so richly deserves. Join Robert Burns on a wide-ranging journey of poetry, prose and song through every day of the year . . . take 366 daily dips into Burns to inspire, invigorate and amuse. Across the world, as midnight strikes on New Year's Eve, Burns's beloved song 'Auld Lang Syne' is sung in a spirit of friendship and togetherness. But his exuberant wit, insight and generous-hearted humanity can be celebrated every day. This stunning collection - perfect for Burns aficionados and Burns beginners alike - reminds us of old favourites and introduces new treasures. Thoughtfully curated by Dr Pauline Mackay of the University of Glasgow, it offers 366 glimpses into the genius of this remarkable bard, creating a panoramic view of his colourful life and multifaceted literary legacy.




England Versus Scotland


Book Description

Throws fresh light on the reasons for the many conflicts between England and Scotland, the men who fought - and often died - in them and the conduct of the battles. It also contains interesting information on uniforms, arms and equipment.




Scotland vs England


Book Description

Vicious jokes about our dear English cousins in this year of the 300th anniversary of the Acts of Union? Heaven forfend! Anti-Scottish vitriol from said dear cousins? Lawks a mussy!This book is an anniversary celebration, especially as we are possibly within sight or our own Act of Disunion, of three centuries of jibes, insults, diatribes and rants, some of it in a kind of 'going for the jugular' vein, as in: "Why do they call it a kilt?' To which the answer is: 'Because a lot of English people get kilt when they call it a skirt', but there is also gentle good humour and a lot of giggles, like: 'What goes putt-putt-putt-putt?' The answer being: 'An English golfer at St Andrews.'And of course in fairness the Sassenachs get their wee say. Old Scottish Proverb: 'If thy neighbour offend thee, give each of his children bagpipes.'You will laugh, you will fall about, you will vote for independence for both nations.Ian Black, author of the bestselling "Edinbuggers vs Weegies", "Mair Edinbuggers vs Merr Weegies" and "Mancs vs Scousers", turns his very beady eye on the biggest rivalry of them all and finds the Scots and the Auld Enema in fighting form, especially the Scots.




The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England


Book Description

"[An] entertaining work of geographical sleuthing.…Surprises abound." —The New Yorker An oft-overlooked region lies at the heart of British national history: the Debatable Land. The oldest detectable territorial division in Great Britain, the Debatable Land once served as a buffer between England and Scotland. It was once the bloodiest region in the country, fought over by Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and James V. After most of its population was slaughtered or deported, it became the last part of Great Britain to be brought under the control of the state. Today, its boundaries have vanished from the map and are matters of myth and generational memories. In The Debatable Land, historian Graham Robb recovers the history of this ancient borderland in an exquisite tale that spans Roman, Medieval, and present-day Britain. Rich in detail and epic in scope, The Debatable Land provides a crucial, missing piece in the puzzle of British history.




Unofficial Football World Champions


Book Description

The Unofficial Football World Championships is probably the most exciting football competition on Earth. Its amazing story involves legendary teams and footballing minnows, classic finals and forgotten friendlies, celebrated players and unsung heroes. An alternative soccer history, Unofficial Football World Champions reveals international football's real champions and offers up a fresh perspective on the greatest game in the world. This fourth edition is fully updated for 2018.




Scotland's Relations with England


Book Description

Two national identities had established themselves by the end of the 11th century in, respectively, the north and south of Britain. The larger southern nation made several attempts on the independence of the smaller and more dynastically-troubled northern state but, after the time of Edward I of England, Scotland held its own. Then in 1603, with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne, an incorporating union seemed to be in prospect, but more than a century passed before a lasting parliamentary union was achieved amid a flurry of intrigue, corruption and power-broking.




A Course Called Scotland


Book Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “One of the best golf books this century.” —Golf Digest Tom Coyne’s A Course Called Scotland is a heartfelt and humorous celebration of his quest to play golf on every links course in Scotland, the birthplace of the game he loves. For much of his adult life, bestselling author Tom Coyne has been chasing a golf ball around the globe. When he was in college, studying abroad in London, he entered the lottery for a prized tee time in Scotland, grabbing his clubs and jumping the train to St. Andrews as his friends partied in Amsterdam; later, he golfed the entirety of Ireland’s coastline, chased pros through the mini-tours, and attended grueling Qualifying Schools in Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Yet, as he watched the greats compete, he felt something was missing. Then one day a friend suggested he attempt to play every links course in Scotland and qualify for the greatest championship in golf. The result is A Course Called Scotland, “a fast-moving, insightful, often funny travelogue encompassing the width of much of the British Isles” (GolfWeek), including St. Andrews, Turnberry, Dornoch, Prestwick, Troon, and Carnoustie. With his signature blend of storytelling, humor, history, and insight, Coyne weaves together his “witty and charming” (Publishers Weekly) journey to more than 100 legendary courses in Scotland with compelling threads of golf history and insights into the contemporary home of golf. As he journeys Scotland in search of the game’s secrets, he discovers new and old friends, rediscovers the peace and power of the sport, and, most importantly, reaffirms the ultimate connection between the game and the soul. It is “a must-read” (Golf Advisor) rollicking love letter to Scotland and golf as no one has attempted it before.