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Edinburgh: The Autobiography
From one of the earliest mentions of its name in the sixth century to the Covid lockdowns of the twenty-first, this is a magnificent portrait of one of the world's great cities in its many iterations, from 'Edinburgh, the sink of abomination' to the Athens of the North and everything – including the home of the Enlightenment, the Festival City, the Aids Capital of Europe and a Mecca for tourists seeking tartan tat – in between.
As the nation's capital it has been critical to its progress and a witness to epochal events, such the tumultuous reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Reformation, the Forty-Five rebellion, the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament. All of these and more feature. But this is not simply a book about the great and good, the famous and infamous. There is testimony aplenty from ordinary folk who may not have made their mark on history but who have contributed to Edinburgh's ever-expanding tapestry.
There are stories body snatching and murder, drunkenness and drug-taking, sex and shopping, as well rants against inclement weather and the city council.
As the nation's capital it has been critical to its progress and a witness to epochal events, such the tumultuous reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Reformation, the Forty-Five rebellion, the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament. All of these and more feature. But this is not simply a book about the great and good, the famous and infamous. There is testimony aplenty from ordinary folk who may not have made their mark on history but who have contributed to Edinburgh's ever-expanding tapestry.
There are stories body snatching and murder, drunkenness and drug-taking, sex and shopping, as well rants against inclement weather and the city council.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published December 3, 2024
About the author
Alan Taylor
222 books377 followersAlan Shaw Taylor is a historian specializing in early American history. He is the author of a number of books about colonial America, the American Revolution, and the Early American Republic. He has won a Pulitzer Prize and the Bancroft Prize for his work.
Taylor graduated from Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, in 1977 and earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1986. Currently a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, he will join the faculty of the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia in 2014.
Taylor graduated from Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, in 1977 and earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1986. Currently a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, he will join the faculty of the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 15, 2026
Almost 20 years ago I read the book, Scotland: The Autobiography, so I knew what to expect from this one - a series of historical snippets and reportage that, taken together, provide an outline of the city’s history.
For me, the best parts of this book were either those that covered significant events in the city’s history, (such as the murder of Rizzio, the Porteous riot, or the Great Disruption to the Church of Scotland in 1843) or those that described some of the city’s more famous/notorious characters (e.g. Deacon Brodie, Burke and Hare, “Bowed Joseph” of the 18th century, or, in the 20th century, the larger than life Dora Noyce, a brothel-keeper and a well known personality in her day. There were also some worthwhile entries on social history. Isabella Bird contributes “Life in the Cowgate” from 1869, describing what was then the city’s poorest district (and one that is none too salubrious today). The entry entitled “A Wee Whoor,” from 1948 was disturbing, as was a description of anti-Italian riots in 1940.
On the downside, I felt the collection relied too much on accounts from professional writers, particularly in the second half. I did enjoy the entries where writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Muriel Spark discussed the real-life individuals who inspired their best known characters, but the rest of the contributions from professional writers were a mixed bag. Some of them, to put it bluntly, talked the most unrivalled rubbish.
On the whole, the collection might be said to engage in boosterism of the city, not just in the city itself (which doesn’t really need any boosterism) but also the people who inhabit it. One of the last entries examines the career of Henry Dundas, an 18th century figure who has recently fallen foul of historical revisionists. The article provides a useful counterweight to some of the claims advanced in recent years, and accuses Edinburgh City Council of effectively falsifying history.
Overall, a middling collection, but one that has its moments.
For me, the best parts of this book were either those that covered significant events in the city’s history, (such as the murder of Rizzio, the Porteous riot, or the Great Disruption to the Church of Scotland in 1843) or those that described some of the city’s more famous/notorious characters (e.g. Deacon Brodie, Burke and Hare, “Bowed Joseph” of the 18th century, or, in the 20th century, the larger than life Dora Noyce, a brothel-keeper and a well known personality in her day. There were also some worthwhile entries on social history. Isabella Bird contributes “Life in the Cowgate” from 1869, describing what was then the city’s poorest district (and one that is none too salubrious today). The entry entitled “A Wee Whoor,” from 1948 was disturbing, as was a description of anti-Italian riots in 1940.
On the downside, I felt the collection relied too much on accounts from professional writers, particularly in the second half. I did enjoy the entries where writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Muriel Spark discussed the real-life individuals who inspired their best known characters, but the rest of the contributions from professional writers were a mixed bag. Some of them, to put it bluntly, talked the most unrivalled rubbish.
On the whole, the collection might be said to engage in boosterism of the city, not just in the city itself (which doesn’t really need any boosterism) but also the people who inhabit it. One of the last entries examines the career of Henry Dundas, an 18th century figure who has recently fallen foul of historical revisionists. The article provides a useful counterweight to some of the claims advanced in recent years, and accuses Edinburgh City Council of effectively falsifying history.
Overall, a middling collection, but one that has its moments.
February 26, 2025
Ideally would give it 0 stars. I was thinking .5 for most of it but by good the ending somehow gets worse. Some bits are interesting but to say this book is about Edinburgh is ridiculous - it's about New Town and posh people. There's not even a mention of witches in the book despite many first hand sources. Most of the articles are also based in New Town. There's an article defending Dundas (written by a white person of course). The kings coronation is mentioned talking about all the people cheering- they were mostly tourists and anti monarchy protesters outnumbered them anyway. There's no common theme or connections and a lot of the book feels like reading wiki summaries. Yes that's right not even wiki articles but summaries of them!
I'm also the exact type of person who should love this book having read dozens of books on Edinburgh but as you might be able to tell I can't stop ranting about just how disappointing, biased and generally boring this book is. Funnily enough I have a signed copy as well- such a shame.
Not going to lie I did skim a lot of it...
I'm also the exact type of person who should love this book having read dozens of books on Edinburgh but as you might be able to tell I can't stop ranting about just how disappointing, biased and generally boring this book is. Funnily enough I have a signed copy as well- such a shame.
Not going to lie I did skim a lot of it...
December 27, 2025
You probably have to have lived in Edinburgh for a while and already explored it's history and stories to best enjoy this book. Not everything is covered but all books have some degree of bias as obviously do reviewers.
I grew to enjoy the book once I got used to the style.
I grew to enjoy the book once I got used to the style.
February 23, 2026
Wow I hated it. How can you find interesting people that lived there and tell the most boring and uninteresting parts of their lives?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews