Essays: Grouse Beater

by Gareth Wardell

This first collection of essays from Gareth Wardell’s Grouse Beater Internet site displays his range and inimitable capacity for a memorable phrase dealing with Scotland in matters historical, political and personal. Uncompromisingly frank but with insight and wry humour, he calls a spade a spade, and a colonial an arrogant Englishman.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2021

Reviews

[Andrew Neil Macleod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essays: Grouse Beater by Gareth Wardell is a hugely entertaining collection of musings on language, politics, multimedia, popular culture, philosophy, and Scottish life in general. Mr Wardell’s polemic runs from gentle admonishment to searing indictment, and he writes with conviction, wit and originality. Of particular interest to me, and in no particular order, are his thoughts on public figures such as Nicola Sturgeon and JK Rowling, musings on grammar and the Scots language, movie reviews and anecdotes about the Scottish film industry (the movie reviews are particularly hilarious), and the inspiring story of how the author completely rejuvenated and transformed a down-at-heel area of Edinburgh and restored it to its former glory. Circus Lane was until quite recently a run-down back lane, but now, thanks to the effort, care, ingenuity and aesthetic sensibilities of Mr Wardell, is a flourishing and idyllic landmark.
Essays Vol. I-III are available in attractive hardback copies from Amazon, with stunning cover designs by the author’s wife.