The Literary Traveller in Edinburgh: A Book Lover's Guide to the World's First City of Literature

by Allan Foster

Here is the first in-depth literary guide for visitors to Edinburgh. Easy to use and pleasurable to read, it is the essential guide for book lovers and literary pilgrims. Fully illustrated, each chapter illuminates a different area of the city and includes essential details on author birthplaces and homes; burial places of the literati; sites with a literary connection; restaurants and pubs—from Robert Louis Stevenson’s favorite pub to the café where J.K. Rowling penned much of Harry Potter; literary tours; the city’s best bookstores; and museum exhibits. This unique guide is also packed with useful information on Edinburgh’s book festivals, literary events, libraries, and more.

Genres: Travel, Books About Books, Nonfiction, Scotland

287 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ach, that's a disappointment. I love literature, I especially love Scottish literature, and I work in Edinburgh once a week and I'm quite fond of Auld Reekie. I also love walking around and enjoying history. This should be a perfect book for me.

And I won't say it's not fairly well-researched, sure.

But I can't forgive a book for being boring.

It's so dry, man. It's literally just 300 pages of a list of things and places in Edinburgh that have any association (even very remote) with literature. Do you care where Francis Jeffrey is buried? Do you have any idea who Francis Jeffrey is? If I told you he was a random judge and an editor of a magazine 300 years ago, will you care any more? Me neither. Are you jonesing to visit the home of Dr. John Brown, a Scottish essayist you've never heard of? Would you like a summary of his rather unremarkable life? Me. Neither.

[Terry]

My wife and I were fortunate to take a literary walking tour of Edinburgh with Allan Foster, and it was a couple of fascinating and highly educational hours.

Mr. Foster is well versed in literature, history and geography. He shares a wealth of details about Burns, Scott, Conan Doyle, Stevenson and many other historic writers, as well as personal acquaintance with modern writers. He spins many anecdotes in a warm and humorous fashion, and is both down-to-earth and academic as subjects warrant.

Edinburgh is a wonderful city, and Allan Foster's tour brought it to life in several dimensions -- he also knows good pubs and music...