Edinburgh

by George Scott-Moncrieff

Third Edition - Paper Cover - 1965

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

George Scott-Moncrieff was a Scottish novelist, playwright, poet, journalist, editor, and author of several well-known books on Scotland. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Aldenham School in Hertfordshire, England. He coined the term 'Balmorality' to describe the cultural manifestations of Scotland's accommodation with the British Empire.

His first novel Café Bar was published in 1932. He married his first wife Ann Shearer in 1936, having met her in London where they both worked as journalists. Under her influence he converted from Episcopalianism to Catholicism. He lived with his first wife in Breakacky near Kingussie, then Dalwhinnie, and finally Edinburgh. After her death at the age of 29, he moved to the Isle of Eigg in 1945 and lived there a hermit-like existence in a simple cottage for about five years. His novel Death's Bright Shadow (1948) is a fictional account of his grief. He moved back to Edinburgh in 1951 and eventually remarried.

Reviews

[Bertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A survey of this marvelous city as written in 1948--a perfect time capsule view into mid-twentieth-century Edinburgh. The writing is heavily opinionated but gives this (now historical) text a hilariously amusing character.

[Douglas Osler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delight from 1947. Apart from describing Edinburgh, the author delivers his personal judgements on buildings and people. John Knox,Fettes College and others are all derided. Great read!