The Road to Scotland's Independence - talk at Edinburgh Book Fringe

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The Road to Scotland's Independence - talk at Edinburgh Book Fringe

By ab, submitted on Thu, 24/04/2008 - 15:39

Start: 07/08/2008 - 13:00

MURRAY PITTOCK speaks on The Road to Independence? Scotland Since the Sixties at the Edinburgh Book Fringe 2008

Thursday 7 August 2008 at 1.00pm

Venue:
Word Power Books
43-45 West Nicolson Street
Edinburgh
EH8 9DB
Scotland

Admission Free!

All Welcome!

'Murray Pittock says that his purpose is "to give a flavour of Scottish culture, politics and society since 1960". This he does impressively, but he also does much more. The book is a balanced and perceptive introduction to the whole question of independence, but with much to say also to those already familiar with it.' Paul Henderson Scott, president of the Saltire Society, and author of Towards Independence and Scotland Resurgent

Is the 'United' Kingdom really as united as its name might suggest? For many people in the UK, increasing nationalism in Scotland has come as rather a shock, raising questions about what Britain is, and where its future lies. In The Road to Independence? Scotland since the Sixties, Murray Pittock not only gives an account of modern Scottish nationalism, but also explains what Scotland's role in Britain has been historically, and why it has changed radically in the last fifty years where the debate about independence has come to the fore.

The author relates the economic, social and cultural history of Scotland, the rise of modern Scottish nationalism and the reasons for it, the recent history and differing character of Scotland's cities and cultural industries, the impact of multiculturalism on Scottish as distinct from British society, and the changes wrought by devolution, including the reasons for the election of Scotland's first-ever nationalist government in 2007. The Road to Independence? is the only history of Scotland available with a truly contemporary focus. In dealing with everything from modern painting to football to political structures it is remarkably comprehensive; in explaining the rise of modern nationalism it is of great importance to policymakers and the wider public. It will be of interest to students of politics, history, law and social science, and to all who want to understand the rapidly changing face of Britain.

MURRAY PITTOCK is A. C. Bradley Professor of Literature at Glasgow University and the author of a number of books on Scottish, Irish and British history, politics and society including Inventing and Resisting Britain (1997), Celtic Identity and the British Image (1999), Scottish Nationality (2001) and A New History of Scotland (2003).