Waverley Scottish Classics
2 total works
An anthology of Scotland's worst and most infamous murders, Scottish Murders contains stories from Scotland's bloodstained past. Dating back to the fifteenth century, we have the story of the gruesome Bean family, who terrorised and cannibalised victims in Galloway, the grim account of David Rizzio's death, the murder of Marion Gilchrist, and trials of Oscar Slater, the crimes of the nevertraced Bible John, and the World's End Murders. These, and other chapters, make up the compelling accounts of grisly murders, told in a calm and straightforward manner by the author. Capital punishment, abolished in 1969 in Britain, is also discussed. Details of Scotland's last execution for murder, in 1963 in Aberdeen, and last public execution in 1868 in Dumfries, highlight the muchchanged attitudes in British society today. The author also explains how it was commonplace until the early 1830s for bodies of executed murderers to be given up for dissection. Such was the fate of William Burke's corpse - the last body that he provided for Edinburgh's surgeons was his own. And this detail is expanded upon in an excellent chapter on Burke and Hare.
The author's tone is reassuring with its matter-of-fact descriptions, and background detail that place the murders firmly in context. The book is now in its seventh printing. Judy Hamilton is a pseudonym, and the author has written several Scottish bestselling titles. Includes details of the Peter Tobin murder case.
The author's tone is reassuring with its matter-of-fact descriptions, and background detail that place the murders firmly in context. The book is now in its seventh printing. Judy Hamilton is a pseudonym, and the author has written several Scottish bestselling titles. Includes details of the Peter Tobin murder case.
"Scottish Myths and Legends" is an entertaining taste of the feast of stories that Scotland has to offer. Fairy folk, witches, giants, monsters, tales of heroic princes, magic and miraculous feats - all are the stuff of the myths and legends of Scotland. Scotland is a nation made up of many peoples and cultures. This diversity of cultural influence is reflected in Scotland's vast store of myths and legends. This book contains a fascinating selection of these; some recent, some ancient, some obscure in origin and others based (however loosely) on fact. We invite you to revel in engaging tales of selkies, kelpies, glaistigs, fairy queens and changelings; wonder at the mysteries that may be hidden in the depths of Scottish lochs; and, shiver at tales of supernatural disappearances, deadly creatures and grisly deeds, and if you ever meet someone called Sawney Bean, who lived in a cave with his family and ate people - run for your life!