Ian Crofton’s A Dictionary of Scottish Phrase And Fable is coming out in a new, expanded edition this week. It’s bang up-to-date and includes a new entry on the ‘South Ayrshire Golf Club Owner’ who lost the 2020 US Presidential election.

Diana Ambache’s book about composer siblings Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, The Soul of the Journey, earned a glowing review from Stuart Kelly in Scotland on Sunday. Read it and discover what makes this beautifully illustrated book ‘such a joy’. [Scotsman]

With COP26 less than a fortnight away, Alastair McIntosh, author of Riders on the Storm: The Climate Crisis and the Survival of Being, is very busy. On Saturday 23rd October, you can hear him at the Festival of Science, Wisdom and Faith at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh (and online).

He’ll be on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sunday Morning With Cathy Macdonald the following day.

Catch up with his full COP itinerary on his website. [AlastairMcIntosh]

Angus Robertson spoke to Magnus Linklater for the Times and talked about new book Vienna. [The Times, £]

Angus will be talking about Vienna from Vienna on Hugo Rifkind’s Times Radio show this Saturday morning. [Times Radio]

Mara Menzies talked with Kaye Adams on BBC Radio Scotland about Blood and Gold and the power of stories to combat racism. [BBC]

Read one of the stories from this amazing, powerful book here.

Rosemary Goring and Trevor Royle will be taking part in a historical Literary Lunch at the Royal Scots Club, alongside author Victoria Schofield and chair Jackie McGlone on Thursday 21st October. Book here.

Feeling in need of a pick-me-up? This week’s recipe is the original medicinal cocktail – Hot Toddy from The Pocket Guide to Whisky.

Stay zingy!
Team Birlinn