This useful reference book should be in the library of every American college or university that has a liberal arts tradition ! anyone reading it will find much that is interesting and new, presented in a clear, accessible style ! this book is an epic undertaking, accomplished with determination and singleness of purpose. This collective work will be immensely useful ... Read morefor students of Scottish literature ... An essential addition to the libraries of English departments throughout the world ! Scottish Literature is an indispensable instrument for all those, within and outside academia, who wish to improve their understanding of the Scottish contribution to what one recent French critic has called the International of Letters. The sheer size of the book and the voluminous reference section are an ample illustration that not only is contemporary Scottish creative writing diverse, alive and kicking, drawing on a rich and varied tradition and bearing comparison with its European counterparts, but also that contemporary Scottish literary history and ctitical analysis are also benefiting from the new context of greater national self-confidence. The'r nae dout at aw at this tome wul, binna for the eikin o new chaipters, be a standard work I the studie o Scottish leiterature for monie a lang year. Pr. Gifford an his team ir ti be congratulatit. There is little excuse now for ignorance of the best Scottish writing with this excellent book available. It is more than an introduction because much of it is intelligent literary criticism, as well as comprehensive and accurate bibliographies ! This book is itself a formidable achievement. It demonstrates beyond the richness, range, facination and sheer scale of Scottish literature. There is now no excuse for any failure to give it the place which it deserves in our schools, universities, bookshops, libraries, broadcasting and everyday life ! Each section of the book has an admirable introduction on the historical circumstances of the period. This useful reference book should be in the library of every American college or university that has a liberal arts tradition ! anyone reading it will find much that is interesting and new, presented in a clear, accessible style ! this book is an epic undertaking, accomplished with determination and singleness of purpose. This collective work will be immensely useful for students of Scottish literature ... An essential addition to the libraries of English departments throughout the world ! Scottish Literature is an indispensable instrument for all those, within and outside academia, who wish to improve their understanding of the Scottish contribution to what one recent French critic has called the International of Letters. The sheer size of the book and the voluminous reference section are an ample illustration that not only is contemporary Scottish creative writing diverse, alive and kicking, drawing on a rich and varied tradition and bearing comparison with its European counterparts, but also that contemporary Scottish literary history and ctitical analysis are also benefiting from the new context of greater national self-confidence. The'r nae dout at aw at this tome wul, binna for the eikin o new chaipters, be a standard work I the studie o Scottish leiterature for monie a lang year. Pr. Gifford an his team ir ti be congratulatit. There is little excuse now for ignorance of the best Scottish writing with this excellent book available. It is more than an introduction because much of it is intelligent literary criticism, as well as comprehensive and accurate bibliographies ! This book is itself a formidable achievement. It demonstrates beyond the richness, range, facination and sheer scale of Scottish literature. There is now no excuse for any failure to give it the place which it deserves in our schools, universities, bookshops, libraries, broadcasting and everyday life ! Each section of the book has an admirable introduction on the historical circumstances of the period. Show Less