Edinburgh: The Autobiography

Relive the history of Edinburgh through the eyes of those who witnessed it. From one of the earliest mentions of its name in the sixth century to the Covid lockdowns of the twenty-first, this is a magnificent portrait of one of the world’s great cities in its many iterations, from ‘Edinburgh, the sink of abomination’ to the Athens of the North and everything – including the home of the Enlightenment, the Festival City, the Aids Capital of Europe and a Mecca for tourists seeking tartan tat – in between. As the nation’s capital it has been critical to its progress and a witness to epochal events, such the tumultuous reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Reformation, the Forty-Five rebellion, the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament. All of these and more feature. But this is not simply a book about the great and good, the famous and infamous. There is testimony aplenty from ordinary folk who may not have made their mark on history but who have contributed to Edinburgh’s ever-expanding tapestry. There are stories of body snatching and murder, drunkenness and drug-taking, sex and shopping, as well rants against inclement weather and the city council.

About the Author :
Alan Taylor has been a journalist for over 30 years. He was deputy editor and managing editor of The Scotsman, and for 15 years was Writer-at-Large for the Sunday Herald. He has contributed to numerous publications, including The Times Literary Supplement, The New Yorker and The Melbourne Age and was co-founder and editor of The Scottish Review of Books. He was editor of the centenary editions of the collected novels of Muriel Spark and has edited several acclaimed anthologies, including The Assassin’s Cloak (2000). He also wrote the bestselling Appointment in Arezzo: A Friendship with Muriel Spark (2017). He also edited Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries (2022). 

Review :
'This clever anthology…brings together the tales which shaped the city’s colourful history from the sixth to the twenty-first century. It is an insightful, entertaining read that I would wholeheartedly recommend to those whose hearts have been lost to Auld Reekie' 'a marvellous collection of stories and accounts whose differing styles and intended purposes ensure there are delights pretty much every time you turn a page... fresh and engaging,' 'Taylor has a formidable track record of putting together revelatory, thoughtful, and eclectic anthologies...I’ve lived in Edinburgh for most of my adult life but Taylor’s book told me much I didn’t know or had never thought about' 'Alan Taylor informs, educates, and most definitely entertains as he takes you on a journey through place and time' 'Mary, Knox, Boswell, RLS, a crowded schedule of constructive and destructive events—is presented with aplomb in Alan Taylor’s splendid anthology, Edinburgh: The Autobiography' 'This anthology of essays about Edinburgh, takes us through the pivotal periods in the city’s history and explores some of the key figures and institutions that have shaped Edinburgh' 'Every character of the city worth knowing about, finds a place with a representative extract... It is immensely enjoyable. In it the city speaks for itself' 'Alan Taylor does for the nation's capital what he has previously done for Glasgow, and gives the city the documented history it deserves, a timely undertaking in this its 900th anniversary... If you think you know Edinburgh, think again' 'a cornucopia of impressions of the city by residents and visitors from 600CE to the present day. The city's sensibilities, atmospheres and ideas are shrewdly combined: the book not only offers anecdotes by established commentators such as Alexander McCall Smith, but also observations and reports from librarians, athletes and musicians' 'The range of material, subjects and original authors is delightfully eclectic and produces a more egalitarian digest of material than many local history works do... this is a first rate reference and companion work for anyone interested in the history of the capital, from a slightly different perspective to the norm' 'The compelling, tumultuous story of the Scottish capital from its early origins to the twenty-first century... a glorious tapestry of a city that has changed the world'