Painting the Forth bridge : a search for Scottish identity / Carl MacDougall.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

MacDougall, Carl.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National characteristics, Scottish.

Nationalism--Scotland.

Nationalism.

Politics and government.

Scotland.

Scotland--Politics and government--20th century.

Scotland--Politics and government--21st century.

Physical Description:

275 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Aurum Press, 2001.

Summary:

In 1935, Edwin Muir set out in a battered old car to journey the length and breadth of Scotland, but A Scottish Journey (his account of the trip), while a masterpiece of travel writing, was at a loss to define the real nature of the Scottish people. Now Carl MacDougall follows in Muir's footsteps and travels through contemporary Scotland to penetrate the elusive subject of identity, as well as to answer the dominant social and political questions of the day He analyses people and place, politics and economics, agriculture and art to create a portrait of a nation finally taking the reins of its own future.

The country is currently being buoyed along on a wave of optimism which would seem to be unparalleled in recent history. Economically the country is on good terms; over the past 30 years a sense of national identity has been growing; and soon the Scots will finally have their much longed for independent parliament.

So, what kind of country will this new parliament govern? Who are the Scots? Are they at last a single nation or a composite of Gads, Scots and Incomers? What are their concerns? And what do they want the future to bring?

This book answers these questions and more. A subtle and at times searing critique, it is indispensable reading, not only for local readership, but also for all those interested in questions of nationhood, politics and the future of countries emerging from a colonial past.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [271]-275).

ISBN:

1854106406

OCLC:

47681464