Historic Scotland, by David J Breeze

Aptly published at a time of burgeoning national confidence, Historic Scotland: 5000 Years of Scotland’s Heritage by David J. Breeze conveys the richness and diversity of the buildings and monuments in the care of the government agency Historic Scotland. Excellent photographs accompanied by brief historical texts chart the legacy of sculptors and masons, engineers and architects over a span of 5,000 years.

Images of castles and cathedrals, towers and standing stones are juxtaposed with distilleries, lighthouses and bridges – the familiar with the less well known. This is an uncomplicated book with a direct message: the story of Scotland is told in its stones; these monuments must be protected.