Famous Scots Authors
The Scottish people have a long and fine reputation for their strong and vital oral tradition in song and story, as well as their high literacy and keenness for education. Not surprisingly, therefore, Scotland has produced more than its fair share of world-reknowned authors.
Click on the links below to read short biographies of some of the most well-known Scots authors, or scroll down for short mentions of some other outstanding Scottish storytellers and a listing of some of their more popular books and novels.
- Sir Walter Scott - Sir Walter Scott is known as the father of historical fiction, popularizer of the Highlanders
- Robert Burns - National Poet of Scotland, we sing Robert Burn's Auld Lang Syne every New Year's Eve
- Robert Louis Stevenson - Author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, charming verses for children, and more, Robert Louis Stevenson pined for Scotland even when his health forced him to leave
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Elementary, my dear Watson, Conan Doyle was simply the best mystery writer Edinburgh's School of Medicine ever produced!
Other great Scots authors:
- J. M. Barrie - Author of Peter Pan and newly immortalized in the movie Neverland.
- Kenneth Grahame - Author of classic children's tale The Wind in the Willows.
- George MacDonald - 19th century romance for adults and wonderful fairy tales for children. MacDonald greatly influenced C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
- Muriel Spark - Her heroine in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was brought to unforgettable life by Maggie Smith in the wonderful film version.
- John Buchan - Writing in the first half of the 20th century, his most famous book is the spy novel The 39 Steps.
- James Boswell - Chronicled the life of Samuel Johnson and their unforgettable journey through the Scottish Highlands.
- James Herriot - Born in Scotland, but practicing in Northern England, his stories of veterinary practice entertain and enrich adults and children alike.
Well-known books by Scots authors:
 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie By Muriel Spark Miss Brodie teaches more than academics at a girls' school in 1930s Edinburgh. |
 Peter Pan : Complete and Unabridged By J. M. Barrie The classic story of the boy who never grew up. |
 The Thirty-Nine Steps By John Buchan One of the earliest spy stories - pre-World War I adventure in Scotland. A fun read. If you liked The Thirty-Nine Steps, Buchan wrote an exciting sequel entitled Greenmantle |
 The Complete Fairy Tales (Penguin Classics) By George MacDonald Eleven short tales. |
 The Reluctant Dragon By Kenneth Grahame A dragon who won't breathe fire? Our son loved this book when he was small. |
 All Things Wise and Wonderful/The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriot Herriot reminds us that most people are good, animals are delightful and useful gifts from God, and everyday life is worth living well and kindly. All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful are also available in a single volume. |
 The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels and 56 Stories Wow! Authorized by Holmes' estate, this beautiful and affordable new paperback volume contains everything written by Doyle about Sherlock Holmes. Curl up in a comfy chair and enjoy the same delight Holmes readers have shared for the past 100 years. |
 Robert Burns : Selected Poems (Penguin Classics) At over 350 pages, this is a great paperback value from Penguin. |
 Kidnapped (Penguin Classics) by Robert Louis Stevenson Kidnapped and sent to be sold as a slave by his greedy uncle, young David Balfour meets up with Highlander Alan Breck Stewart. Their escape and further adventures in the highlands make for a rousing tale. Set during the Jacobite rebellions. |
 Treasure Island By Robert Louis Stevenson Jim Hawkins has the treasure map and pirate Long John Silver wants it! Stevenson's classic tale of adventure on the high seas. There is a version for children beautifully illustrated by N.C. Wyeth: Treasure Island |
 Ivanhoe By Sir Walter Scott Scott's most well-known work, due to the movies and the appeal of the story. Some consider Ivanhoe his best work. Tale of a knight who comes home from crusade to find he's been disinherited. Originally published in 1819. |
 Rob Roy (Wordsworth Classics) By Sir Walter Scott Scott was the father of historical fiction (emphasis on fiction here) and this is one of his best books, originally published in 1817. Five stars. |
