After a couple of dismal years for the tourist industry, Scotland is hoping to bounce back from the pandemic by spotlighting its many artists, writers, and storytellers. That’s right: 2022 is Scotland’s Year of Stories. It’s time to celebrate the stories written in or inspired by this beautiful country.
You’ve all heard of Robert Burns and J.K. Rowling, but how many other Scottish authors can you name? Have you read anything by Sir Walter Scott? What about Hugh MacDiarmid, Kenneth Grahame of Wind in the Willows fame, J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan), Muriel Sparks (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island), and Val McDermid, to name just a few. Why not make this the year you discover a new up and coming Scottish author? Or to revisit some old favourites. There are a lot to choose from as your browse the shelves of your local library or bookshop.
Stories aren’t just about books, of course. For generations, communities shared tales handed down orally across the generations. Over time, some of these were lost, while others have lived on in song, on the page, or on the screen. They help us learn about the community and times gone by. Furthermore, they have inspired countless other writers around the world (Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander being one example).
A full calendar of events throughout the year will help you discover the richness of Scottish storytelling. Events will be added to VisitScotland’s page as details become available but here are a few to get you started:
- Burns Big Night In in January
- Whisper the Song: Celtic Connections in January and February
- Paisley Book Festival in February
- Gathering of Clans in July
- Edinburgh International Book Festival in August
- Ness Book Fest in October
- Scottish International Storytelling Festival in October
We’ll be sharing more events and locations related to Scotland’s Year of Stories in the coming months. So prepare to curl up with a good read and then get out to explore the places that inspired the authors. Perhaps you’ll find inspiration too!
