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Do you think you know Perth? We challenge anyone not actively employed as a tour guide in the city to read "Secret Perth" by Gregor Stewart without learning a lot they didn't previously know. This is a book we'd highly recommend to anyone who lives or works in Perth or who has origins in the city, or is simply intending to visit. Sometimes the most telling thing about a book is whether you are likely to return to it afterwards. "Secret Perth" is sure of a place on our bookshelves, so we can refer to it before future visits.
The book combines well-written text and helpful illustrations that sometimes pursue their subjects well beyond Perth itself. There is also a nice collection of "Did you know?" snippets distributed throughout the text. After a brief introduction, the book is divided into a series of historical chapters. These start with Roman Perth, the siege of Perth and the battle of the North Inch and carry on through to Oliver Cromwell in Perth, the Jacobites and modern Perth.
You get a good sense of the content of the book from the publishers' description of it: "The city of Perth in central Scotland can trace its history back to the Romans. As the lowest crossing point for the River Tay, the settlement has been much fought over through the centuries, earning the city the title ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Established as a royal burgh, Perth is often stated to have been the capital of Scotland. It has been frequently besieged over the years, including during the Wars of Independence with England and in clan wars. King James I was assassinated in the city in 1437 and it was later one of the birthplaces for the Scottish Reformation during the sixteenth century. The seventeenth century was turbulent for Perth, with witch trials, plague and an assassination attempt on King James VI when he was kidnapped in the Gowrie Conspiracy."
"Oliver Cromwell built the Citadel in the South Inch area and, during the eighteenth century, Perth was occupied by the Jacobite forces in the 1715 and 1745 uprisings. At the same time Perth was growing as an industrial town, with agriculture also important, as are the tourist and financial sectors today. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Perth will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this city in the heart of Scotland."
InformationPaperback: 96 pagesAmberley Publishing www.amberley-books.com 15 November 2024 Language: English ISBN-10: 1398108383 ISBN-13: 978-1398108387 Size: 23.3 x 1.8 x 16.8 cm Buy from Amazon (paid link) Visit Bookshop Main Page |