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National Library of Scotland

Stories

Read stories about or inspired by our collections, exploring the language, literature, people, and places of Scotland and beyond.

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Sentenced and silenced: The criminalisation and transportation of queer lives

Discover how 19th-century Scottish law silenced queer voices and controlled identity through class, power, and punishment.
Historic photo of soldiers in uniform standing in formation before a castle, with people and horses nearby, overlaid with a soft rainbow gradient.

The last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots

Read about the emotional farewell from a queen who claimed martyrdom and a rightful crown.
Close-up of Mary's last letter, written in French and showing her signature.

Mary Shelley and the Scottish Gothic Tradition

Read about the profound impact Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' has had on literature and culture.
Black illustration of a simplified Frankestein's monster against a green background.

From morse code to Shirley Temple: unboxing hidden collections

Why did 17th-century Royal Proclamations share a box with Foxy Grandpa comics? Uncover the mystery of the Library’s unusual ‘Series 7 collection’.
A collection of vintage items including comic books ("Pip," "Roisin," "Percy"), a vinyl record, a Shirley Temple book, "British Air Forces," and a "Moscow News" newspaper, all arranged together with other printed materials.

Scottish history

Explore the historic events and moments that have shaped Scotland

The last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots

Read about the emotional farewell from a queen who claimed martyrdom and a rightful crown.
Close-up of Mary's last letter, written in French and showing her signature.

James VI and I: A life and reign in 10 parties

Explore the extravagant parties thrown by James VI and I and be amazed by tales of opulence and royal festivities.
Portrait of James IV against a dark background with glitterballs and sparkles superimposed.

How Martin Luther sparked the reformation

Martin Luther, a little-known monk, sparked a revolution with a theological debate, changing history and facing severe consequences.
A historical painting showing a large group of people in elaborate, colorful robes gathered in a formal setting. A central monk figure in dark robes stands with one hand on their chest and the other extended outward. The background features two stained glass windows and various individuals seated or standing around the central figure.

Literature and poetry

Read more about Scotland’s literary legacy

'Poor things': Alasdair Gray's postmodern classic

Manuscripts Curator Colin McIlroy explores the mind and inspiration behind the story on which the film 'Poor Things' was based.
The spread out pages of the handwritten manuscript of 'Poor Creatures' (original name for 'Poor Things'). Underneath these pages is a colourful illustration showing a large man sitting on a couch and and boy and a girl sitting on his lap.

Mary Shelley and the Scottish Gothic Tradition

Read about the profound impact Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' has had on literature and culture.
Black illustration of a simplified Frankestein's monster against a green background.

Lewis Grassic Gibbon and 'Sunset Song'

We explore Gibbon's life, drawing links between 'Sunset Song's main character and the writer's conflicted feelings about his childhood home.
A stylized illustration of a person standing next to a brown horse with a black harness. The person is wearing a long floral-patterned dress and black boots. In the background, there is a large yellow sun, some clouds, and a small house in the distance.

Moving image

Read stories about our archive of moving images

Outlander's Scotland: Myth, romance and adventure in the Scottish film archive

Inspired by the television series 'Outlander', join us on a time-travelling tour of Scotland on film through our moving image collections.
Still from the film 'Outlander'. Two people stand on a rocky outcrop overlooking a mountainous landscape.

Rust to riches: DC Thomson's forgotten vintage adverts

A 'treasure trove' has brought collections to light and revealed new information about the history of Dundee-based media company DC Thomson.
Montage of six black and white stills from adverts from the 50s and 60s.

Printing and publishing

Explore Scotland's publishing evolution

Lord Byron's 'impossible' manuscript: 'Don Juan'

Byron's wild fame worried his publisher. Curator Kirsty McHugh explores how their bond shaped 'Don Juan' and Byron's legacy.
Two individuals in historical attire stand near a body of water with a sailboat in the background. The setting includes steep cliffs and a cloudy sky, suggesting a mountainous landscape.

Scottish Broadsides: Three centuries of news and views

Before social media, broadsides—cheap printed sheets—were the main source of news, songs, and speeches for nearly 300 years.
Collage of historical broadsides featuring dramatic headlines such as "Horrid & Barbarous Murder," "Dreadful Accident at Edinburgh," and "Confessions, Lamentations, & Reflections."

'The Scotsman': From underground newspaper to Scottish institution

Once underground in 1817, The Scotsman grew into a national voice. Explore its origins and insights from its historic pages.
Front page 'The Scotsman' newspaper, subtitled 'Edinburgh Political and Literary Journal,' dated Saturday, January 25, 1817. The page is densely filled with text.

Society and politics

Explore social and political forces that have shaped public life

Sentenced and silenced: The criminalisation and transportation of queer lives

Discover how 19th-century Scottish law silenced queer voices and controlled identity through class, power, and punishment.
Historic photo of soldiers in uniform standing in formation before a castle, with people and horses nearby, overlaid with a soft rainbow gradient.

From stigma to strength: The evolution of HIV and AIDS awareness

Our collections reveal Scotland’s complex HIV and AIDS history.
Sepia paper with a black stamp on it that reads "AIDS is not prejudiced, it can kill anyone".

Art and design

Read our stories about art and design

Esther Inglis: Renaissance calligraphy, art, and diplomacy

Explore the remarkable story of Esther Inglis, whose talents range from calligraphy, visual arts, poetry, and international relations.
A painted self portrait of Esther Inglis with painted flowers in the corners over a background of text.

Unveiling LGBTQ+ treasures through the Glasgay! arts festival

Discover how a Glasgay! postcard sparked a powerful reflection on queer identity, memory, and belonging.
Collage display of colourful leaflets and small posters.

Sports and recreation

Dive into Scotland’s rich sporting history, from golf to mountaineering

Pioneering mountain women

19th–20th century women climbers needed grit—not just for peaks, but to defy societal norms that doubted their place in mountaineering.
Mountain peaks

Life in the Library

Behind the scenes of the Library

From morse code to Shirley Temple: unboxing hidden collections

Why did 17th-century Royal Proclamations share a box with Foxy Grandpa comics? Uncover the mystery of the Library’s unusual ‘Series 7 collection’.
A collection of vintage items including comic books ("Pip," "Roisin," "Percy"), a vinyl record, a Shirley Temple book, "British Air Forces," and a "Moscow News" newspaper, all arranged together with other printed materials.

From clues to collections: A puzzle in the Library

The delicate balance between engagement and preservation explored through puzzles.
An orange crossword puzzle book superimposed on one of the black and white crosswords within.

Archive detectives: Tracing family history clue by clue

Liz Carter takes us on a journey of discovery via an enquiry she recently worked on.
Colour photo of a close-up of some twine-bound letters and out of focus vintage photographs.

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