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Borrowed Land

A Highland Story
By Kapka Kassabova
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Brief Description
Magisterial and unforgettable - an intimate story of a Scottish Highland glen, from the prizewinning author of Border. This is the intimate story of a Scottish glen and its inhabitants, of whom I am one. From the powerful rivers that bring life and prosperity; to the... Read More
Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Magisterial and unforgettable - an intimate story of a Scottish Highland glen, from the prizewinning author of Border.

This is the intimate story of a Scottish glen and its inhabitants, of whom I am one.

From the powerful rivers that bring life and prosperity; to the Pictish cairns, undisturbed for centuries; to the meadows of bluebells, where deer emerge, God-like, in a flash, Kapka Kassabova reveals a world that has been abused, but remains achingly beautiful and alive.

In the Highlands, centuries-old connections between the land, nature and people have been, and continue to be, shaken by the forces of colonialism, industry, depopulation, and private property speculation. Borrowed Land tells the stories of those who are working against this disconnect- the last true Highlanders fighting to preserve their home.

An extraordinary portrait of the Scottish Highlands, this is an epic and urgent story of destruction and renewal, told through encounters with some of the last true Highlanders.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781787335349

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 09 April 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Jonathan Cape

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 240.0mm

Weight: 750g

Pages: 352

Collections

Education & Reference Kapka Kassabova Non-Fiction Penguin Books Science & Nature

About the Author

Kapka Kassabova is a prizewinning writer of narrative non-fiction. Her recent Balkan quartet includes Anima (2024), Elixir (2023), To the Lake (2020) and Border (2017). Her awards include a British Academy prize, Scottish Book of the Year, Stanford-Dolman Travel Book of the Year, the Highland Book Prize, Prix Nicolas-Bouvier, Prix du Meilleur Livre tranger, and Premio Mazzotti. Kassabova grew up in Sofia, Bulgaria, and migrated to New Zealand before settling in Scotland twenty years ago. She lives by a Highland river.

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