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Glasgow: A New History

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Brief Description
Scotland's largest city has always been one of the most vibrant, varied and fascinating places in the country. Glasgow: A New History begins with the river, for the Clyde made the city flourish. From prehistory to the Romans, to Mungo and the kingdom of Strathclyde, it's... Read More
Format: Hardback
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Scotland's largest city has always been one of the most vibrant, varied and fascinating places in the country. Published to coincide with the year-long celebrations of Glasgow 850 in 2025, bestselling historian Alistair Moffat delivers a concise and readable history, packed with fact and anecdote, telling the story of the city and its people.

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

Scotland's largest city has always been one of the most vibrant, varied and fascinating places in the country.

Glasgow: A New History begins with the river, for the Clyde made the city flourish. From prehistory to the Romans, to Mungo and the kingdom of Strathclyde, it's a rich, quirky and moving story that remembers the foundation of the burgh by the bishops. It swiftly progresses to the Union of 1707, when Edinburgh lost a parliament and Glasgow gained access to an empire, causing business to boom.

Immigrants began to arrive: Highlanders, Irish families fleeing the famine, Jews fleeing persecution, and lately Asians who transformed tastes. Britain's favourite dish, chicken tikka masala, was invented in the city. Football, architecture, heavy industry, politics, and a distinctive sense of humour are all celebrated in the book.

Glasgow has never hesitated to reinvent itself because its greatest resource has always been its people. They belong to Glasgow and Glasgow belongs to them. This is their story.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780279589

Publisher: Birlinn General

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 04 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Birlinn Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 327g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Alistair Moffat was born and bred in the Scottish Borders. A former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Director of Programmes at Scottish Television and founder of the Borders Book Festival, he is also the author of a number of highly acclaimed books. From 2011 he was Rector of the University of St Andrews. He has written more than thirty books on Scottish history, and lives in the Scottish Borders.

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