Books set in Edinburgh?
 

I will be in Edinburgh later this summer. I would love to read some good fiction set in the city before I go. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!

Author Ian Rankin's Inspector John Rebus books (contemporary crime fiction) are very well written. He allows conflicting images of Edinburgh to spice the tales.

Another vote for Ian Rankin, but be warned that he presents a decidedly non-romantic view of Edinburgh. Even less romantic, not to say disgusting, would be Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting. Or try Complicity buy Iain Banks, not as nauseating as Trainspotting, but hardly sweetness and light.<BR><BR>On the other hand, for some comic relief, there's Isla Dewar (Women Talking Dirty, It Could Happen to You, and others, not at all easy to find in the US, if that's where you are).<BR><BR>For a nice view of the proper Edinburgh of the 1930's, read Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Pat Barker's WWI novel Regeneration has some scenes set in Edinburgh but isn't really an Edinburgh novel.<BR><BR>If you're game, a wonderful book but not to everyone's taste is James Hogg's The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. It's a 19th century satirical novel bitterly satirizing Scottish Calvinism, with a famous and chilling scene set on Arthur's Seat.

No, you don't have to "buy" Iain Banks, I just can't type. Apologies.<BR>

A great story about a loyal little dog is "Greyfriars' Bobbie". Touching tale about a highland dog who mourns his master's passing with intense devotion. Sorry, can't remember the author. Jinx Hoover

If they are still in print, Elizabeth Byrd's "Immortal Queen" (about Mary, Queen of Scots) and "Flowers of the Forest" are two great historical novels set in Edinburgh.

Similar to Rankin (but not as good an author0 is Quentin Jardine- he does two series one about a policeman called Skinner and one about a private eye called Ozzie Blackstone<BR><BR>There is a series of historic police novel about Inspector Faro by Alanna Knight<BR><BR>I've recently read an excellent novel called The Fanatic, by James Robertson<BR><BR>Try Walter Scott's Waverley Novels- maybe The Heart of Midlothian?<BR><BR>And there's a guy called Paul Johnston who is writing agreat series set in Edinburgh about 2020.<BR><BR>Christopher Brookmyre, who is ill served by the jackets of his books is excellent too.<BR><BR>Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R.L. Stevenson is based in Edinburgh<BR><BR>There is a rather obscure early feminist called Susan Ferrier who wrote a trilogy called Marriage, the Inheritance and Destiny which are a bit sub-Austin but very entertaining,<BR><BR>And, of course, J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book in an Edinburgh cafe; but it's not set in Edinburgh<BR><BR>

The Acid House by Irvine Welsh. Unlikely you will then venture into northern 'burbs of the 'burgh.

The setting for The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is London, not Edinburgh.

For light fictonal reading, you might want to pick up a copy of A Season in the Highlands by Jude Deveraux. It's a collection of some fun romance stories set in Scotland by a few different authors. A friend of mine gave me a copy for my flight to Scotland last year and it was a great way to pass time. Have a great time in Edinburgh - one of my favorite cities!