Poets pit Scotland’s personality against itself

Published On Wed 3 Jul 2019 by Dominic Glasgow

Some of Scotland’s most famous people, places and products have been pitted against one another as part of a new poetry publication.

From Laphroaig versus Buckfast, to Oor Wullie against Black Bob, to Jimmy Shand meeting Jack Bruce, and cullen skink taking on Irn-Bru, the new book Scotia Extremis brings together more than 100 acclaimed Scottish poets to take a sideways look at what makes, and makes up, Scotland.

The book is co-edited by Andy Jackson, a poet and medical librarian at the University of Dundee, and Brian Johnstone, founder of StAnza: Scotland’s International Poetry Festival and will be available to the public following Thursday’s launch.

Scotia Extremis features national Makar Jackie Kay, acclaimed poets Robert Crawford, Imtiaz Dharker, Douglas Dunn, Vicki Feaver, John Glenday and almost 100 more specially commissioned poems that bring to life the people, places and motifs that form the complex and contradictory soul of Scotland.

“Scotland is instantly recognisable by tartan, haggis and figures like William Wallace, but you can probably find out more about our culture by looking at the wee things that make our nation so great, this book delves into that,” said Andy Jackson.

“By looking at cullen skink and Irn Bru and Jimmy Shand alongside our more famous icons, we want our readers to get more of a feel for what is it like to live in and be Scottish.”

The launch of Scotia Extremis takes place from 6.30 – 7.30pm at Dundee Central Library, Wellgate on Thursday 4 July. The new book is published by Luath Press.

For media enquiries contact:
Dominic Glasgow
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385131
Email: d.w.glasgow@dundee.ac.uk