A LITERARY TOUR OF EDINBURGH with

In this week's #BookBreak episode I visit Edinburgh, the historical capital of Scotland and also the first Unesco City of Literature. Edinburgh hosts countless literary sites for visitors and residents and in this video, I show you around some of the statues, museums and libraries you can visit in the beautiful city centre.
In need of some Scottish literature to read now?
Watch Book Break's TOP 5 SCOTTISH BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS video here: bit.ly/2i5mBgE
And check out our Favourite Scottish Poets on the Picador blog: bit.ly/2iUCdjX
Book Break is also now on INSTAGRAM: / bookbreakuk
Check out these CLASSICS by Edinburgh Authors:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: amzn.to/2i5TNVja
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: amzn.to/2iA5rng
Dr Finlay's Casebook: amzn.to/2jdx7PI
Or some CONTEMPORARY NOVELS SET IN EDINBURGH:
City of Strangers: amzn.to/2i92mOU
The Other Mrs Walker: amzn.to/2ie97h7
Or why not read a little SCOTTISH HISTORY:
Crown of Thistles: amzn.to/2ibJPwQ
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Jean: / jeansthoughts
And on INSTAGRAM:
Book Break: / bookbreakuk
PanMacmillan: / panmacmillan

[@CarolynsReadingRamblings]

The one literary thing I got to do in Edinburgh was see the Sherlock Holmes statue and go to the Conan Doyle Pub with my grandparents (couldn't drink though because i'd forgotten my passport at the hotel lol). That was definitely one of the best trips I've ever had and I need to go back soon. This was such a creative video Jean 😃

[@BookBreak]

I'm so glad to hear you had a lovely time! I've done the same thing before with my passport aha so I sympathise. And thank you, I'm also really glad you enjoyed the video :D - Jean

[@carbonc6065]

This is awesome!

[@GlenWasson]

Interesting tour. as an American.

[@ClaireCaseyWriter]

I've also been told that Robert Tannahill, Paisley's Weaver Poet, has been carved into the Scott Monument. There's also a statue of Robert Burns in the Fountain Garden in Paisley.

[@bibliophilereads]

Since I'm planning a trip to Edinburgh, this was super helpful!

[@BookBreak]

Yay! Glad to be of service :D I hope you have a wonderful time - Jean

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh how have I missed this video. Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities. Loved this tour of the city it's made me want to go back. Slightly annoyed I wasn't packed in your bag. Lol.

[@BookBreak]

At least you've seen it now ^_^ next time! I might even treat you to a seat on the train - Jean

[@chboskyy]

Okay I didn't know there was a writer's museum! I need to go there 😮 great video Jean! x

[@BookBreak]

Oh my goodness Vanessa and you're so close! Shocking aha. Definitely worth a wee visit next time your in Edinburgh (it is pretty well hidden). Thank you! - Jean

[@ThoseCoffeeSpoons]

Great video! Was in Edinburgh for Hogmanay and I already miss it :(

[@BookBreak]

Glad you had a lovely time :) and thank you! - Jean

[@juliequick5526]

I'd love to visit Edinburgh having last been around 1973/4! You have inspired me to look into my area's literary legacy - Mary Shelley being the prime one, but also Thomas Hardy for the area as a whole. There must be more and I'm interested to investigate :)

[@BookBreak]

Those are two impressive names! I hope you enjoy finding out more about your area locally and it's literary heritage ^_^ - Jean

[@paulwinchell6904]

Good walking literary tour thank you

[@BookBreak]

Glad you enjoyed it :) - Jean

[@mradonis252]

that Conan Doyle pub looks great but there is another literary pub in Edinburgh that I would like go to, the oxford bar the pub John Rebus frequents.

[@BookBreak]

There are so many spots that have inspired modern books and their locations that I could really do a whole other tour of Edinburgh :) - Jean

[@cynthiamez3924]

Literary tour of London please! 🙏🏻

[@BookBreak]

I can say for certainty that this will happen! ^_^ - Jean

[@paulwinchell6904]

you need to do a book tour of book cities or all the book festival's you'll get some serious travel time in

[@BookBreak]

We'll definitely need to visit some more book festivals for sure! - Jean

[@narflet]

Come to Birmingham. Loads of literary history and events here!

[@BookBreak]

I've never been to Birmingham! I'll have to do some research :) - Jean

[@narflet]

We're very big on Tolkien's connection to the city, we have the largest public lending library in Europe, we have an annual literature festival (which happens in April), and there are many contemporary and historic authors they've come from and/or have been influenced by Birmingham: Arthur Conan Doyal worked in Birmingham when not in Edinburgh and used the name of John Baskerville for his famous work; Rev. Awdry created his Thomas the Tank Engine books in Birmingham; Jonathan Coe's The Rotters Club is about his experiences at school in Birmingham. We even have our own ghost story: Charles Dickens gave the first public reading of A Christmas Carol at the town hall and is rumored that his ghost can be seen in the gallery on occasion! I can happily show you around and/or give you the Tolkien tour! There's so much literary history and connections in this city, that's just scratching the surface.

[@anonb4632]

Could you do one of Nottingham please? Byron, DH Lawrence etc

[@BookBreak]

Those are certainly some impressive literary names! Will have to add it to the list :) - Jean

[@ametrinemoon]

You forgot to say, if you turn round at the NLS, across the road you should see the elephant house, where J. K. Rowling wrote harry potter

[@BookBreak]

Aha I think that is slightly over sold, she wrote bits of it in hundreds of locations and I also had to narrow it down some how - I decided not to go for spots specific to modern books because then I'd have had to include Alexander McCall Smith, Rebus, Irving Welsh and so many more. Maybe a second instalment is in order :). - Jean

[@lachlanmoir79]

Edinburgh in August is the most beautiful place on Earth!

[@BookBreak]

I have to say my favourite time is May in Edinburgh. The weather is always so lovely - Jean

[@lachlanmoir79]

I must say I've only been twice and both in August for some reason. Not even festival related :) There's just something about a sunny day in Edinburgh that really makes it sparkle.

[@EmilyTheOddOne]

Do you know of any J.M. Barrie related places to visit in Edinburgh? I know he went to university there but is from another part of Scotland. :)

[@BookBreak]

Not that I'm aware of but you can visit his birthplace where there is a museum dedicated to him in Kirriemuir :) - Jean

[@anonb4632]

A pity that the City of Literature quango and Book Festival do almost nothing to help most living writers in the city.

[@heavynov]

Wait, you prefer a statue of Sherlock Holmes to the monument to Scotland's favourite son? Oo The Storytelling-centre and Writer's Museum sound like must-sees though.

[@BookBreak]

Aha we all have our favourite authors and works of literature - Sir Arthur Conan Doyles' Sherlock Holmes is mine :). They are both wonderful places to visit! - Jean

[@robotnic]

This one made me feel dead patriotic so it did.

[@BookBreak]

;) you'll have to come back for a visit soon - Jean

[@cynthiamez3924]

Amsterdam and Paris wouldn't hurt either 😛

[@BookBreak]

I mean I certainly wouldn't object to paying them a visit ;) - Jean

[@tweezers193]

Eh, Glasgow?

[@BookBreak]

You'd like to see a literary tour of Glasgow? I will put it on the list :) - Jean

[@tweezers193]

Thank you, Jean.