What book are you reading at the moment ?

With regards to non-fiction, there is "The Scottish Nation - A Modern History" by T. M. Devine

This is the book to read for anyone who wants to understand just what the hell modern Scotland is all about. 

It covers the years 1700-2000. It's a staggering political, social and economic examination of Scotland through three centuries. He doesn't shy away from dealing with sectarianism, Glasgow and Edinburgh's slavery links (although his other book "Scotland's Empire" does it in much more detail) and the sad fact that a people who were outraged by the treaty of union in 1707 quickly became seduced by it until we gradually began to reawaken again in the 20th Century.

I also particularly liked his takedown of the romance and legends of the contemptable Charles Edward Stuart (aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie") who was a rank coward who wilfully abandoned his men to the mercy of an unforgiving enemy when they needed him and looked to him for leadership. In doing so set the scene for a violent cultural assault upon Scotland's Celtic heritage - Gàidhlig, Highland dress, the pipes etc. .

Devine himself is from a working class, state educated background. Not an upper middle class, privately educated historian. Like many others, he was once a pretty firm unionist who was initially sceptical of devolution but today he is a convinced supporter of Scottish independence.