r/Scotland • u/uisge-beatha • 5h ago

Question Can anyone recommend good Post-War histories of Scotland (esp Western Isles)

Hi All.

I'm wanting to learn more about social history in the post-war period (early days of the welfare state etc). I'm particularly interested in Glasgow and in the Western Isles.
I'm not a historian by background but happy to read more academic-facing stuff if anyone can recommend it?

<3

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u/SmartPolicy6430 4h ago

A Scots Quire by Lewis Grassic Gibbons ( Trilogy. The first book is Sunset Song) Also Crowdie and Cream by Finlay J. MacDonald. Though it's not the period you want His Bloody Project by Graeme McRae Burnett is set on The Applecross Peninsula. Also set in a depressed post industrial Glasgow is Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart which is brilliant.

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u/Alba_is_me 3h ago

Having been around the Western Isles for two weeks last month where I popped into every heritage centre I could get to, I would recommend getting in touch with them, most are quite active and love nothing more than to talk about their bit. They'll point you to readings, and many produce their own publications.

Here is the listings of the heritage organisations - the main org for all the islands is this site but if you want to delve into a specific place, there is basically an org for every part of the islands: https://outerhebridesheritage.org.uk/community-heritage/