Edinburgh: A History of the City

Thelatepoetlaureate,SirJohnBetjeman,saidthatEdinburghwasthemostbeautifulcityinEurope.Likesomeothergreatcitiesitissetonsevenhills.Butonlyoneofthese,Rome,rivalsEdinburghinmatchingthebeautyofitssettingwiththestatelinessofitsbuildings.Edinbrugh,too,providesthebackdroptomuchofthedarkdramaoftheScottishpast,fromMaryQueenofScotstoBonniePrinceCharlieandbeyond.MichaelFry,whohaslivedandworkedtherefornearlyfortyyears,providesacompellinglyreadableaccountofthisgreatcity,fromtheearliesttimestothepresent,balancingEdinburgh'scultural,politicalandsocialhistory,andpaintingavividportraitofacity--thatlikeStevenson'sDrJekyll--isbothdarkandlight,bothdarkandlight,both'AuldReekie'and'AthensoftheNorth'.