The Scots: A Photohistory

MacKinnon and Oram's collection of photographs taken in the camera's early years is at once a history of a place, a people and an era. The 1839 invention of photography piqued many Scots' interest, and they set to work documenting their country and its inhabitants. Scotland native MacKinnon and History Scotland managing editor Oram present readers with 236 images, most of which were taken in the late 19th century. The sepia-toned and black-and-white images depict, among other things, coastal and rural life, Edinburgh street scenes, factory working conditions, and leisure activities, such as rugby and beachgoing. The variety of photographs--portraits, landscapes and candid shots of Scots going about their everyday lives--paired with the enlightening captions, which often explain the photographs' circumstances or significance, make this an informative and engrossing work for anyone interested in the northern isle.