THE MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND WWW.NLS.UK | ISSUE 28 SPRING 2015 FREE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR BOX OF DELIGHTS Ian Rankin lifts the lid on the life of Muriel Spark PLUS What do Brian Cox, Michael Palin and Lorraine Kelly share? WELCOME An invitation to inspiring insights DISCOVER NLS Opening up the latest book by the crime writer ISSUE 28 SPRING 2015 Ian Rankin is, for many of us, a sheer delight. In this CONTACT US issue of Discover NLS the tables are turned on the We welcome all comments, creator of Rebus as he delves into the archive of his questions, submissions and subscription enquiries. Please literary hero. write to us at the National He is given an intimate look at the life of Dame Library of Scotland address Muriel Spark as he highlights the Library’s fundraising below or email [email protected] campaign to buy the last tranche of her archive. It is FOR THE NATIONAL LIBRARY with respect – and glee – that he opens a box of her EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Miller personal papers. Find out what happened on page 18. Inspiration is behind so much of what we do at the EDITORIAL ADVISER Willis Pickard National Library. Our collections are a mix of the enthralling, the precious and the curious, from original CONTRIBUTORS copies of classic works such as Treasure Island, The Great Mark Baillie, Bryan Christie, Chris Fleet, Alec Mackenzie, Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice, to an umbrella belonging Kathleen Morgan, to Muriel Spark’s suffragette grandmother. Dora Petherbridge, Kenny Redpath, John Scally, Amid this wonderful mix of manuscripts, books, Michael Tierney, Emma Wilson publications and artefacts, stars from the arts and media have found their inspirations. Brian Cox, Michael Palin and EDITOR Kathleen Morgan Lorraine Kelly are among those who have visited the kathleen.morgan@ Library to take part in our ongoing Inspirations series. thinkpublishing.co.uk They use our collections to tell us – on page 12 – about the DEPUTY EDITOR influences that have shaped their lives. Fiona McKinlay The acclaimed writer James Kelman meets journalist fiona.mckinlay@ thinkpublishing.co.uk Michael Tierney in the shadow of an elephant at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. They DESIGN Dominic Scott take tea with a large helping of grammar. SUB-EDITORS Our maps curator Chris Fleet illuminates the life Sam Bartlett, Sian Campbell, and work of a pioneer mapmaker from Scotland who Lillian McDowall made the world a safer place. Lastly, Dora Petherbridge GROUP ACCOUNT MANAGER discovers a diary smaller than her hand that opens up an John Innes [email protected] emotive story of the American Civil War. DR JOHN SCALLY Inspiration, from cover to cover. National Librarian ADVERTISING Alison Fraser alison.fraser@thinkpublishing. co.uk 0141 946 8708 PUBLISHED BY PEN AND INK IN TIMES OF PERIL Think Scotland Suite 2.3, Red Tree Business Suites, 33 Dalmarnock Road, Glasgow G40 4LA 1 2 3 0141 375 0504 ISSN 1751-5998 (print) THE QUEEN THE EMIGRANT THE ISSN 1751 -6005 (online) Mary Queen Driven by CONSCIENTIOUS of Scots wrote poverty, OBJECTOR National Library of Scotland her last letter Flora MacDonald A moving letter George IV Bridge six hours before (right) wrote from Thomas Edinburgh EH1 1EW being executed this emotive Hannan to his TELEPHONE 0131 623 3700 on the orders letter in 1774 mother Nellie FAX 0131 623 3701 of her cousin before emigrating in 1917, explaining EMAIL [email protected] and rival, with her husband his controversial The National Library of Elizabeth I, to America and beliefs Scotland is a registered in 1587 a new life http://bit.ly/ Scottish charity. Scottish http://digital.nls. http://bit.ly/nls_ conscientious_ uk/mqs/ flora objector COVER IMAGE: SIMON MURPHY, THIS PAGE: MALCOLM COCHRANE Charity No. SC011086 Spring 2015 | DISCOVER NLS | 3 NLS_Spring15.indb 3 12/03/2015 14:41 CONTENTS 12 18 What’s making Ian Rankin smile? JAMES KELMAN ALASDAIR BY GRAY 26 7 NEWS The latest updates, comment and events, including Sally Magnusson on her father’s archive coming to the Library 10 CURATOR’S CHOICE The diary of an unknown American Civil War soldier 12 MOVING STORIES Brian Cox, Michael Palin and Lorraine Kelly share their influences as they celebrate the Library’s Inspirations programme 18 CAMPAIGN The crime writer Ian Rankin gets an exclusive glimpse into the life of Muriel Spark as he supports our fundraising campaign SIMON MURPHYSIMON 22 MAPPING A LIFE The life and work of a forgotten CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE INCLUDE Scottish mapmaker who helped make ocean navigation safer 26 A MAN OF LETTERS The acclaimed author James Kelman gives Michael Tierney a lesson in grammar Dora Petherbridge Bryan Christie Michael Tierney Mark Baillie Christopher Fleet 30 MAKE THE As the Library’s A former journalist An award-winning Marketing and A Map Curator MOST OF YOUR United States and specialising in journalist and Communications at the Library, NATIONAL LIBRARY Commonwealth health, Bryan is Director of Zubarah Officer for the Royal Chris is also Collections responsible for Media, Michael College of Surgeons a co-author Curator, Dora has media and external is author of the of Edinburgh, of Edinburgh: 33 MY NLS a special interest relations at the autobiographical Mark is on the Mapping the City in the American National Library The First Game editorial board of and Scotland: 34 LAST WORD Civil War of Scotland With My Father Surgeons’ News Mapping a Nation Spring 2015 | DISCOVER NLS | 5 05_NLS_Spring15_CONTENTSd.indd 5 13/03/2015 12:18 RORY BREMNER INSPIRES + ALICE IN WONDERLAND AT 150 + BODY TALK NEWS + WIN A GUIDE BOOK TO SCOTLAND + CURATOR’S CHOICE + WW2 DIARIES + Sally Magnusson as a baby with her parents Mamie and Magnus ‘I can hear him in these words’ Family of Magnus Magnusson donates his archive e was best known for the “My father never which he hosted for 25 catchphrase “I’ve started so threw anything out – years. He was awarded HI’ll finish”, which punctuated just in case he might an honorary each episode of the British quiz need it for an article knighthood in 1989. show Mastermind. or a speech in the He died in his home Now these words, along with the future. Every TV near Glasgow at the papers and documents of Magnus or book project age of 77, survived by Magnusson, belong to the nation generated a flood of his wife Mamie and after his family gifted his archive to research material he four children, Sally, the National Library. stowed away.” Margaret, Anna and Jon. Sally Magnusson, presenter of the The journalist Siggy, his elder son, had BBC current affairs programme described how it died in a road accident Sally Magnusson Reporting Scotland, explained why took weeks to sift at age 11. Mamie, an the family donated the copious through her father’s accomplished journalist amount of paperwork her father had archive. “I kept being in her own right, lived kept up until his death in 2007. slowed down by stopping to read with dementia for eight years before She said: “My dad had such a wide what he had written,” she said. “Even her death in 2012. range of intellectual interests and in draft form, he could never write a Asked to name the most precious much of his writing throws light on boring sentence.” part of Magnus Magnusson’s archive, aspects of life I believe have a place Magnus Magnusson was born in Sally said: “Anything with my in our national memory. Everything Iceland but moved to Scotland with father’s handwriting on it. Or indeed from the landscape to church his family when he was one. He just anything in his own beautifully buildings to Viking settlements joined the BBC in 1964 as a presenter chosen words – which of course is to place names, birds, wildlife, on the Tonight programme and in almost everything – because I can education … you name it. 1972 became the face of Mastermind, hear him in them.” Spring 2015 | DISCOVER NLS | 7 07-11_nls_Spring15_news_V2.indd 7 12/03/2015 15:02 WHAT INSPIRES A COMEDIAN? Rory Bremner to join the ranks of big name guests EVENT master of satire is the latest celebrity to Ashare their influences with an audience at the National Library. Rory Bremner, acclaimed for his impressions of British Impressionist Rory Bremner politicians, is to delve into the Library’s collections but more importantly allows this June as part of the our guests to see and learn Inspirations series. about original material from Figures from the worlds the Library’s collection.” of literature, business, Palin, recently reunited Party time for science, politics, film and with the Monty Python team television have contributed on stage, said: “I was grateful to the series, launched to the National Library for legendary book in 2009. They include helping build a bridge RARE BOOK COLLECTION publisher, Macmillan, the actors Brian Cox and between me and my about its print quality. Michael Palin, and the TV inspirations, and giving me Library celebrates Recipients of presentation presenter Lorraine Kelly, who the opportunity to cross it.” treasured edition copies were asked to share their inspirations in Kelly added: “It’s a joy to return them and only a this issue. talk about subjects you feel 150th birthday is a few bound copies have Each speaker links his so passionate about. I also special one and survived, including the or her inspirations to appreciated the intelligent AAlice is dressed for Library’s copy. documents, books and questions from the audience.” the occasion, sitting in her Dr Graham Hogg, the objects they have discovered Inspirations is part of a fancy party dress at the Curator for Rare Books, in the Library’s collections.