Books possess a remarkable power to whisk us away to different times and places. The Borders has long been a muse for writers, inspiring them to create enduring poetry, ballads, and literature that beautifully depict our landscape.
Sir Walter Scott drew on Scottish history and landscapes to inspire his timeless classics including several books which he wrote in the Borders such as ‘The Lay of the Last Minstrel’, ‘Marmion’ and ‘The Lady of the Lake’.
Growing up on his paternal grandparents’ farm near the historic Smailholm Tower in Sandyknowe, Scott’s early years profoundly influenced his creative storytelling. Abbotsford, The Home of Sir Walter Scott, where he became the biggest-selling author of his day, is well-worth a visit.
Before Scott, Thomas the Rhymer, also known as Thomas Learmont, a Laird and famed prophet from Earlston, authored numerous verses about the region. His medieval ballad about his life has been passed down through generations.
More recently, Janet McNaughton’s novel ‘An Earthly Knight’ reimagines the legend of Tam Lin, a famous Scottish ballad associated with the Borders.
The unique history of the Borders region has inspired many to record and write about real events. For instance, George MacDonald Fraser’s ‘The Steel Bonnets’ recounts the true story of the Border Reivers, who operated across the Anglo-Scottish borders. The book delves into their raids, as well as the efforts of the March Wardens to enforce the distinctive Border law.
