For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to previous guest, the writer Graeme Macrae Burnet, to hear all about his latest novel A Case Of Matricide, which is the final book in the Georges Gorski trilogy (all published on the Contraband imprint of Saraband), which are described as "a series of novels set in the unremarkable French town of Saint-Louis", but to say there is so much more is the biggest understatement.

Before giving a brief synopsis of A Case Of Matricide Graeme talks about the trilogy as a whole and how it came about, creating the character of Georges Gorski, and how the latest novel relates to the other two.

Carefully avoiding spoilers, the two then discuss the nature of the trilogy, crime novels where the crimes are not to the fore, the perils of using - and mildly abusing - a real place in the shape of Saint-Louis, telling a story through small details, and the themes they address.

They also talk about the influence of 20th century European literature, naturalism versus existentialism, and the different levels to writing, and therefore reading, A Case Of Matricide.

It's always a treat to talk to Graeme, one of Scots Whay Hae!'s favourite writers, someone who is always interesting in terms of how he works and why. If you are unaware of his writing, or are only familiar with his Booker-listed His Bloody Project and Case Study, then this is the perfect place to find out more, and discover the Georges Gorski Trilogy.

For full details, and all the ways to listen, go to https://www.scotswhayhae.com

Graeme Macrae Burnet - A Case of Matricide

This recording captures memories of the ferry crossings over the River Tay from Fife to Dundee before the Tay Road Bridge opened in 1966.
Ferries have plied the Tay for hundreds of years. In this area there were four main services: Balmerino, Woodhaven, Seamills (Newport) to Dundee, and Ferryport-on-Craig (Tayport) to Broughty Ferry. Competition was fierce, especially between Woodhaven and Seamills, and early ferries were unsafe, irregular, and overcrowded.
After a tragic accident in 1815 claiming 18 lives, regulation and improvements followed. The Tay Ferry Trustees took over in 1819, reducing the number of boats, selecting reliable crews, introducing tickets, and establishing regular sailings.
The introduction of the steamship Union in 1821 transformed the service. By 1822, Newport became the primary crossing point, and new piers designed by Thomas Telford and Robert Stevenson in 1823 improved safety and efficiency.
The final ferry crossing took place on 18 August 1966, shortly after the Tay Road Bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The Scotscraig carried some 200 passengers on the historic last trip, marking the end of an era fondly remembered by locals.

Ambulance by Ferry across the Tay before the Road Bridge

Our Sonic Museum project will build an audio collection highlighting the cultural, human, and natural wealth, history, and diversity of communities across North East Fife and the East Neuk – a digital storehouse of land, sea and people stories. The Sonic Museum will allow collaborations with heritage, community groups and arts organisations, encourage community involvement, and allow people to learn new skills, produce podcasts, write, perform and explore their creativity.

Recent funding from the Community Learning and Development Device Fund managed by SCVO has led the charity to develop a new initiative called The Sonic Museum. A field recording lending resource (comprising 12 professional digital field recording kits) allows communities to explore the impact of sound on our lives, capture memories, nature soundscapes, songs and sonic postcards. Four pilots are underway with the Youth Ambassadors affiliated with Balmerino, Gauldry, Kilmany and Logie Community Council, St Andrews Heritage Museum and Garden, and volunteers from Kilmany Parish Hall in the remote village of Rathillet and the Hamlet of Collessie. 

We have also started a collaboration with the Fife Writes Charity, a peer support group for published and unpublished writers. This new collaboration will further enhance the Sonic Museum's content, allowing members to record spoken word, short stories, poetry, and audio plays that bring landscape, history, and heritage to life.

Ambulance by Ferry across the Tay before the Road Bridge

The Sonic Museum - Stories of Land, Sea and People

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