What is it about Scotland that people love so much? Scotland is famous for many things, as any Scotsman will happily tell you. The list of Scottish inventions is as long as Loch Ness, stretching from penicillin and the telephone to Irn Bru and Grand Theft Auto but, while that Scotsman is busy explaining how Scotland gave the world whisky, television and Long John Silver, spare a thought for the nation and its people. The Scots are a peculiar race with characters as varied and changeable as the unpredictable Scottish weather. In Scotland people will tell you that they love the summer, it’s one of the best days of the year, and that wry sense of humour is what inspires The Wicked Wit of Scotland.

This funny and beautifully observed book pulls together stories, quotes, quips and anecdotes from Scots talking about Scotland and others from all over the world relating what they most admire about the country that Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling described as ‘one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the world. The history is fascinating, the men are handsome and the whisky is delicious. But don’t eat the macaroni pies.’ Featuring wit and wisdom from writers such as Armando Iannucci and Compton Mackenzie, Stanley Baxter and Neil Munro, the sometimes dubious delights of Scottish cuisine are discussed, along with the culture, folklore, politics and sport that will help us to understand just what makes Scotland tick.