European Studies Archives - Edinburgh University Press Blog

o Reproduction of a sketch bound in the pages of the periodical issue. On the left the artwork represents a human figure crouched down on the grass and looking at a smaller-size, nymph-like female figure standing on the right beside two daffodils (the titular Spirit of the Daffodil). Of the observer mainly his head and hands are visible and are painted in darker tones. Hues for the daffodil nymph are lighter and brighter.

6 Things About Irish Literature and Periodical Culture You Probably Didn’t Know

Discover six surprising facts about Irish literature, from James Joyce to forgotten writers and literary magazines.

Edinburgh University Press
August 7, 2026

**Alt text:** A wide view down a cobblestone street in Edinburgh's historic city center, lined with large stone buildings. A Gothic church with a tall, ornate spire stands prominently on the right side of the street. Crowds of pedestrians gather along the sidewalks and at intersections, while a few vehicles travel along the road. The scene is photographed from the upper deck of a red sightseeing bus, with part of the bus and a passenger visible in the foreground. Dark, dramatic clouds hang overhead, contrasting with patches of lighter sky.

The Battle for the Soul of the Edinburgh Fringe

Free is not rubbish! The Free Fringe is a key part of the Fringe's ecology, injecting a much-needed dose of authenticity.

Edinburgh University Press
August 6, 2026

Looking out through the window of a former industrial building in Glasgow’s East End, we see large areas of derelict ex-industrial land in need of reclamation for development, and in the distance, other formerly industrial buildings.

The Scottish Office and the ‘Glasgow Problem’

In Spring 1997, civil servants in Edinburgh, in the pre-devolution Scottish Office (SO), faced ‘the Glasgow Problem’.

Edinburgh University Press
July 15, 2026

Low-angle view of a dark bronze memorial sculpture featuring three offshore oil workers standing back-to-back against a cloudy sky, silhouetted by sunlight breaking through the clouds.

5 things the Piper Alpha disaster tells us about how the media covers anniversaries

Richard Jones on how journalism can reinterpret the meaning of historic events, helping them to retain a place in society’s shared consciousness.

Edinburgh University Press
June 9, 2026

A black-and-white photo of a large neoclassical stone building with tall fluted columns, a triangular pediment, and ornate detailing along the roofline. The structure has a monumental, temple-like appearance, with dark shadows emphasizing the architectural features. Bushes and smaller adjoining sections of the building are visible in the foreground and left side.

Lessons from Scottish Schools

Lindsay Paterson discusses Scotland’s educational decline and the social inequality of attainment.

Edinburgh University Press
May 14, 2026

Stone gargoyle perched on Notre-Dame Cathedral overlooking the dense rooftops of Paris, with the Seine River running alongside the city and the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance beneath a dramatic, cloud-filled sky.

Q&A on French Horror

Q&A with Reece Goodall, author of French Horror

Edinburgh University Press
April 23, 2026

A sepia-toned 18th-century printed broadside titled “TRANSPORTED FOR SEDITION.” The design features ornate borders and three oval engravings of men in period clothing holding papers. Text around the portraits names individuals convicted of sedition and sentenced to transportation (penal exile), including references to courts and dates in the early 1800s. The overall style is decorative and historical, resembling a political or legal proclamation from Britain.

The Scottish Martyrs and the antagonisms between Scots Law and British penal practice

Editors introduce their article on the Scottish Martyrs, which was the runner up in the SHR’s inaugural Early Career Researcher prize (Published in the journal’s December 2025 issue)

Edinburgh University Press
February 12, 2026

Stone statue viewed from behind beneath tall Gothic arches and dark stone columns, framing a bright blue sky with clouds

The Future of Scottish Higher Education

Purpose, Freedom, and Sustainability
(Special Edition of Scottish Affairs)

Edinburgh University Press
February 10, 2026

A detailed black-and-white illustration of several men in traditional Scottish Highland attire—kilts, plaids, and feathered caps—shaking hands in front of a small thatched cottage. A child stands nearby watching, and a crowd of villagers looks on from behind. Trees arch overhead, and one man carries bagpipes slung over his shoulder.

Jacobitism and Conceptions of Ethical Colonialism

Briefly challenges the assumption that colonialism is inherently immoral

Edinburgh University Press
December 17, 2025

6 Things About Irish Literature and Periodical Culture You Probably Didn’t Know

The Battle for the Soul of the Edinburgh Fringe

The Scottish Office and the ‘Glasgow Problem’

5 things the Piper Alpha disaster tells us about how the media covers anniversaries

Lessons from Scottish Schools

Q&A on French Horror

The Scottish Martyrs and the antagonisms between Scots Law and British penal practice

The Future of Scottish Higher Education

Jacobitism and Conceptions of Ethical Colonialism

6 Things About Irish Literature and Periodical Culture You Probably Didn’t Know

The Battle for the Soul of the Edinburgh Fringe

A Lifetime Exploring the Achaemenid Empire

Arthur Conan Doyle in Egypt

FIFA World Cup 2026: Extract from The Beautiful Game on a Muslim Pitch