A NEW book featuring contributions from such diverse figures as former First Minister Alex Salmond, celebrated historian Sir Tom Devine and Professor Gerard Carruthers of Glasgow University will celebrate the life of Thomas Muir, the man known as the Father of Scottish Democracy.
Co-published by the specialist publisher Humming Earth and the Friends of Thomas Muir, the unique publication will feature a special limited edition that will be available only on a subscription basis with subscribers having their name noted in the book.
A deadline of November 15 has been set for subscribing for the limited edition which will feature colour plates as well as the essays that will feature in the book that will be titled, Thomas Muir of Huntershill: Essays for the twenty-first century’.
As well as Salmond and Devine, contributors include Satinder Kaur of the University of Glasgow, who has previously co-authored work on Muir with Prof Carruthers, and Tom Dowds, lecturer at the University of Strathclyde.
Other essays have been penned by Dr Rhona Brown and Dr Ronnie Young of Glasgow University, Paris-based researcher Thomas Lemoine, Dr Gordon Pentland of University of Edinburgh and Dr Beverley Sherry of the University of Sydney in Australia.
The co-publishers say the book may change many people’s views about Muir who was one of several people tried in Scottish courts during the 1790s for the alleged crime of “sedition” with four of the others sharing commemoration with him on a large monument in Edinburgh.
Muir is the most famous as he used his trial as a platform to promote the logic of “an equal representation of the People in the House of the People”.
According to the Friends of Thomas Muir, the trial “was extremely dramatic and was fully reported at the time in newspapers and in several published editions of the trial proceedings.
“Yet somehow historians have never been fully convinced about Muir’s claim to recognition. For some he represents a sour note in the triumphant story of the Scottish Enlightenment, while others have dismissed him as a failure in his own time, conceding little consequence to the example he set for future generations.
“Over the years there have been attempts to right what many people regard as a grievous wrong, in this respect.”
Last year saw the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Muir’s birth and as a consequence, significant new research took place and provided fresh insight into his remarkable life which ended in revolutionary France in 1799 after he had escaped from his banishment in Australia.
Professor Gerard Carruthers, co-editor of the book, said: “This is a book with a lot of new and sometimes surprising material. It should make the open-minded reassess what they think they know about Thomas Muir.”
Don Martin, co-editor of the book, said: “With 15 different authors, of greatly differing background and context, this book will offer unprecedented diversity of approach to the life of Thomas Muir, his motivation, his tribulations and his determination to make his voice heard in adversity.”
Chairman of The Friends of Thomas Muir Jimmy Watson, said: “ The expectation is for the subscribers limited edition hardback version to become a highly collectible and sought-after book.
“If for example, we have 50 orders by the required deadline then only 50 of the special edition will be published.
“A paperback version will also become available.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here