Book Review: Tartans by Brian Wilton

[Riverkilt]

So I've read most of my copy and am amazed there's not more talk of this wonderful book on the forum. Its the perfect book for new folks to get up to speed on a lot of the ins and outs of tartans while still presenting detailed information for the more experienced.

It was published in 2007, is 200 pages and has over 400 tartans illustrated. Our own Matt Newsome and Todd are mentioned in the Acknowledgements.

Few pages are without illustration or tartan examples. The book is laid out by district and the maps are both comprehensive and easy to understand. There is a lot of history of clans and relationships between clans. There are old paintings, many photos of old castles, and new fashion uses of tartans.

Terms like tram lines and guard lines in tartans are explained. Brian is also good at explaining branches of clans and how various tartans relate to each other. He follows the twists, turns, mistakes, shennanigans of tartan development, and even acceptance of fashion tartans by clans.

The book shows all 37 state tartans in the U.S., provincial tartans, Australian, New Zealand, and Tasmanian tartans, 7th Cavalry, RCAF, RAF, Antartic, and Artic tartans. Whisky tartans, sports tartans, hunting tartans, dress tartans, law enforcement tartans, Scottish society tartans and more are covered.

There is a comprehensive bibliography of other tartan related books.

To give you the flavor of Brian's writing, "The propensity of Scots to squabble amongst themselves should never be underestimated."

There is a wonderful old photograph of ten Gordon Highlanders kiltmakers working at the Aberdeen Barracks in 1904. That photo alone is worth the price of the book for any kiltmaker.

I was pleased to find more information on many of the tartans that I own.

The index is only of tartans. It would have been nice to have a subject index too. It would have been nice if there was room for larger photos of the tartans.

There's no question this text should be in any kilties library.

Warning: The book is certain to expand your wish list of kilts.

Its available from the Scottish Tartans Authority or any bookseller. Its been on sale at Amazon.

Ron

[McMurdo]

I recently saw a copy at my local tartan shop, but bought a dress sporran chain instead, next time I'm there I'll pick up a copy, thanks for the review Ron.

[Bugbear]

Sounds like a great book. Got thread counts?

[James MacMillan]

Warning: The book is certain to expand your wish list of kilts.

Just what I need!

Thanks for the review - but here is what you really need.:buttkick:

[Riverkilt]

Sorry Ted, no thread counts, get those on line. He does frequently address how minor thread changes have resulted in changes in a tartan or use by another clan/group.

Ron

[Bugbear]

Sorry Ron, I was kind of making a little joke on the "Got Milk" slogan and taking a swipe at the sighted folk. It does sound like there is a lot of neat information in the book though.
Looking at it now, it's was kind of a stupid thing to say, and is too much of an inside joke to understand, sorry again.

[Riverkilt]

Ohhhhkay...now I get it Ted...thanks...olde age is slowing my surviving brain cells down considerably...

Ron

[andyfg]

Ron, I ordered it on Amazon.com after your review. What a book! I agree with you, "why hasn't more been made of it here on Xmarks?" Should be in every kilt lovers library. Thanks for the heads up.