Critically-acclaimed author Andrew Liddle will reveal the dramatic story of Winston Churchill’s 15 years as a Scottish MP during a talk at St Margaret’s.
The event, taking place on Friday, September 26 as part of the Braemar Literary Festival, will explore Churchill’s time as MP for Dundee, culminating in his defeat by Edwin Scrymgeour, the only prohibitionist ever elected to the UK Parliament.
Andrew is author of the award-winning Churchill: The Scottish Years, which was originally published by Birlinn in 2022 to mark 100 years since Churchill’s defeat. The book has been described as “groundbreaking” by the historian Andrew Roberts and was named as a Book of the Year by The Scotsman.
As part of the talk, Andrew will also explore how Churchill came to be an MP in Scotland, his service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers during the First World War, and the future Prime Minister’s attitude to devolution.
Andrew said: “I am absolutely delighted to have the chance to tell the dramatic story of Winston Churchill and Scotland at St Margaret’s as part of the Braemar Literary Festival.
“Churchill’s near 15 years as MP for Dundee is one of the most exciting and important parts of his life – but also undeservedly one of the most overlooked and misunderstood.
“Churchill: The Scottish Years shines a light on this underappreciated period of his life - culminating in his defeat by the prohibitionist Edwin Scrymgeour in 1922 - and I am incredibly excited to have the chance to explore it with the audience at St Margaret’s.”
Lyndsey Boden, Venue Manager for St Margaret’s Braemar, added: “Once again we’re delighted to be partnering with the Fife Arms to support the Braemar Literary Festival – now very much an established fixture in the calendar, bringing a remarkable line-up of authors to Deeside.
“While Winston Churchill is one of history’s most celebrated figures, his time as MP for Dundee is often forgotten. Andrew’s fascinating book brings this formative passage in Churchill’s political career back into the spotlight – and his talk at the festival is set to be as entertaining as it enlightening.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming him to the St Margaret’s stage as part of a packed programme across the three-day festival.”