Caledonia's Last Stand by Nat Edwards

As Scotland begins to walk a path not walked for centuries, interest has been renewed in Caledonia's past attempts at standing on its oan twa feet. So comes the release of Nat Edwards' chronicle of Scotland's very ill-fated attempt to establish a trading colony in Panama's Isthmus of Darien. This expedition was so monumentally ambitious that its failure bankrupted Scotland, leading to the end of Scottish independence and the beginning of the UK. The story runs alongside Edward's account of his own adventures in Panama, trying to discover the graves of the hundreds of Scots who died in the harsh malarial swamps of 'New Caledonia'. Edward's writing, while respecting of the ill-fated colonists, is warm and witty, making the journey through modern day Panama a vivid and enjoyable one. He paints a picture of a small yet formidable country and the unique culture and customs of its native people. With pirates, lost cities and killer bees to boot, this is at times a surprisingly exciting read, but more importantly a reminder; that as we look to a more independent future, we must remember our independent past, in better times and in worse. [Campbell Miller]