"The book has a clearly defined and readily understood structure....The net effect of this clean-cut overview of almost three hundred years is provocative and challenging....As an intelligent, highly personal reading of Scottish literature since 1707, it gives immense pleasure." - Scottish Literary Journal"Walker's approach to Scottish literature offers useful insights and comments....In his introductory sections he provides some intriguing perspectives on the character of Scotland and its literature....the book contains humorous but valuable insights such as the following on Burn's "Tam O'Shanter": "The throw-away ending is pure ironic bathos: the reader is teasingly enjoined to repudiate the pleasures of the tavern, illicit adventure and a glimpse of a girl who can make the Devil wriggle." Walker's style provides for many "quotable" phrases from the volume." - World Literature Today