‘Edinburgh - Picturesque Notes’ is a love letter to home in many ways. In a collection of essays renowned author, Robert Louis Stevenson, recounts historic areas of the city, and the contrasts it contains, split between the rich and poor, the city and the countryside. He lovingly delves in to the beauty of the city, nostalgic for its past, but does not shy away from the gruesome history of his city either, recounting the tales of many sinister events such as ‘Deacon Brodie’ and ‘Major Weir’. The essays are humorous, with quick jabs at the residents of the city and even the weather, the most common jibe of all for those familiar with Scotland. To Stevenson, he was sharing this nostalgia with all the Edinburgh emigrants, in the hopes that they would find comfort in seeing a place near and dear to them recounted in his book. Perfect for those fascinated with Scotland’s ancient city, or just really big fans of ‘Trainspotting’.