I must have really wanted to read this book. I bought it for my Kindle prior to traveling to the UK. The while in Edinburgh, I purchased it again but in a hardcover format. Alexander McCall Smith wrote an introduction and it set the tone for the perfect perfectly. He explains how RLS is a master with word use and doesn't overdo it as other Scottish writers. I found RLS's descriptions of Edinburgh to be infused with a wonderfully realistic grasp of the city in all its glories and and infamies. It was especially fun to read this since I recently visited Edinburgh for the first time and knew of what he was dscribing. ( )

An interesting description of the history and topography of Edinburgh, though frequently seen through decidedly jaundiced eyes. ( )