Merchiston Publishing is the imprint of the Scottish Centre for the Book based at Edinburgh Napier University. The publications – print, ebook and online – are managed by staff and powered by students on MSc Publishing.
Our Books to Bairns series provides books (and in some cases Teachers’ Resources) to children in schools and hospitals across Scotland, in particular, Edinburgh.
These books are provided free of charge. Teachers can request a class set of one book, or a selection of our books, or even single copies for their school library.
Please get in touch to find out more.
Olalla – by Robert Louis Stevenson
Our postgrad Publishing students are proud to present a forgotten treasure by RL Stevenson!
Olalla (pronounced Oh-lie-ah) is now available. Few know of Olalla, a vampire novella that precedes Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A new cover, specially commissioned illustrations, and glossary bring this important work to a wider, modern audience.
The books we produce here at Merchiston Publishing pay tribute to Scottish authors, with the aim of celebrating them and introducing their work to new and diverse readers.
Olalla, written in 1885, tells the tale of a nameless British soldier who falls in love with the strange and alluring creature that is Olalla. Wounded and recovering in a Spanish hospital, our protagonist’s doctor recommends that he goes to stay with a noble family whose name has fallen into decline.
Little does he know that the family also hides a terrible secret. When he first lays his eyes on the daughter Olalla he falls desperately in love with her and she with him; all sanity and reason, on his part, are forgotten and he is consumed with love for her. Yet, as the events of his stay unfold, the family’s vampirism is exposed when the soldier brutally injures himself in a desperate act of passion towards her.
This dark and tragic novella, which precedes Bram Stoker’s Dracula, is one of love, loss and tragedy.
Our new edition will bring this forgotten novel – by one of Scotland’s most famous writers – to the forefront of literary attention, targeting both vampire fiction enthusiasts and English language students.
For more information check out our dedicated website.
Books to Bairns
Our work focuses on providing books to disadvantaged readers. Books to Bairns is one of our initiatives. We edit, design, create, publish and distribute (donate) books to schools, hospitals, prisons and other institutional libraries. Find out more about our book advocacy:
- Books Behind Bars
- Readers Beyond the Margins
The production of many of these titles is supported by charitable trusts and other bodies. Such copies are therefore distributed freely, although a handling charge may apply. To find out more, please email a.gray@napier.ac.uk
Find out more about our Postgraduate Publishing programme.
Merchiston Publishing 