The End of Summer - An August Look Back

August was an exciting month for Luath Press, from the Edinburgh International Book Festival to our own ScotlandsFest. As the summer days began to pass, readers were treated to a two fantastic new books. Let’s take a look back at some of the publications from Luath Press in August.

Diverted to Split by Hugh McMillan

Hugh McMillan’s latest collection, Diverted to Split, is a poetic exploration of life’s most intimate and universal experiences. In this, his sixth collection, McMillan invites readers on a journey through the complex terrains of love, mortality, friendships, family, travel and politics. With each poem, he captures the delicate balance between the personal and the universal, offering readers a window into the shared human experience through his unique lens.

At the heart of Diverted to Split lies McMillan’s remarkable ability to find the universal within the intimately personal. Whether he is writing about the joys and sorrows of family life, the enduring bonds of friendship, or the unpredictable nature of travel, McMillan’s poems resonate with a deep sense of familiarity. His words evoke moments that feel as if they could be plucked from any life, yet they remain distinctly his own.

One of the most distinctive features of McMillan’s poetry is his use of humour. In Diverted to Split, humour takes on many forms, from the sombre to the wholehearted. It serves as a coping mechanism, a means of connection, and a way to illuminate the absurdities of life. McMillan’s humour is versatile, adapting to the tone of each poem, whether it’s a light-hearted observation on travel or a more serious reflection on the human condition.

Yet, despite the laughter, the human narrative remains at the forefront of McMillan’s work. His poems do not shy away from life’s inevitable failures and disappointments. Instead, they embrace these moments as essential parts of the human experience. McMillan’s humour often carries an undercurrent of melancholy, reminding us that laughter and sorrow are two sides of the same coin.

For those familiar with McMillan’s work, Diverted to Split offers a deepening of the themes and styles that have defined his previous collections. For new readers, it serves as an accessible and engaging entry point into the world of a poet who understands the complexities of life and writes about them with both clarity and compassion. As we navigate our own lives, McMillan’s poems remind us that even in the midst of diversion, there is beauty to be found, and wisdom to be gained.

It's a Goal! by Archie Macpherson

Football, often described as the beautiful game, is not just a sport but a powerful emotional experience that transcends the boundaries of the pitch. In It’s a Goal!, legendary commentator Archie Macpherson takes readers on an exhilarating journey through the highs and lows of football goals, exploring how the simple act of scoring a goal can have profound effects on people.

In It’s a Goal!, Macpherson delves into the heart of football, where the scoring of a goal unleashes a torrent of emotions. For the scorer, it’s a moment of personal triumph, a culmination of hard work and skill. For teammates, it’s a shared victory, a manifestation of teamwork and strategy coming to fruition. For opponents, it can be a sting of defeat, a reminder of their own vulnerabilities. And for fans, whether on the terraces or in the comfort of their living rooms, it’s a moment of pure elation or heartache that often defies the routine of an ordinary day.

It’s a Goal! is a curated collection of significant goals, each with its own story. Macpherson carefully selects moments from the history of the game—some spectacular, some less-so—to illustrate the emotional spectrum that a goal can evoke.

Each goal is accompanied by a detailed backstory, offering readers insight into the match in which it was scored, the context of the goal and its impact on the players and fans involved. Macpherson’s unparalleled insight into the game adds depth to these narratives, providing a rich tapestry of football’s emotional rollercoaster.

In exploring the stories behind some of football’s most memorable goals, Macpherson reminds us why we are drawn to the sport. It’s not just about the goals themselves, but about the emotions they stir, the memories they create and the connections they forge between players and fans.

Archie Macpherson’s It’s a Goal! offers a captivating exploration of the emotional landscape of football. Through a curated selection of significant goals and the stories behind them, Macpherson delves into how a single moment can have a profound impact on the lives of those involved. The book is a celebration of football’s power to unite, inspire and move us all, making it a fitting tribute to the beautiful game and its ability to touch our hearts, wherever we are.