The 55 Greatest Works of Scottish Literature
▽ Introduction
△ Introduction
Despite being overshadowed by England, Scotland has produced some of the greatest literature of its own. The works of Walter Scott, Robbie Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson and other Scottish authors are recognized worldwide as classics, while more recent writers continue to create literature that draws the world's attention.
Scottish literature is defined here as writing by authors residing in Scotland and its previous states.
This list covers the greatest Scottish literature of all times, cultures and genres. It focuses on major fictional works, including novels, novellas, novel series, plays, epic poetry and collections.
The selection is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time and further research into Scottish literature acclaimed by readers, writers, critics and scholars.
Latest update: September 19, 2026
1748
The Adventures of Roderick Random
by Tobias Smollett, Scotland
Novel
1751
The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle
by Tobias Smollett, Scotland
Novel
1752
The Female Quixote
by Charlotte Lennox, Scotland
Novel, fully titled The Female Quixote; or, The Adventures of Arabella
1753
The Adventures of Ferdinand, Count Fathom
by Tobias Smollett, Scotland
Novel
1771
The Man of Feeling
by Henry Mackenzie, Scotland
Novel
The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
by Tobias Smollett, Scotland
Novel
1786–1793
Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect
Poetry collection
Most modern collections of Robert Burns's works include poems and songs from throughout his life. You're unlikely to pick up an exact copy of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, his first published collection.... Critique • Quotes • Wikipedia • Amazon
1805
The Lay of the Last Minstrel
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Long poem, also known as Lover of the Country
1808
Marmion
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Epic poem, subtitled A Tale of Flodden Field, also knonw as Marmion and Douglas
1810
The Lady of the Lake
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Epic poem
1814
Waverley
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Novel, fully titled Waverley; or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since
1817
Rob Roy
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Novel
1819
Ivanhoe
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Novel
1824
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
by James Hogg, Scotland
Novel
1836
Sartor Resartus
by Thomas Carlyle, Scotland
Novel
1883
Treasure Island
Novel
No one needs to be told what Treasure Island is about. Robert Louis Stevenson's novel has defined the pirate story, not to mention the treasure-hunting story, the mutiny-on-the-seas story—and the adventure story in general.... Critique • Quotes • Text • At the movies • Wikipedia • Amazon
1886
Kidnapped
Novel
In the article on John Buchan, I called his novels seminal thrillers surpassed by the later best-selling works of intrigue for which they showed the way. Stevenson's Kidnapped takes us back yet another generation.... Critique • Quotes • Wikipedia • Amazon
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Novella
The surprising thing about Robert Louis Stevenson's horror story, if you had previously known the Jekyll and Hyde character only indirectly through popular culture, is that it's so brief. Not only is the novella.... Critique • Quotes • Text • At the movies • Wikipedia • Amazon
1903
The Little White Bird
by J.M. Barrie, Scotland
Novel
1904
Peter Pan
by J.M. Barrie, Scotland
Play, fully titled Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up
The Thirty-Nine Steps
Novel
There is not a lot to say about the narrative structure or the characters or the writing in this famous novel. The Thirty-Nine Steps is a seminal tale of intrigue, a classic early story of an innocent man drawn into dark.... Critique • Quotes • At the movies • Wikipedia • Amazon
1916
Greenmantle
by John Buchan, Scotland
Novel
1932
Sunset Song
by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Scotland
Novel
1948
The Franchise Affair
by Josephine Tey, Scotland
Novel
1951
The Daughter of Time
by Josephine Tey, Scotland
Novel
1955
HMS Ulysses
by Alistair MacLean, Scotland
Novel
1957
The Guns of Navarone
by Alistair MacLean, Scotland
Novel
1960
The Ballad of Peckham Rye
by Muriel Spark, Scotland
Novel
1961
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
by Muriel Spark, Scotland
Novel
1963
The Girls of Slender Means
by Muriel Spark, Scotland
Novella
1969
Flashman
by George MacDonald Fraser, Scotland
Novel
1970
The Drivers' Seat
by Muriel Spark, Scotland
Novel
1971
The End of Summer
by Rosamunde Pilcher, Scotland
Novel
1981
A Good Man in Africa
by William Boyd, Scotland
Novel
Lanark
by Alasdair Gray, Scotland
Novel, subtitled A Life in Four Books
Loitering with Intentt
by Muriel Spark, Scotland
Novella
1982
An Ice-Cream War, An
by William Boyd, Scotland
Novel
1984
The Wasp Factory
by Iain Banks, Scotland
Novel
The Busconductor Hines
by James Kelman, Scotland
Novel
1987
Consider Phlebas
by Iain M. Banks, Scotland
Novel, first in The Culture seies
1989
The Trick is to Keep Breathing
by Janice Galloway, Scotland
Novel
1992
The Crow Road
by Iain Banks, Scotland
Novel
1993
Looking for the Possible Dance
by A.L. Kennedy, Scotland
Novel
Trainspotting
by Irvine Welsh, Scotland
Novel
1994
How Late it Was, How Late
by James Kelman, Scotland
Novel
1995
Morvern Callar
by Alan Warner, Scotland
Novel
1996
Furnace
by Muriel Gray, Scotland
Novel
1997
Black and Blue
by Ian Rankin, Scotland
Novel
1998
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
by Alexander McCall Smith, Scotland
Novel
2000
Under the Skin
by Michael Faber, Scotland
Novel
2008
The Siege of Malta
by Walter Scott, Scotland
Novel
2008
Kieron Smith, Boy
by James Kelman, Scotland
Novel
2011
There But For The
by AliSmith, Scotland
Novel
2012
Dominion
by C.J. Sansom, Scotland
Novel
2014
How to Be Both
by AliSmith, Scotland
Novel
