Glasgow: A New History

Scotland’s largest city has always been one of the most vibrant, varied and fascinating places in the country. Published to coincide with the year-long celebrations of Glasgow 850 in 2025, bestselling historian Alistair Moffat delivers a concise and readable history, packed with fact and anecdote, telling the story of the city and its people.

Scotland’s largest city has always been one of the most vibrant, varied and fascinating places in the country. This new history of Glasgow begins with the river, for the Clyde made the city flourish. From prehistory to the Romans, to Mungo and the kingdom of Strathclyde, it’s a rich, quirky and moving story that remembers the foundation of the burgh by the bishops and moves rapidly to the Union of 1707, when Edinburgh lost a parliament and Glasgow gained access to an empire and business boomed. Immigrants began to arrive: Highlanders, Irish families fleeing the famine, Jews fleeing persecution and lately Asians who transformed tastes. Britain’s favourite dish, chicken tikka masala, was invented in the city. Football, architecture, heavy industry, politics and a distinctive sense of humour are all celebrated. Glasgow has never hesitated to reinvent itself – because its greatest resource has always been its people. They belong to Glasgow and Glasgow belongs to them. This is their story.