A long stride shortens the road - Donald Smith

Ranging from a celebration of the Holyrood parliament to a dialogue between Jamie Saxt and a skull, from a proposed national anthem to an autobiographical journey through pre-history, this book traverses a Scotland that is irrevocably independent of spirit, yet universal in outlook.

DONALD SMITH was born in Glasgow to an Irish mother. Brought up in Glasgow and Stirling, he began work in Edinburgh as a theatre stage manager, becoming Director of the Netherbow Arts Centre in 1983. Donald has written, directed or produced over fifty plays, and is a founding director of the National Theatre of Scotland.

Influenced by Hamish Henderson, Donald was also the moving spirit behind the new Scottish Storytelling Centre of which is is the first Director. One of Scotland's leading storytellers, he has produced a series of books on Scottish narrative, including Storytelling Scotland: A Nation in Narrative, Celtic Travellers, and a novel, The English Spy.

Donald Smith's is a voice we need to hear in Scotland. He has a story to tell, a vision to shape, a song to declare. Donald writes poetry to say something. His deep knowledge of history, myth, story, religion, landscape and literature means that he has much real richness to draw on.