Between 1600 and 1800 newspapers and periodicals moved to the centre of British culture and society. This volume offers a series of perspectives on the developing relations between news, its material forms, gender, advertising, drama, medicine, national identity, the book trade and public opinion.

Alphabetically arranged, cross-referenced and indexed, the entries in this encyclopaedia set out in detail all aspects of Edinburgh, bringing together information and anecdotes from a wide range of sources. It looks at the city's history, social pastimes, institutions, buildings, monuments, media, industries, and people and events.

A mere forty miles apart, these cities have enjoyed a scratchy rivalry since wistful Edinburgh lost parliamentary sovereignty and defiant Glasgow came into its industrial promise. Crawford brings them to life between the covers of one book, in a tale that mixes novelty and familiarity, as Scotland’s cultural capital and largest commercial city do.