The words keep pouring forth with brilliant new literary fiction stars such as Michel Faber and Ali Smith, poets such as Liz Lochhead and Edwin Morgan. Critically admired; Ian Rankin and Val McDermid dominate the detective genre with each new release. The publishing phenomenon of the last decade - the Harry Potter story - is written by JK Rowling who lives in Scotland. Scottish writers are regularly to be found on the international bestsellers lists.

The sheer variety of Scotland itself, with its contrasting landscapes, racial mix, and its three distinct languages have always underpinned this creative vigour. The country’s literary life is enlivened by organisations such as Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Publishers’ Association, a clutch of small literary magazines, National Library of Scotland, Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish universities and - every August in Edinburgh - the biggest book festival in the world. Scottish Arts Council are also involved in the literary scene in Scotland.

Within Scotland’s Culture, literature topics are arranged in categories as listed below. Where a category contains many different aspects, it is then split up to make searching easier.

For example:

• Scottish literature
• Scottish Gaelic literature
• Scottish poetry
• Scottish authors