As the spiritual centre of Scotland, the crucible of the Reformation, the site of the oldest university in the country, the story of this small town on the coast of Fife is the story of the nation.

Its university – the third oldest in the English-speaking world – was founded in 1413. Five Nobel laureates studied at its colleges, and it was one of the first to admit women as students. It is frequently ranked as the best university in Britain.

Golf made St Andrews world-famous. Some if the game's earlies pioneers were St Andrews born and bred, and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club organizes the Open Championship and used to be a global authority on the rules of the game.

History seeps out of the stones of St Andrews. This sparkling new account distils it in an engaging and accessible way.



Alistair Moffat was born and bred in the Scottish Borders. A former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Director of Programmes at Scottish Television and founder of the Borders Book Festival, he is also the author of a number of highly acclaimed books. From 2011 he was Rector of the University of St Andrews. He has written more than thirty books on Scottish history, and lives in the Scottish Borders.