With Scotland approaching a referendum on independence, on September 18th, the question arises: What does it mean to be Scottish? In the United Kingdom, where the pro-separation side is nudging ahead in the polls, there has been a serious debate on that point, involving economy, history, and national destiny. But, for decades, The New Yorker’s cartoonists have looked for an answer, too, and have done their best (or worst) with kilts, Loch Ness, and the call of the highlands. Here, with apologies to bagpipe lovers, is a selection.
Daily
Our flagship newsletter highlights the best of The New Yorker, including top stories, fiction, humor, and podcasts.
Letter from Islay
Reinventing Scotch Whisky
From 2013: The brash owner of a historic distillery works to make an old spirit new again.
By Kelefa Sanneh
The Political Scene Podcast
Adam Gopnik on Hitler’s Rise to Power
The writer considers how Hitler came to power, and what it tells us about the 2024 election.
Daily Cartoon
Daily Cartoon: Monday, March 18th
“Sigh. . . . That was a relaxing weekend, but now it’s time to dive back into royal conspiracy theories.”
By Adam Douglas Thompson
Books
You Say You Want a Revolution. Do You Know What You Mean by That?
Two new books, by Fareed Zakaria and Nathan Perl-Rosenthal, demonstrate the concept’s allure and perils.
By Gideon Lewis-Kraus