New Books Network Alistair Moffat, "Edinburgh: A New History" (Birlinn, 2024)
Mar 17, 2026
Alistair Moffat, writer and historian and former Edinburgh Festival Fringe director, offers a lively tour of the city’s past. He traces the name and ancient fortress, explains the geology that shaped the castle and crag-and-tail, and maps Edinburgh’s shift from medieval stronghold to Enlightenment New Town. He also recounts the rise of the festivals and modern social and political challenges.
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Edinburgh Means Edgin's Fort
- The name Edinburgh derives from a personal fort name Dunedgin meaning Edgin's fort, indicating early leadership tied to the castle rock.
- 'Edgin' was likely an early warrior leader (c. 400–500s) whose power base was the volcanic Castle Rock that anchors the city's origin.
Glaciers Shaped Edinburgh's City Form
- Edinburgh's topography was shaped by glaciers creating a crag-and-tail: the sheer rock of the castle and a protected tail to the east where the town formed.
- Ice erosion from Ben Lomond's glacier made steep sides and a long tail, determining settlement placement along the Royal Mile.
Power Built Edinburgh Around The Castle
- Edinburgh grew around the defensible Castle Rock because a fortress required supply and thus a civilian settlement to the east developed over centuries.
- King David I's 1124 royal charter began the formal process making Edinburgh a political center, marking its 900th anniversary in 2024.
