A Dunfermline-based comic book writer is preparing for the release of his illustrated history of the city, The Dunfermline Story.

Colin Maxwell’s new book will be released on May 25, which coincides with the 400th anniversary of the Great Fire of Dunfermline.

The Press got to view a copy of The Dunfermline Story. The book is illustrated by around 40 artists in total, covering a wide range of the city’s history.

It begins early in Dunfermline’s past with the story of Margaret and Malcolm, and the book follows the city through to the present day, encompassing so much of its history and heritage.

What I particularly liked about the book was the range of people covered. Of course, everyone in the city knows about the important role Queen Margaret played in the creation of the abbey, and about Andrew Carnegie, but the book also shines a light on some lesser-known heroes of Dunfermline.

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These include soldiers, auld Bessie Bittern, and Lady Anne Halkett, as well as thieves, inventors, and ghosts. The range of people highlighted shows the important role ordinary people played in the formation of Dunfermline as we know it now. There is a tendency sometimes in history to focus on the well-known, the wealthy, or the royal, but The Dunfermline Story dedicates plenty of time to people from all statuses and backgrounds.

It was also interesting to see how Dunfermline itself is linked to wider events across Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. Events such as the execution of King Charles I, and the Jacobite Uprisings, are all covered in the book and show that our city has always had a role to play in events of national historical importance.

Dunfermline Press: A Dunfermline-based comic book writer is preparing for the publication of his new book, The

The artwork throughout is varied and exciting, with some stories illustrated in black and white, whilst others are in colour. The different styles of all the various artists keeps the book diverse and interesting with a range of art to enjoy.

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The book is written in Scots and Colin actually received a Scots Language Publication Grant from the Scottish Book Trust after successfully pitching The Dunfermline Story. While it took my brain a few minutes to tune into Scots entirely, it was refreshing to read a book entirely written in it – something I don’t come across very often.

It was also great to see the community getting involved with the book, as competitions have been held in the months running up to its publication. The inclusion of some of the works submitted is fun and cheerful, and it’s nice to see young artists getting involved and turning some of Dunfermline’s past into comics of their own design.

Overall, The Dunfermline Story is an interesting read with some great artwork throughout, and hopefully it will be a book that will continue to help keep the city’s rich history alive.

You can get your hands on a copy on May 25 at Little Shop of Heroes in Dunfermline.