Drum Books
Independent publishing

Books that gather, celebrate and surprise.

Drum Books is a small independent press publishing cultural compendiums — books that bring together the people, ideas and curiosities of places worth knowing. Our debut, Great Scots, is the first in a series.

About

A small press with big company.

Drum Books exists to celebrate the lives, characters and curiosities that make a place itself. We publish carefully made books — compendiums, miscellanies and companions — for readers who like a story told properly.

We started with Scotland because we know it best. From there we'll be travelling — both near and far. New titles arrive at a measured pace; we'd rather make one good book than three forgettable ones.

Great Scots — book cover
Our debut
Vol. 1 · National Icons Series · Coming soon

Great Scots

50 lives that tell Scotland's story — heroes, pioneers and icons.

A tribute to the inventors, explorers, writers, statesmen and rogues who carried Scotland into every corner of the world. From engineers and economists to poets and warriors, Great Scots gathers the fifty lives that gave a small nation an outsized influence on the world — told with warmth, wit and a touch of mischief.

It's the first volume of the National Icons Series, and a love letter to a country whose reach has always been bigger than its map.

Be the first to know when it launches

We'll email you the moment Great Scots goes on sale — and nothing else.

Thanks — we'll be in touch the moment it's live.
What's next

On the workbench.

A few of the books taking shape at Drum Books. Dates are deliberately vague — we'll announce when each is genuinely ready.

In progress

Scottish Mythical Creatures

Kelpies, selkies, brownies and the wulver — the strange company that shares Scotland's lochs, hills and shadows.

In development

The Caledonian Compendium

A miscellany of the curiosities, oddments, lists and lore that make Scotland Scotland.

In development

JRNAL

A new kind of journal for thinkers, travellers and writers. Taking shape now.

Get in touch

Hello from Drum Books.

Pitches, press, partnerships, retail orders, or simply hello — write to us. We read everything and reply as quickly as a small team can.

Thanks — your message is on its way. We'll be in touch.

Or email us directly at ed@drumbooks.co.uk.