About us

Had We But Known…

Welcome to our virtual bookshop. Had We But Known…   has a range of around 5000 books with two main specialisms of Mystery novels from the ‘Golden Age of Detection’ (or GAD as it is sometimes called) and History, particular Scottish and Medieval History. We also have a large selection of Scottish literature. In addition to these we have good smaller collections of Science Fiction, pulp paperbacks, Chess and European Literature in translation.

Had We But Known… is based in the lovely Scottish Highland town of Dunkeld and Birnam. Birnam is of course famous for its moving wood (Macbeth) and you can see the very tree where the witches brewed and clued *. The Grade 2 listed Dunaird House where we live was built in 1861 in baronial mansion style and would be a great setting for a Golden Age murder mystery – it even has a circular staircase leading to a tower, and a hidden room (which we haven’t yet been able to get into!).

The bookshop is available online and we are going to be developing virtual world routes to explore our collection through interactive experiences using 3DNovations virtual world tools and technologies developed by www.hao2.eu.

While the business is primarily online we welcome visitors by appointment. Best visiting days are Friday, Sunday and Monday when Birnam’s other bookshop The Birnam Reader is also open https://www.facebook.com/thebirnamreader/  . It does the best cakes for miles around..

*Well , maybe the actual tree, or maybe just a very old tree

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