The builder of the White House, the hero of Aboukir Bay, a murderer who
inspired Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a decadent society hostess...
Set in 66 Queen Street, a townhouse in Edinburgh's New Town, this book
tells the story of people and events associated with the house for 210
years from 1790 and whose lives were empowered by the Scottish
Enlightenment. The diverse characters range from heroes to villains, and
from people of conscience to subjects of tabloid scandal and moral
prurience.
Edinburgh emerges from its past to become the intellectual, banking and
professional capital of an enlightened Scotland. The story reflects how
our modern world is shaped but above all it is about its people; some
masters of their circumstances and others prisoners