Tartan special: The women who defined our nation

Hundreds of Scottish women's lives and achievements feature in a new biographical dictionary. Sandra Dick casts an eye over some whose names are found within its pages.

For centuries Scottish history has been dominated by hairy, bearded blokes brandishing claymores, deep thinkers from the Scottish Enlightenment, clan chiefs, daring missionaries and tweed-suited adventurers off exploring the world.

Only rarely might the glimpse of a female figure peak through, and even then often portrayed as scheming, tragic or a bit-part player to their apparently far more interesting husband, father or son.

Now, however, a new book aims to shine a light on Scotland's often forgotten women whose brilliant minds, courage, determination and outspokenness have often been airbrushed out of the history books but who have each played a part in shaping the nation.

Published by the Edinburgh University Press, the New Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women contains the life stories of more than 1000 women whose lives touched the nation but who, unlike their masculine rivals, have seen their names airbrushed from the national conscience.

As well as figures from the depths of Scottish history, it includes women from more modern times and follows the achievements of women who both lived, worked and died here and others from the worldwide Scottish diaspora.

And while some may be slightly more familiar names than others – such as writer Dame Muriel Spark and politician Winnie Ewing - there are dozens whose actions and influences helped shaped Scotland as we know today.

Annas Keith

While the rise and tragic fall of Mary Queen of Scots has been the subject of countless stories, books and films, far less is known of her sister-in-law Annas Keith, one of the most