Ex-city student’s novel take on kilt entrances readers in Lithuania

Astory of life in a Dundee kilt shop has become a bestselling yarn – in Lithuania. Readers in the Baltic state are lapping up a new novel by Lithuanian writer Aldona Tuur that is set in the City of Discovery.

And while it can’t be described as tartan noir, the book is raising the profile of both Dundee and Scotland’s national dress.

Entitled Kilt Hire, it was inspired by Aldona’s parttime job in a Highland outfitters in Arbroath Road while studying at Dundee University. It follows Eve, who works in a kilt hire shop, as she goes on a journey of self-discovery.

The book was published in February and is already selling hundreds of copies every week in her native country.

Aldona is now becoming well-known and has taken part in several media interviews since the novel hit the shops.

But, perhaps surprisingly, she often finds herself having to explain what a kilt is.

She said: “I love the kilt and I think it’s fantastic. It features so prominently in Scottish culture.

“But the main image of kilts in Lithuania comes from Braveheart or from football fans.

“For many people in Scotland, it’s unthinkable to get married in anything else and that’s a beautiful thing.

“I’m not sure they’ll catch on in Lithuania though.”

Dundee itself also features prominently.

“You would definitely know it’s Dundee,” said Aldona.

“It mentions Marks & Spencer and Tesco and other buildings in Dundee.

“There’s also a lot of dialogue and talk of feelings in the city.

“People say they’re enjoying it. It’s very exotic for them.”

Aldona began work on Kilt Hire in 2012, while she was completing a masters in writing practice and study.

She graduated the following year and more or less forgot about her manuscript.

But she picked it up again two years ago and after translating it from English to Lithuanian, she decided that she would finish it.

Given its success in Lithuania, she hopes there may also be enough demand to publish it here.

She said: “Studying and living in Dundee for three years allowed me to fall in love with the city.

“There are many different parts to my novel but I hope my love for Dundee comes across to the readers.”

People say they are enjoying it. It’s very exotic to them

Ayoung woman’s voyage of selfdiscovery while working in a Dundee kilt hire shop is an unlikely premise for a bestselling novel in any country.

The chances of it being the plot that captivated the people of Lithuania must have been miniscule.

But that is exactly what has happened in the form of the debut novel of former Dundee University student Aldona Tuur.

The up-and-coming author hopes the success in her home country can help find an audience in Scotland.

We wish her the very best.

INSPIRED: Lithuanian writer Aldona Tuur, who worked in a kilt hire shop while studying in Dundee, has written a hit novel using her experiences.