Scottish history reading

[Alan_F]

I thought that I'd share this one - these are the recommended reading from the Scottish Medieval/Renaissance and Early Modern Period courses at Stirling University, where I'm currently studying!

Medieval:

Scotland: The Later Middle Ages Ranald Nicholson

Kingship and Unity GWS Barrow

The Kings and Queens of Scotland Richard Oram (ed)

Scotland, The Making of the Kingdom A. Duncan

Medieval Scotland ADM Barrell

Independence and Nationhood: Scotland 1306-1469 Alexander Grant

Renaissance/Early Modern Period:

Kingdom or Province: Scotland and the Regal Union K Brown

Lordship to Patronage: Scotland 1625-1746 R Mitchison

Court, Kirk and Community J Wormald

Useful general reference:

Scottish Historical Documents G Donaldson

Scotland: A New History M Lynch

[Pat Maclaine]

Hi Alan,
Thanks for sharing all this info !
Is there any possibility to get access to these books on-line?
Slàinte!

[Alan_F]

Well you can buy them online at Amazon.com, I don't think you can read them online.

[Pat Maclaine]

Thanks Alan...
Most of the books - originals- I keep in my own library are from 19th. c. or early 20th c.
Some of my treasured ones ...

Life of Sir William Wallace - Archd. K. Murray -1867

The Complete Works of Robert Burns - Allan Cunningham -1879

History of Scotland -4 vol.- Andrew Lang - 1907

Celtic Scotland - 3 vol.- William F Skene - 1877

Surveys of Scottish History - P Hume Brown -1919

Social Life of Scotland in the 18th. c. -2 Vol.- Graham 1900

The Life of Sir Walter Scott - J. G. Lockhart -1898

Tales of a Grandfather - Sir Walter Scott -1889

The Scottish Chiefs - Jane Porter -1841

Reminiscences of the Scottish Life and Character - E. B. Ramsay -1860

Medieval Glasgow - James Primrose -1913

Traditions of Edinburgh - Robert Chambers -1912

Others:

The Scots Worthies - John Howie of Lochgoin -1846

Transactions of the Glasgow Archæological Society -3 vol.- 1896

Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Vol. XV 1880-1881

Thanks again.

Slàinte.

[Alan_F]

Pat, while I appreciate the input, it should be pointed out that the sources I'm using are modern Scottish historical texts written by the most respected Scottish historians I can think of, I'm afraid that over here 19th century historians tend to get trashed for their approach to history, particularly Walter Scott.

[K. Rasmussen]

I don't know what his standing in "the community" is, but I rather enjoyed The Steel Bonnets, by George MacDonald Fraser, which is a look at the English / Scots conflicts along the border.

[Alan_F]

I don't know what his standing in "the community" is, but I rather enjoyed The Steel Bonnets, by George MacDonald Fraser, which is a look at the English / Scots conflicts along the border.

GMF is a still highly respected for this and his works, despite his sad passing.

[Roark Mitzell]

Fraser wrote two more books on the Borders; a novel called "The Candlemas Road", dealing with a very small, but gut-wrenching foray in the Borders, and a send up of the same, called "The Reavers", his last book. Fraser may be the only author to write a pastiche of his own work. He wrote, as well, three hilarious, semi-autobiographical volumes concerning life in a Highland regiment (he served in the Gordon Highlanders) after WWII; "The General Danced At Dawn", MacAulsen in the Rough", and "The Sheik and the Dustbin". I had the pleasure of corresponding with Mr. Fraser in the last five years of his life, and he had more than a passing interest in swordplay.

[Arik Estus]

I sent the complet MacAuslen series to my sons when they were in Iraq.
They loved the stories. The military isnt all that different. US or UK.
Yes, GMF was a great writer. RIP

[Roark Mitzell]

For anyone interested in Robert the Bruce, and particularly, The Black Douglas, David Hume of Godscroft wrote a history of the Douglas and Angus line, in 1542. Although the genealogy is biased (Hume was a Douglas), the tome makes fascinating reading and it occasionally has some gems concerning swordplay. The earlier chapters on "Good Sir James", give a blow by blow history of the Bruce's fight for the throne. I am fortunate to have an original, but I recently noted that it has recently been rendered into paperback, and I suspect it would be available On-Line. "The History of the House of Douglas and Angus".

Percy's "Reliques of Ancient British Poetry" also has a wealth of material. With patience, curious bits on swordplay can be culled from the wealth of ballads, and footnotes. Ditto for Childe's huge collection of old material. Good hunting.

[Ryan Sh]

The problem with older books is that we have learned new stuff and greatly improved our understanding of history. Tales of a Grandfather for example essentially tells Shakespeare's version of MacBeth, although he expresses doubts on the Stewarts descending from Banquo. Now-a-days, Banquo even existence is questioned. A cheap way to get books is the local library. If they don't have a book you can request it.

[John Maddox Roberts]

I've just acquired a book titled "The Great Feud: The Campbells & the MacDonalds" - Oliver Thomson, Sutton Publishing, 2000
Has anyone here read this book and have an opinion of it? I'd never heard of it.

[David gray]

Never heard of the book till now but the feud itself is old news here and taught in the school system. The Campbells were and are the Protestant goverment loving clan and the MacDonalds were the Catholic Lords of the isles and kings in their own right but they made the mistake of not liking kings and goverments. I'm sure it's a good read and maybe has some new info in it.

[Brock H]

I sent the complet MacAuslen series to my sons when they were in Iraq.
They loved the stories. The military isnt all that different. US or UK.
Yes, GMF was a great writer. RIP

Indeed, GMF was a great writer. Besides the MacAuslen series his Flashman series is also a great read and the footnotes he includes has a lot of tidbits of historical information.

[M McQuown]

In "The Survival of Scotland," Eric Linklater gives a brief history of the real MacBeth and the historical causes of the feud. Since Shakespeare wrote his play for James the Vith & lst, who claimed his line from Malcolm Canmore, historical truth took a bit of a beating. Seems the faher of Duncan violated the rule of succesion whien he put his son on the throne and Lady M was already at feud with his family before she even married MacBeth, who inherited the feud with his bride. In fact, he killed Duncan in battle, not by murder, and that Duncan was a younger man.