Looking for a book on Scottish history

[Merlin]

In particular.... something covering the battles with the Brits.... perhaps the battle of Culloden Moor.... something about the history of Scotland.


Any suggestions?

[ctbuchanan]

I found Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson to be very readable and a great introduction to Scottish history. It does not include 'modern' times though. But will cover what it appears you are looking for.

[Tobus]

Are you looking for a general Scottish history book that happens to include various fights with the English, or are you looking specifically for a book about the fights with the English?

[KFCarter]

I found Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson to be very readable and a great introduction to Scottish history. It does not include 'modern' times though. But will cover what it appears you are looking for.

***, if you're interested in a solid, broad survey, this is a good choice.

[Merlin]

Are you looking for a general Scottish history book that happens to include various fights with the English, or are you looking specifically for a book about the fights with the English?

Generally about the history of the land.... wars for independence and clans involved.

[Merlin]

I found Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson to be very readable and a great introduction to Scottish history. It does not include 'modern' times though. But will cover what it appears you are looking for.

Ordered it for $2.06 from Amazon....thanks

[MacBean]

In particular.... something covering the battles with the Brits.... perhaps the battle of Culloden Moor.... something about the history of Scotland.

Any suggestions?

Lots of people enjoy John Prebble's, Culloden. It is well-written, and well-researched. He recognizes the sad plight of the Highlanders at and after Culloden, the winds of change that had already started, and does not advocate the Jacobite cause in any way. As a socialist, his sympathy with the people's cause may have won him some enemies, I'm not sure, but some historians seem to have taken issue with his work.

Another popular historian (thanks to ThistleDown for this lead) is Nigel Tranter who fictionalizes history. He also wrote a more serious history The Story of Scotland, which I have, but haven't yet read past the first two chapters. I've liked it so far.

[Bugbear]

I enjoyed Magnus Magnusson's book.

You might also be interested in, How the Scots Invented the Modern World: the true story of how western Europe's poorest nation created our world and everything in it, by Arthur Herman (New York: Crown Publishers/Random House, 2001).

In trying to follow discussions on the forum, I have looked up many subjects of Scottish history in, The Oxford Companion to Scottish History, edited by Michael Lynch (New York: OUP, Oxford Paperback Reference, 2007).

[KFCarter]

Lots of people enjoy John Prebble's, Culloden. It is well-written, and well-researched. He recognizes the sad plight of the Highlanders at and after Culloden, the winds of change that had already started, and does not advocate the Jacobite cause in any way. As a socialist, his sympathy with the people's cause may have won him some enemies, I'm not sure, but some historians seem to have taken issue with his work.

Another very interesting book by Prebble is "Darien; The Scottish Dream of Empire".

[bdkilted]

I agree that Scotland, by Magnuson is very good.
I have also read "Tales of a Scottish Grandfather; From Bannockburn to Flodden" by Sir Walter Scott,
and just finished "Periods of Highland History" by I.F. Grant and Hugh Cheape. It was good, but a bit dry and dealt with mostly the western clans.