History Books On Scotland?

[Bugbear]

This is the book for which I am now asking opinions:
Crowded With Genius: The Scottish Enlightenment: Edinburgh's Moment Of The Mind, by James Buchan; published, I think, by Harper Collins, in 2003.


*** I will go ahead and get this book:

Scotland: The Story of a Nation, by Magnus Magnusson, and I think it's published by Grove Press, in 2000. ***

Is anyone familiar with it, and is it a good book history wise? The description says it covers antiquity through to the beginning of the seventeen-hundreds, and a little bit on up to the twentieth century.

I already read Arthur Herman's, How the Scots Invented the Modern World.

[O'Callaghan]

Haven't read either. However, Magnus Magnusson was a TV quizmaster, which wouldn't ordinarily be much of a recommendation as a historian, except that he always struck me as a very scholarly and intelligent gentleman. If nothing else, I would certainly expect a book by him to get the facts correct.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Haven't read either. However, Magnus Magnusson was a TV quizmaster, which wouldn't ordinarily be much of a recommendation as a historian, except that he always struck me as a very scholarly and intelligent gentleman. If nothing else, I would certainly expect a book by him to get the facts correct.

Magnusson, who was born in Iceland, was a graduate of Jesus College, Oxford, and in addition to hosting "Mastermind" for something like 25 years (he was also the Lord Rector of Edinburgh University for several years), was an immensely well respected "popular" historian who's works were meticulously well researched, and yet written with a style that made them eminently readable and thus accessible to many who would have been put off by more scholarly (one might say pretentious) works. His books on the vikings and the Icelandic sagas are to be particularly recommended, as is his history of Scotland.

[socalferg]

I enjoyed this book. It is well written and covers broad periods of history without short changing a subject or conversely droning on.

[Cavebear58]

12345

[BEEDEE]

I've read it and enjoyed it. It seems to be reasonably factual. You might want to see if your local library has a copy so that you can read it before deciding to purchase.

Brian

[NewEnglander]

I've read it and enjoyed it. It seems to be reasonably factual. You might want to see if your local library has a copy so that you can read it before deciding to purchase.

Brian

Heh. My copy of Magnusson has been sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust for the past year. I keep meaning to crack it open. I look forward to more reviews...

[Bugbear]

All right, thank you, I will get the Magnusson book. I'll also keep an eye out for any other of his books.

I still would like to know if anyone has an opinion on the James Buchan book, or even the author.

* The Rathdown post jogged my memory, and it turns out I already have two Magnus Magnusson related books.

Laxdaela Saga, translated by Hermann Palsson and Magnus Magnusson; Penguin Books, 1969.
King Harald's Saga, translated by the same two, and that is also published by Penguin Books, 1966; they're both Penguin Classics.
I had those with, Hrafnkel's Saga and Other Icelandic Stories, translated only by Hermann Palsson (Penguin, 1971), so I didn't notice Magnusson contributed.


I compulsively collect sagas, myths, mythic tails, folk lore, and legends... Serious problem.

[JolyStNicholas]

Ted, I am half way thru his book and find it very interesting and factual. I too recommed it highly.

Another you might like reading is " A Concise History Of SCOTLAND" by FITZROY MACLEAN. I am part way thru it also and it is very well written.

[Bugbear]

Ted, I am half way thru his book and find it very interesting and factual. I too recommed it highly.

Another you might like reading is " A Concise History Of SCOTLAND" by FITZROY MACLEAN. I am part way thru it also and it is very well written.

That looks like it's published by Thames and Hudson. Thanks I'll keep it in mind.