Scot's History

[Bedoni]

howdy folks, i'm Bedoni, more commonl known as T.C. I'm a resident of Spring Tx and woundering if any of you proud people out here in Kilt-man's-land would happen to be friendly enough to help me find all of the actual scotish history i can find. i've not gotten ahold of anything just yet and it would be very apreciated if anyone could help me in my search for scotlands history, scotland and scotland alone. the rest of the world can dwindle for all i care on history but i would kill for scots and celtic history. thanks a lot! adios!

[beloitpiper]

Read any book by Mangus Mangusson. He's one of the best (and most authoritative) authors/scholars on the subject.

[Bedoni]

thankyou much for your contribution

[Archangel]

Scotland 101 for beginners, Jeff Fallow: simple and basic, cartoon style.

The Lion in the North, John Prebble: very good overview, some political biases but you probably will agree with them.

Scotland, Michael Lynch: serious academic, provides excellent basis for looking at Scotland's history.

The Prince in the Heather, Eric Linklater: Charles' legendary escape and the origin of Drambuie.

Look for books by Nigel Tranter, he usually writes historic fiction but sometimes publishes the historical accounts he's based his stories on.

[MacWage]

With Scottich history, I SERIOUSLY doubt you will EVER read 2 books the same.
The REASON I became facinated with Scottish history BECAUSE I read Fitzroy MacLean's book (many titles, SAME text with different pictures) and Prebble's "Lion of the North," then scanned a third, which was more of a gossip/story collection than a real history. They were SO different, that I became FACINATED: HOW can ONE country produce 3 barely related "general history" books?

Another reputable history is:
"Scotland: A New History" by Michael Lynch

Scotland has more myth and legend (than most) written about it that are passed as history that it is HARD to find ones that are more "real" histories.
Why?
1. The terrain breaks up the country into "west," "east," and "south." Each of these have their OWN history, key figures, and politics, often on a national scale.
2. Scotland has several competing elements fighting for domination, each with their own version of events and "telling" of the chronology and tale. You have Scottish/English, Highland/Lowland, east/west, clan/feudal, Celtic-Viking/Anglo-Saxon-Norman, and more competing elements.
The problem for the historian, folklorist, or whoever writes the book is WHICH version of events is closest to reality (what REALLY happened) or where did it fall between them. Also, many of the authors have their own agendas and interest that colors their choices and writing. For example, MacLean was rebuilding Duart on the isle of Mull and HIS interests were on the Western Isles, so his book focuses there. Prebble looks more to the eastern./mainland politics.

[Rab Gordon]

Very well put MacWage,

Rab

[oldsoldier]

I'm currently reading "Scotland, the story o a nation" By Magnus Magnussen. And, there are wide vairations on history, as other pointed out. Simple things, like monuments dedicated to some historic battles, have 3 or 4 different "correct" placements. Folklore and history intertwine quite a bit, and this leads to some of the confusion. Its definitely interesting reading though!

[Bedoni]

thankyou guys for the information, i'll scoop up all that i can and as with many things, too often enough if someing parralells from different sides of the map that in turn must be true. the folk lore and myth's will make it much easier to communicate information towards other people, i'm not too worried about what they say it is so long as i can remember it and connect most of it over time to be able to turn and talk real history (samanticis) with someone else