The Battle of Bannockburn, 1314
By Aryeh J. S. Nusbacher - Paperback
Using recent scholarship on weapons, warfare and Scottish history, this text opens the files on a year's preparation for a massive English invasion of Scotland, from noble politics to common victuals.
A HISTORY OF THE MOST CELEBRATED BATTLE BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND, IN WHICH ROBERT THE BRUCE DEFEATED EDWARD II
It has been nearly a century since a book on the Bannockburn campaign of 1314 has been published for the general reader. Recent scholarship has illuminated one of the most exciting battles of Scottish history, showing it to be as historically significant as it was romantic and bloody. This book carries the reader through the politics and plans of an military campaign of the Middle Ages, including the logistical sinews of war, the drama of court intrigue and the violent clash of soldier against soldier.
Using recent studies of weapons, warfare and Scottish history, as well as sound archival sources, this book opens the files on a year's preparation for a massive English invasion of Scotland, from noble politics to common victuals. Never neglecting the heroic legends surrounding King Robert Bruce, the Black Douglas, King Edward Plantegenet and Isabella, the She-Wolf of France, The Battle of Bannockburn examines the common soldiers summoned to war and the knights who fought near them but never with them.
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Product Details
ISBN: 9780752423265
Publisher: Tempus
Publication Date: 30 April 2002
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Pages: 157 p.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review 
Too one sided., 3 April 2008
By bs "dave" (uk)
Of all the books I have read on the subject , this is the poorest because it is an angicized view. Not surprising because the author has associations with a well known English officer training establishment. He implies the Scots army was a peasant army and that the Commanders had to dismount in order to prevent the "peasant army" scattering at the sight of the enemy.. This is patent nonsense. He never mentioned either that the Scots knights were amongst the greatest warriors in the whole of christiandom around the first quarter of the 14 th century, Bruce himself number 1. Knights such as Sir James Douglas, Sir Neil Campbell, Keith , Angus Og MacDonald , Edward Bruce , Earl of Murray, Sir Neil Boyd had more than 18 years battle hardened experience defending the realm against a brutal and barbaric enemy. In the final analysis , the battle was won by superior commanders fighting for the very survival of the Scottish nation and achieved a noble victory against a barbaric enemy.
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Somewhat muddy account here, October 23, 2007
By lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA)
After reading Aryeh Nusbacher's book on Battle of Bannockburn, I am left wondering exactly what was the purpose of this book. The book is only 239 pages and only less then one third of the book deal with the Bannockburn campaign and battle. Rest of the book is filled with background material of mini-biographies and military history prior to the campaign. I am forced to reconsidered that maybe this book was strictly written for first time reader since most of the stuff written in this book is basically at a novice level. Due to the basic level of writing, to most veteran readers of Scottish or English history of this period, you will find nothing noteworthy or insightful in this book.
While that itself won't have bother me as much as the author take a very "half empty" approach to the battle. He doesn't seem to take whole deal of stock into Bannockburn as primer to Scottish independence from English hegemony during that period. He writes in the book that the battle is famous for it victory over the English but for little else since Robert Bruce's final achievements still lies years away or ironically speaking, never achieved. It was this type of approach that bother me (or to anyone else) since it pretty clear that Bannockburn guarantee Scottish freedom, gave Robert Bruce a total free hand in Scotland as well as total freedom of action. Perhaps the author forgot that soon after Bannockburn, Scots were raiding into northern England at will and even partake an invasion of Ireland for Edward Bruce's claim to Irish kingship. Robert Bruce goes from king in hiding before Bannockburn to "let make my brother King of Ireland" after Bannockburn. Did I miss something here or did this battle really changed the entire military and political climate in northern British Isles?? For the remainder of Edward II's reign, Scotland and Robert Bruce ruled the roost in the north, all thanks to the result of Bannockburn. But for some reason, the author does not see it that way if you read his introduction on page 17 or his conclusion. The author's approach to this book and its main subject matter is strangely too modern. Scotland as a medieval kingdom is not a modern state and one of the great errors of this author made was that he tried to judge Robert Bruce's Scotland to a modern state when he make his final assessment. This passive negative approach does great disservice to the subject at hand.
Overall, its not a bad book for a novice although the author have such a negative outlook on the entire subject matter. However, I would actually recommend a book published by Osprey Campaign series on the campaign and battle of Bannockburn as a superior alternative to this book for novice readers.
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"Excellent acount of the battle", 1 Jun 2006
By Baz (Edinburgh)
Mr Nusbacher writes military history in a style that will get the reader hooked from the start. He avoids the dry and scholarly style of writing (Which does not encourage anybody to delve into military history unless studying the subject at Uni.'). Nusbacher manages to inject some humour into this book and keeps it simple, avoiding too much military terminology and politics, making it even more accessible.
The illustrations are excellent and comprise of easy to understand computer generated maps (As used in the recent History Channel TV series "Line of fire" which Mr Nusbacher was involved in) plus some insightful photos of from a re-enactment of the battle.
When I moved to Edinburgh last year one of the first places I visited was the Bannockburn museum in Stirling.Read this book and visit the museum on the battle site itself, you wont be disappointed. *****
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