Scotland: The Story Of A Nation
by Magnus Magnusson -
Paperback £10.49 / $15.30
Hardback £13.99
Near Stirling, Scotland, stands a memorial to the warrior William Wallace, put to death at the orders of the English king Edward I in 1305. Within that memorial stands a glass case, and inside of it stands a broadsword 1.7 meters long. Legend has it that the hero himself wielded the weapon, and so "Wallace's Sword" it is.
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Magnus Magnusson, a native of Iceland who has long lived in and written about Scotland, may spoil it for some readers when he writes that Wallace's Sword probably wasn't Wallace's. To use it, Wallace would have had to have stood at least 6-foot-6 in height and to have lived two centuries later. The business of the sword is just one of the "cherished conceptions" about Scottish history that Magnusson picks apart and then, corrected and improved, restores. At other turns he considers the true identity of the legendary king Macbeth (and entertains some surprising but plausible theories about the king's alter ego); reconstructs decisive battles such as Otterburn, Flodden, and Glencoe; and looks closely at the complicated negotiations (and, many would say, treacheries) that led to the union with England of 1707. Magnusson closes with an account of modern independence movements and the recent return of some measure of national autonomy, opening a "new chapter in a nation's story, which the people of Scotland are now beginning to write."
Lucid, witty, and unafraid of controversy, Magnusson's book does a fine job of condensing a complex history, stretching out for 10 millennia, into a single volume. -- Gregory McNamee --
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Synopsis
A vivid look at Scotland's long and difficult road to nationhood, re-exploring some cherished myths and unearthing a wealth of fascinating new detail. Magnus Magnusson's starting-point is Sir Walter Scott's classic version of Scotland's history, "Tales of a Grandfather". Since its first appearance in 1827-29, Scott's book has moulded the views of generations of Scottish schoolchildren. It told the story of Scotland from the point of view of a deeply patriotic Tory who believed that the nation's destiny had been fulfilled with the Union of Parliaments in 1707. Magnus Magnusson takes the reader through Scotland's history from the earliest Mesolithic settlers on the island of Rum to the establishment of the new Scottish parliament in 1999. In investigating the many questions raised by the nation's turbulent and often poignant past, he gives full weight to the "people's history" of Scotland - the living treasure of local legends and tradition which he believes has as much resonance as academic analysis. Where did the "Scots" come from? To what extent was Scotland shaped by the Viking raids and settlements? What happened to the Picts? What is the truth about such historical figures as Macbeth and William Wallace? Was Robert Bruce really inspired by a spider in a cave? What was the significance of the tragic reign of Mary Queen of Scots? Who were the Covenanters? What really lay behind the Massacre of Glencoe? What were the long-term effects of the 1707 Treaty of Union with England? What was the impact of Jacobitism, the '45 rising in support of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" and its brutal defeat at Culloden?
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From Publishers Weekly
This overly heroic history of Scotland focuses almost exclusively on royalty and warfare. Loosely patterned after Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather (1827-1829), Magnusson's (The Vikings) narrative purports to describe Scotland from the Stone Age to the present. Yet his omissions are breathtaking. What of Scotland's amazing (for its size) achievements during the European Enlightenment? Adam Smith is mentioned once, the seminal philosopher David Hume twice in passing. We're treated to a dozen pages about the Battle of Falkirk (wherein England's implacable King Edward I defeated William Wallace in 1298) and its aftermath. But Magnusson never mentions Scotland's central role in the Industrial Revolution, when Glasgow emerged as a global industrial center ("industry" isn't even listed in the index). Magnusson's narrative reads like a medieval saga, filled with swashbuckling tales of kings and battlefield heroics, leaving the reader to wonder how the average person lived. That said, he does emphasize some crucial themes in Scottish history: its constant struggle with hegemonic England, the problems of royal succession and how they led to national instability, and the bloody conflict between Church and State, especially during the reign of the Stuarts. Former chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, Magnusson deftly describes Scotland's geopolitical heritage. He also works hard to dispel some myths, taking particular aim at the film Braveheart and Shakespeare's Macbeth. Magnusson's critical problem, however, is that once he runs out of Scottish kings (circa 1745), he runs out of steam. Still, while hardly definitive, this is worthwhile for those with an interest in early Scottish history. Color & b&w illus. not seen by PW.
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Product Details
ISBN: 9780006531913
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 05 November 2001
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Pages: 734p
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Customer Reviews
Fascinating read!, April 6, 2008
By Jessica (Syracuse, NY)
I purchased this book after I was fortunate enough to visit Edinburgh, Scotland. As I walked the streets of Edinburgh my eyes laid upon one Scottish flag after another and graffiti calling for freedom from England covered buildings. I became fascinated by the country's culture and yearned to learn more about its history. I came back to the States needing to know more about the Nation of Scotland.
This book does a marvelous job at giving an objective view of Scotland's history. Going through its monarchs and constant fighting with England. You come to understand this country has fought for century's to rid itself of British rule. A fight that is still not done.
If you love history, this book is for you!!
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Scottish history at it's best., 15 Feb 2008
By K. Patterson (Scottish / English Border)
Thought it might be heavy reading but it is anything but. Well written story of Scottish history. Well worth reading. Could have done with a few more maps but otherwise excellent. Couldn't put it down until i finished.
Scottish history is worth knowing about and until i read the book i had no idea religion was also behind so much going on within the country and it's downfall. Magnus Magnusson has done Scotland proud with this informative book on it's history
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Great historical view of the Scots and their nation, November 2, 2007
By Colin Campbell "The Scotsman" (Carmel , Ca, USA)
This is the most comprehensive view of Scottish history that I have read. Having grown up and being educated in the Scottish Education system this book filled in the gaps of my education.
The 3 degrees of separation between Scotland, England and Central Europe including the systems of government/religion/monarchy are an eye opener. This historical overview highlights the in breeding amongst the powerful family's and the ties that they had. No wonder the English royals are all mad as hatters <G> Check out the moview " the madness of king George" if you are uncertain!
Great book
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