Scotland: The Story of a Nation

Scotland: The Story of a Nation
Magnus Magnusson

A timely and vivid look at Scotland’s long and difficult road to nationhood, re-exploring some cherished myths and unearthing a wealth of fascinating new detail.This edition contains a limited number of illustrations.Magnus Magnusson’s starting point is Sir Walter Scott’s classic version of Scotland’s history, ‘Tales of a Grandfather’ (1827-29), which has moulded the views of generations of Scottish schoolchildren. Like Scott, Magnus Magnusson is a master story teller. In investigating the many questions raised by the nation’s turbulent and often poignant past, he gives full weight to the living treasure of local legends and tradition which he believes has as much resonance as academic analysis.Where did the ‘Scots’ come from? What is the truth about such historical figures as Macbeth, William Wallace and Robert Bruce? What was the significance of the tragic reign of Mary Queen of Scots? What was the impact of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his brutal defeat at Culloden?Incorporating the findings of many leading modern historians, ‘Scotland: The Story of a Nation’ casts the nation’s history in a fascinating new light. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Scotland at this pivotal moment in its history.

SCOTLAND

THE STORY OF A NATION

MAGNUS MAGNUSSON

Copyright (#ulink_2274d079-8281-5fd9-8b1f-3249a51f6e63)

HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

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First published in Great Britain by

HarperCollinsPublishers 2000

Copyright © Magnus Magnusson 2000

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Source ISBN: 9780006531913

Ebook Edition © SEPTEMBER 2012 ISBN 9780007374113

Version: 2016-03-15

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Praise (#ulink_cb3e631f-a51b-5e44-a1ec-89540cdbaac5)

From the reviews of Scotland: The Story of a Nation:

‘The answer to a prayer – a history of this complex country that is at the same time intelligent and intelligible’

IAIN GALE, Sunday Herald (Glasgow) Books of the Year

‘Readable, poignant, fascinating, a lively combination of narrative and analysis’

The List

‘[Magnus Magnusson] is excellent on the sense of place in history, and any visitor to Scotland would benefit from taking this book as a companion’

ALLAN MASSIE, Spectator

‘This is never a dry and dusty academic account. [Magnusson] weaves into his narrative a geographical tour of the country’s historical sights that can only come from being a former chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage. His colourful descriptions of history’s main players are often filled out with humorous and telling anecdotes of the time … The great strength to which Mr Magnusson plays is the richness of characters who set the course of the nation’s history, from the Roman Agricola through William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and John Knox to Rob Roy, Sir Walter Scott and beyond. The book will fill many a dark winter evening for anyone who wants to learn more about Scotland’s complex past’

LAURA KIBBY, Sunday Express

Contents

Cover (#ub9157647-440b-5c08-9eb1-f3e65c116b66)

Title Page (#uecd2d32e-cbcd-54d8-aaa8-48663bc8ea93)

Praise (#uc5fc31b0-ee37-50eb-a0ba-feb4b1c76cdc)

Copyright (#u5a0e66a0-f462-5646-a843-625445245623)

List of Maps (#uce2aefab-77ba-531b-ad07-acd2de857ea8)

Introduction (#ub0e4b6f7-f25f-565b-a3f1-40dda9142856)

1 In the Beginning (#u965551fb-7912-5ffc-9fb9-8a6db3c66148)

2 The Romans in Scotland (#u4a7ca308-683a-5a72-b1bd-06ea1c0e0cb6)

3 Picts, Scots, Britons, Angles and Others (#ud5c44cc5-53fe-5f09-9aba-40732ec86403)

4 Macbeth (#u520a5af4-5704-504e-822c-9f1e880b80d6)

5 Malcolm Canmore and St Margaret (#ua632866d-eb38-5bac-b67d-a3aa2ae329fa)

6 David I (#u77c5f51e-7815-507d-a47e-01439b5070f5)

7 William the Lion (#ucebb9fd5-76f6-529b-8d4c-9a410f52cc3c)

8 The Thirteenth Century: Alexanders II and III (#u3d7726d3-875c-5c4d-a283-35e4f2d6e6eb)

9 John Balliol – ‘Toom Tabard’ (#uba4d0175-ef7d-5312-b738-2df3be9932b3)

10 William Wallace (#u0f93bc73-32a0-575d-8e03-8dbdd3337b16)

11 Robert Bruce (#u3b22e910-5049-5b37-8c82-3ff6e286ecd6)

12 David II (#litres_trial_promo)

13 Robert II and Robert III (#litres_trial_promo)

14 James I (#litres_trial_promo)