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Scotland: The Story of a Nation
A vivid, comprehensive history of Scotland ranges from its earliest Stone Age settlers, through the influence of the many invaders--Romans, Picts, Vikings, and the English--on the country, to recent movements to promote Scottish independence from Britain, documenting the political, cultural, economic, and other forces that have shaped the nation.
734 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
219 people are currently reading
3099 people want to read
About the author
Magnus Magnusson
101 books28 followersMagnus Magnusson, KBE, was an Icelandic television presenter, journalist, translator and writer. He was born in Iceland but lived in Scotland for almost all of his life, although he never took British citizenship. He came to prominence as a BBC television journalist, and was best known as the presenter of the BBC television quiz programme Mastermind, which he hosted for 25 years.
Under Icelandic naming conventions, his name would have been Magnús Sigursteinsson (Magnús, son of Sigursteinn), but his family adopted British naming conventions and he took his father's surname. Although born in Reykjavík, Magnusson grew up in Edinburgh, where his father, Sigursteinn Magnússon, was the Icelandic consul.
Under Icelandic naming conventions, his name would have been Magnús Sigursteinsson (Magnús, son of Sigursteinn), but his family adopted British naming conventions and he took his father's surname. Although born in Reykjavík, Magnusson grew up in Edinburgh, where his father, Sigursteinn Magnússon, was the Icelandic consul.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
May 20, 2016
This book is magnum opus. It is a sprawling, ambitious, fascinating exploration of the history of one of the most endlessly romanticized countries on the planet. It starts a bit slow with the Ancient Era, then dives into the kind of anecdotes and character studies that bring history to life. As soon as closed the cover, I wanted to just start it all over again.
October 18, 2012
Well, it took me a while, but I finally finished it. Firstly, I must begin by saying that Magnus Magnusson's Scotland is definitely in the popular history category. However, I thought it was a good basic introduction, or broad overview, of Scottish history. I had previously done intensive reading and research on particular areas of Scottish history (particularly the Reformation and Enlightenment eras), but I had never read a general history of Scotland. This book gave me a much better view of the broad panorama of Scottish history.
I would also recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Scotland. Magnusson gives the reader specific locations for a variety of historical interest sights. This includes castles, battlefields, markers, monuments, and even sights linked to historical figures in Scottish folklore.
There are two things which I think Magnusson could have done better. First of all, he, like Sir Walter Scott in his Tales of a Grandfather, has written his history in a very personal tone, including his own biases, stories, and opinions along the way. Secondly, he leaves out most of the 19th century. After the 1745 Jacobite rising, he basically gives a mini-biography of Sir Walter Scott. Then, after Scott dies, he only writes about the push of Scottish nationalism. He does not talk about Scottish involvement in the British empire, Scottish industry, Scottish advancements in science and technology, changes in the church, involvement in both World Wars, etc. I felt rather gypped out of learning more about an amazing period in Scottish history.
While this was an enjoyable read, it is not the best in a strictly academic sense. I am still searching for a defining work on the whole of Scottish history.
I would also recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Scotland. Magnusson gives the reader specific locations for a variety of historical interest sights. This includes castles, battlefields, markers, monuments, and even sights linked to historical figures in Scottish folklore.
There are two things which I think Magnusson could have done better. First of all, he, like Sir Walter Scott in his Tales of a Grandfather, has written his history in a very personal tone, including his own biases, stories, and opinions along the way. Secondly, he leaves out most of the 19th century. After the 1745 Jacobite rising, he basically gives a mini-biography of Sir Walter Scott. Then, after Scott dies, he only writes about the push of Scottish nationalism. He does not talk about Scottish involvement in the British empire, Scottish industry, Scottish advancements in science and technology, changes in the church, involvement in both World Wars, etc. I felt rather gypped out of learning more about an amazing period in Scottish history.
While this was an enjoyable read, it is not the best in a strictly academic sense. I am still searching for a defining work on the whole of Scottish history.
December 29, 2010
Not your grandfather's history book. At 700+ pages, it's not light reading. More of a history-cum-travelogue. Using Walter Scott's The Miscellaneous Works Of Sir Walter Scott: Tales Of A Grandfather, History Of Scotland as his framing story and whipping boy, Magnusson recasts the entirety of Scottish history in a more modern vein than Scott's nineteenth century work.
The cover blurb advertises this as a "traditional" history. If by that they mean heavy on politics and battles, it is. Not a lot of context or common man material.
Magnusson seems as intent to tell us the current state of various historical sites as what happened at them. And, paradoxically, he doesn't do a very good job of identifying where those sites are. While the book boasts thirteen maps, all but the first three detail battles. It's as if his target audience was Scots, readily familiar with the geography of their land.
One thing he does do well is attempting to explain attitudes and mores then to readers now. This is especially helpful in terms of religious beliefs.
Magnusson also focuses on current political developments in Scotland, which (beside being of little interest to many readers) may cause the volume to go out of date sooner rather than later.
The cover blurb advertises this as a "traditional" history. If by that they mean heavy on politics and battles, it is. Not a lot of context or common man material.
Magnusson seems as intent to tell us the current state of various historical sites as what happened at them. And, paradoxically, he doesn't do a very good job of identifying where those sites are. While the book boasts thirteen maps, all but the first three detail battles. It's as if his target audience was Scots, readily familiar with the geography of their land.
One thing he does do well is attempting to explain attitudes and mores then to readers now. This is especially helpful in terms of religious beliefs.
Magnusson also focuses on current political developments in Scotland, which (beside being of little interest to many readers) may cause the volume to go out of date sooner rather than later.
October 24, 2011
This book has been my companion since I started to first study Scotland's history. Magnusson is a great author in that he write clearly and easy to understand and is also very engaging. This book is pretty much an overview of all of Scotland's history and may not be the best for studying one particular subject, but is great for the novice. I use it all the time as a reference when I need a quick look-up. I have a friendly battered paperback with notes scrawled all through it that shows my devotion to this book. I would suggest it highly to anyone.
June 20, 2018
Thinking of a trip to Scotland we acquired a suggested reading list. My lassie went to the library and returned with two books. Somehow I got the 700 page volume, she got the 300 pager…
Fortunately I like history and dove right in. Author Magnusson does a great job of delving in to details when necessary and otherwise keeps things moving along. Many battles or dynasties have whole books written about them, so covering the history of a land in a mere 700 pages requires some selective processing.
Sir Walter Scott’s romantic history of Scotland is used for comparison, or one might say an anvil. Magnusson juxtaposes Scott’s English view of things (though, yes Scott was a famous Scott), versus reality. He also includes views from various other scholars on major events, which I find lends a good even quality to the reading.
When describing battles, Magnusson often uses the current highway system to provide locations of events. So while I didn’t mind this, you either have to be familiar enough with the land to know where the A198 highway is, or get yourself a map. If you are actually trying to find a spot, this info is would be useful !
The tale ends with the end of Sir Walter Scott’s life, 1832, and times, however it is followed up with a rather dry epilogue on the various politics from then to the reestablishment of the Scottish parliament in 1999.
After reading this book I feel well armed and educated to take on the low and highlands !
Fortunately I like history and dove right in. Author Magnusson does a great job of delving in to details when necessary and otherwise keeps things moving along. Many battles or dynasties have whole books written about them, so covering the history of a land in a mere 700 pages requires some selective processing.
Sir Walter Scott’s romantic history of Scotland is used for comparison, or one might say an anvil. Magnusson juxtaposes Scott’s English view of things (though, yes Scott was a famous Scott), versus reality. He also includes views from various other scholars on major events, which I find lends a good even quality to the reading.
When describing battles, Magnusson often uses the current highway system to provide locations of events. So while I didn’t mind this, you either have to be familiar enough with the land to know where the A198 highway is, or get yourself a map. If you are actually trying to find a spot, this info is would be useful !
The tale ends with the end of Sir Walter Scott’s life, 1832, and times, however it is followed up with a rather dry epilogue on the various politics from then to the reestablishment of the Scottish parliament in 1999.
After reading this book I feel well armed and educated to take on the low and highlands !
April 20, 2017
About as engaging as a multi-thousand year history can be. Some of it was quite well done; though I got a bit lost in the middle section, covering the succession of kings, I was fascinated by the pre-history, and things began to pick up again in the 1600s. The epilogue was awfully dry, but it's hard to write recent history in story form. All-in-all, very thorough and readable and - I got the paperback version - with large colorful plates. Also maps and battle diagrams. I will undoubtedly re-read certain sections, particularly about Mary Queen of Scots and the saga of the Pretenders leading to Culloden battlefield.
January 31, 2008
Great information, and a really thorough overview of Scottish history. Some of the place references that are relative to modern-day UK highways might not be so useful for an American like myself, but otherwise all good info.
Only thing is, it's just SO dense that it's hard to get through. Took me the better part of a year, and I'd say maybe 10% of it really stuck. I'd sacrifice some of the detail for something that's a little more engaging so as to encourage some better retention.
Only thing is, it's just SO dense that it's hard to get through. Took me the better part of a year, and I'd say maybe 10% of it really stuck. I'd sacrifice some of the detail for something that's a little more engaging so as to encourage some better retention.
May 18, 2022
Phew... not an easy read by any means. I stopped at p.388 - a little over halfway through. There's just too much here... and all described, if I may say so, in a dry and at times exasperating way. Too many times I found myself reaching for the dictionary when Magnusson seemingly switched to his academic mode, and threw in obscure words. My reading at those times juddered to a frustrating snail pace.
There are other times, however, when the writing flows and I found myself actually enjoying the book. The author was particularly good in his coverage of prehistoric Scotland and the kingdom during the Roman times.
Perhaps I made the initial mistake in believing I could read it cover to cover in about a month. But it wasn't long before I saw that this is a book where the information comes thick and fast on almost every page. Almost 700 pages, with extensive small-print footnotes on almost every page just adding to the density.
I will return to the book - for referring back to things I did get through, and to tackle the rest in bit-size chunks. But to read it cover-to-cover, for me at least, is a heck of an undertaking.
There are other times, however, when the writing flows and I found myself actually enjoying the book. The author was particularly good in his coverage of prehistoric Scotland and the kingdom during the Roman times.
Perhaps I made the initial mistake in believing I could read it cover to cover in about a month. But it wasn't long before I saw that this is a book where the information comes thick and fast on almost every page. Almost 700 pages, with extensive small-print footnotes on almost every page just adding to the density.
I will return to the book - for referring back to things I did get through, and to tackle the rest in bit-size chunks. But to read it cover-to-cover, for me at least, is a heck of an undertaking.
May 25, 2020
This book creates a solid foundation for the history of Scotland. My favourite part is that Magnusson is able to contextualize the history.
He articulates for instance what a Nationalist means in the fourteenth century and also in the 1980s. He takes the time to illustrate the setting for these peoples and conflicts. The reader is able to make an effortless understanding of these things without contemporary bias - thanks to the author's guidance.
He uses a variety of sources to widen the spectrum of the history being told. I didn't find it boring in the slightest. I've read my fair share of history books where the author just dials it in without analysis or thought. Magnusson is the complete opposite. He cares about the words he chooses, and the messages he reveals to the reader.
Rich, vivid history that i would recommend to all who are interested in Scotland.
He articulates for instance what a Nationalist means in the fourteenth century and also in the 1980s. He takes the time to illustrate the setting for these peoples and conflicts. The reader is able to make an effortless understanding of these things without contemporary bias - thanks to the author's guidance.
He uses a variety of sources to widen the spectrum of the history being told. I didn't find it boring in the slightest. I've read my fair share of history books where the author just dials it in without analysis or thought. Magnusson is the complete opposite. He cares about the words he chooses, and the messages he reveals to the reader.
Rich, vivid history that i would recommend to all who are interested in Scotland.
February 22, 2009
At 750 pages, maybe not the book you'd pack in the carry-on luggage--but an excellent, very readable yet meticulously detailed history of Scotland. Besides his friendly prose and comprehensiveness, what I like about Magnusson's approach is that he relates his historical narrative at every point to the historical monuments, markers, and ongoing commemorative projects that travelers want to know about (and he gives their exact location, unconcerned that modern highway numbers or commercial landmarks might ruin the magic of the past he's describing); secondly, he frames his history with epigraphs from Sir Walter Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," a history of Scotland written late in Scott's life and told ostensibly to his young grandson. Magnusson ends with a chapter on Scott and his importance to Scotland and to the uses (and abuses) of history.
November 10, 2011
A thoroughly enjoyable romp through the heather, one epic journey from the megalithic to the end of the twentieth century. Magnus's 'Scotland-The Story of a Nation' is a mega biblion. Some seven hundred pages written in a warm and easy style.
I have come across many details here that I thought I knew, many more that I half knew, but by far all exceeded by historical facts that are completely new to me. I would readily recommend this journey in search of statehood, not just for those of Scotti or Pictish persuasion.
Each chapter begins with a paragraph from Sir Walter Scott's 'Tales of a Grandfather', and the final chapter of this book is a short biography of Scott and a critique of the novelists publications. Perhaps this is unusual for a historical account, but it works for me. Ideally read with a wee dram of the highland's finest.
I have come across many details here that I thought I knew, many more that I half knew, but by far all exceeded by historical facts that are completely new to me. I would readily recommend this journey in search of statehood, not just for those of Scotti or Pictish persuasion.
Each chapter begins with a paragraph from Sir Walter Scott's 'Tales of a Grandfather', and the final chapter of this book is a short biography of Scott and a critique of the novelists publications. Perhaps this is unusual for a historical account, but it works for me. Ideally read with a wee dram of the highland's finest.
March 10, 2024
This behemoth of a book dives deeply into Scotland's history and covers the territory quite well up until the early 1800s. I learned a tremendous amount, and if it was a little dry at times, this was more than compensated for by the other fascinating parts. The focus is on the government of the respective eras, so there's not as much detail about daily life and culture, but that worked pretty well for me. I'd already been reading a lot of historical fiction set in various time periods (1100s, 1300s, 1500s, 1700s) that did a good job of giving me the flavor of the times, and I was hazier on the politics before this book.
A couple highlights that I enjoyed:
King William of Orange was not popular in Scotland at all, and when he died after being thrown from his horse after the horse tripped over a mole hill, the Scots used to make toasts to “the wee gentleman in the velvet waistcoat,” honoring the mole who had dug the hill.
The phrase "Queen Anne is dead" means "that's old news," because when Queen Anne did die, the government was so worried about a Jacobite uprising that they kept the news of her death from the people for several weeks.
My main gripe with the book was that Magnusson glossed over the history after Sir Walter Scott's death incredibly quickly, which, after his in-depth exploration of earlier centures, felt like a rushed summary. He does come back to tell the story of the newly established Scottish Parliament in 1999, which was useful, and extremely recent news as of 2000 when this book was published. I do want to hit up a book on modern Scottish history, though, since I don't feel nearly as well-equipped past the 1820s.
A couple highlights that I enjoyed:
King William of Orange was not popular in Scotland at all, and when he died after being thrown from his horse after the horse tripped over a mole hill, the Scots used to make toasts to “the wee gentleman in the velvet waistcoat,” honoring the mole who had dug the hill.
The phrase "Queen Anne is dead" means "that's old news," because when Queen Anne did die, the government was so worried about a Jacobite uprising that they kept the news of her death from the people for several weeks.
My main gripe with the book was that Magnusson glossed over the history after Sir Walter Scott's death incredibly quickly, which, after his in-depth exploration of earlier centures, felt like a rushed summary. He does come back to tell the story of the newly established Scottish Parliament in 1999, which was useful, and extremely recent news as of 2000 when this book was published. I do want to hit up a book on modern Scottish history, though, since I don't feel nearly as well-equipped past the 1820s.
October 3, 2025
This book was sponsored by sir Walter Scott.
But seriously tho, the number of quotations, and the fact that after his death there was just one chapter covering everything that happened from then to the publishing of this book is pretty unserious, but kinda iconic. Man has to know what he loves, and for Magnusson it's apparently Walter Scott.
But overall I liked this book. You don't get much more than general overview of each period but that's understandable considering that it's supposed to cover whole Scotland's history. I think it's great introduction to it, you can see what happened and then deepen your reaserch on chosen subject.
Narratively I didn't like that like really, after Scott's death another like 170 were covered in a single chapter! I'm personally not really interested in recent history so I can't say if that's because nothing worth telling didn't happen in Scotland during that time, or why is it structured like that. Also in chapter about Mary Stewart I got the impression that author infantilises her, but again I don't know much more about her reign, so I can't really tell if it's just author's opinion showing.
Anyway I recommend this one if you'd like to learn something about Scotland, as I said that's a great start. It's written in very easy to follow style which is simply pleasant to read. Although I must admit during descriptions of battles or war campaigns I often found myself lost and struggled to remember who is who, and who is currently winning, but I don't think it was that much of an issue when you consider whole narrative.
But seriously tho, the number of quotations, and the fact that after his death there was just one chapter covering everything that happened from then to the publishing of this book is pretty unserious, but kinda iconic. Man has to know what he loves, and for Magnusson it's apparently Walter Scott.
But overall I liked this book. You don't get much more than general overview of each period but that's understandable considering that it's supposed to cover whole Scotland's history. I think it's great introduction to it, you can see what happened and then deepen your reaserch on chosen subject.
Narratively I didn't like that like really, after Scott's death another like 170 were covered in a single chapter! I'm personally not really interested in recent history so I can't say if that's because nothing worth telling didn't happen in Scotland during that time, or why is it structured like that. Also in chapter about Mary Stewart I got the impression that author infantilises her, but again I don't know much more about her reign, so I can't really tell if it's just author's opinion showing.
Anyway I recommend this one if you'd like to learn something about Scotland, as I said that's a great start. It's written in very easy to follow style which is simply pleasant to read. Although I must admit during descriptions of battles or war campaigns I often found myself lost and struggled to remember who is who, and who is currently winning, but I don't think it was that much of an issue when you consider whole narrative.
June 18, 2023
A very engaging and energetic look at the history of Scotland. Magnussen writes in such a way that makes the drama of Scottish history come alive. There were plenty of times that I could not put the book down. Using the same outline as Sir Walter Scott does bring the book to a close around the mid-18th century, after the Act of Union and most Jacobitism is over. The book ends with a quick fire round of 19th and 20th century history. I would have liked more in that sense, rather than ending in the 18th century. He does cover the 19th and 20th, but extremely quickly and much is left out.
September 14, 2025
This was very in depth and I have a whole new appreciation for Scottish history. Had a nice time reading it but definitely grind!
July 31, 2013
I want to address the issues I have with Magnus Magnusson's
Scotland: The Story of a Nation
, because it is somewhat clear that my expectations/foreknowledge are not in step with those who praise the book.
I was not expecting the story of the "Nation" of Scotland to be one wholly set-up as a counterbalance to Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather (as a natural born citizen of the United States of America, I not only have not attached some level of mythos to the persona and works of Scott, but I also had no familiarity with the work in question). It limits the scope of what Magnusson can address if he is going to mostly stick to the blueprint provided by Scott two centuries prior. Nor was I expecting the history of Scotland to be told in such Royalist terms. Magnusson is (for my American tastes) far too interested not just in the titles (to the extent that he is often too lax in keeping the reader abreast as to who the earl or marquis in question is in his actual personage) but a small smattering of seats of power, almost exclusively in a cluster in the the southern lowlands. There is almost no mention of the Scottish clans until the 18th Century, and the Highlands and islands are effectively ignored throughout the book. Being descended from a clan that claims an island (still), this was more than a little disappointing. In fairness to Magnusson, the island is mention in the book, but only to note that a movie was filmed there.
Why there is nothing approaching an attempt to illuminate the Scottish people until the epilogue (the best written section of the book) mystifies me. As does his criticism of the consideration that Scottish history ends with the Union in 1707 and the Jacobite uprisings (until 1746) is completely undercut by his concluding the history of Scotland there, following it up with a chapter dedicated to Sir Walter Scott.
Magnusson clearly has much information to relay. The problem is that he is an expert (in some regard) and does not have a firm grasp on how to make his knowledge palatable to those who have less exposure to the material. He is woeful when it comes to building greater contexts (though quite good, through the use of footnotes, in letting the reader know that he is well aware of a greater context into which the information can be placed). There is also the problem on not being a native to the British Isles and familiar with the roadways which make frequent appearance to denote where things are (this is great for those who know the roads, or who pull up a map online, but it speaks to the narrowness of audience to which Magnusson aspired).
Overall, I am quite disappointed with this book. I found it to be a laborious read, fractured with too few moments of insight (always from other experts Magnusson quoted) and humor. It would have been better titled "Scotland: The Story of the Monarchy and Peers of the Realm During the Periods Addressed by Sir Walter Scott in a Mostly Forgotten Text"; I certainly wouldn't have purchased it if it were so titled. And I would have been much less disappointed had Magnusson made an effort to relay more information about the land/kingdom/nation and people of Scotland rather than indulge in an excuse to romanticize the roles played by the nobles in keeping Scotland in a rather chaotic state for eight centuries.
I was not expecting the story of the "Nation" of Scotland to be one wholly set-up as a counterbalance to Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather (as a natural born citizen of the United States of America, I not only have not attached some level of mythos to the persona and works of Scott, but I also had no familiarity with the work in question). It limits the scope of what Magnusson can address if he is going to mostly stick to the blueprint provided by Scott two centuries prior. Nor was I expecting the history of Scotland to be told in such Royalist terms. Magnusson is (for my American tastes) far too interested not just in the titles (to the extent that he is often too lax in keeping the reader abreast as to who the earl or marquis in question is in his actual personage) but a small smattering of seats of power, almost exclusively in a cluster in the the southern lowlands. There is almost no mention of the Scottish clans until the 18th Century, and the Highlands and islands are effectively ignored throughout the book. Being descended from a clan that claims an island (still), this was more than a little disappointing. In fairness to Magnusson, the island is mention in the book, but only to note that a movie was filmed there.
Why there is nothing approaching an attempt to illuminate the Scottish people until the epilogue (the best written section of the book) mystifies me. As does his criticism of the consideration that Scottish history ends with the Union in 1707 and the Jacobite uprisings (until 1746) is completely undercut by his concluding the history of Scotland there, following it up with a chapter dedicated to Sir Walter Scott.
Magnusson clearly has much information to relay. The problem is that he is an expert (in some regard) and does not have a firm grasp on how to make his knowledge palatable to those who have less exposure to the material. He is woeful when it comes to building greater contexts (though quite good, through the use of footnotes, in letting the reader know that he is well aware of a greater context into which the information can be placed). There is also the problem on not being a native to the British Isles and familiar with the roadways which make frequent appearance to denote where things are (this is great for those who know the roads, or who pull up a map online, but it speaks to the narrowness of audience to which Magnusson aspired).
Overall, I am quite disappointed with this book. I found it to be a laborious read, fractured with too few moments of insight (always from other experts Magnusson quoted) and humor. It would have been better titled "Scotland: The Story of the Monarchy and Peers of the Realm During the Periods Addressed by Sir Walter Scott in a Mostly Forgotten Text"; I certainly wouldn't have purchased it if it were so titled. And I would have been much less disappointed had Magnusson made an effort to relay more information about the land/kingdom/nation and people of Scotland rather than indulge in an excuse to romanticize the roles played by the nobles in keeping Scotland in a rather chaotic state for eight centuries.
Read
August 2, 2011Sir Walter Scott wrote "A Grandfather's Tale" which became something of a standard Scottish history text. But Scott skipped over things that didn't fit with his views (pro union w/ England, Protestant). Magnus Magnusson starts many of his chapters w/ excerpts from "A Grandfather's Tale" but he goes beyond Scott, beginning with the earliest evidence of man in Scotland, around 7,000 B.C.
The author dispels some myths like Robert Bruce being confronted by William Wallace after the Battle of Falkirk. He notes that tartan didn't come into vogue until George IV's visit to Edinburgh.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in Scottish history. However probably about 85% of the book only takes you up through Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 Rising. Then he has a chapter about Sir Walter Scott and an epilogue that covers the political struggles for home rule in Scotland that culminated in reviving the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
The author dispels some myths like Robert Bruce being confronted by William Wallace after the Battle of Falkirk. He notes that tartan didn't come into vogue until George IV's visit to Edinburgh.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in Scottish history. However probably about 85% of the book only takes you up through Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 Rising. Then he has a chapter about Sir Walter Scott and an epilogue that covers the political struggles for home rule in Scotland that culminated in reviving the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
May 10, 2010
I feel a great sense of accomplishment at finishing this book. From Neolithic times up to the return of the Scottish parliament, this book gives a great look at Scottish history. Having taken a British history class in college, it was nice to see Scotland's history and involvement in the Union fleshed out. The battle descriptions are very good to the point of being able to visualize what was going on. I liked how the author would start many chapters or sections with the way something (a field, a marker, a bridge, etc.) looks today and where it's located in relation to what he then goes on to talk about. Fantastic stuff, especially the early Scottish/Celtic reigns of kings.
October 21, 2015
A superbly through and deep history of Scotland from the Scottish perspective. Each monarch is profiled and given an even handed treatment, often given the benefit of the doubt when possible. Battles are throughly charted and illustrated and the political maneuvering is the focus. Magnusson ends after the Jacobite rebellion, and then relates the myth building of Sir Walter Scott as well as an epilogue detailing the process towards the devolution of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. A big read, but well worth the effort of understanding this magnificent nation and truly enlightening. Along with Neil Oliver, the definitive account of Scottish history.
June 15, 2015
While this book is thick, though not as thick as my complete works of Shakespeare, it is a good book.
Some historians write in a very dry style. I have been, for instance, trying to read a book about Irish Nationalism for six years, but the lanuage is so dry, I haven't been able to finish it yet. Magnusson, thank heavens, does not have a dry style. His style is engaging, almost a story telling style. Besides relating the bare bones of history, he also includes ancedotes, in particular a hugely funny and interesting section about the Stone of Scone.
Some historians write in a very dry style. I have been, for instance, trying to read a book about Irish Nationalism for six years, but the lanuage is so dry, I haven't been able to finish it yet. Magnusson, thank heavens, does not have a dry style. His style is engaging, almost a story telling style. Besides relating the bare bones of history, he also includes ancedotes, in particular a hugely funny and interesting section about the Stone of Scone.
March 8, 2023
I recently discovered I had Scottish ancestry and wanted to brush up on the history of Scotland. Overall, an excellent (if long) read. Magnusson's writing style is very fluid and engaging, which makes the length much more bearable. I f I had to come up with a critique, its that the vast majority of the book is devoted to 1750 and before, not much coverage of the last 200 + years. This is understandable in a sense as Scotland by that point was fully absorbed into Great Britain.
March 27, 2021
Hopefully I will forget most of what I've learned in painstaking detail about Scotland's rulers and battles before I get there or my brothers will throttle me while my sisters-in-law cheer them on. Try as I might, though, I doubt I will be able to forget the astonishing number of children and infants who were crowned upon the untimely deaths of their regal fathers and then fought over by families desperate to rule in their names. The words episcopacy, presbytery and Mercat Cross are stuck in my head as well.
Magnusson's history is one I would recommend to anyone planning to spend a year or two living in and exploring Scotland, but the detailed directions to myriad battlefield monuments and ruined abbeys are a distraction to readers like me who don't have the luxury of time. A native of Iceland, he obviously loves his adopted country and it comes as no surprise that he served as chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland (1981-89). I appreciated the maps; more maps would have been even more appreciated as would any tidbits of information about the lives of common people.
Magnusson's history is one I would recommend to anyone planning to spend a year or two living in and exploring Scotland, but the detailed directions to myriad battlefield monuments and ruined abbeys are a distraction to readers like me who don't have the luxury of time. A native of Iceland, he obviously loves his adopted country and it comes as no surprise that he served as chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland (1981-89). I appreciated the maps; more maps would have been even more appreciated as would any tidbits of information about the lives of common people.
August 27, 2024
I greatly enjoyed this book. It's classic political history, seasoned with quotations from Sir Walter Scott and other traditional Scottish writings, tied together by an author who possesses both a mastery of the scholarship and personal knowledge of the area.
January 29, 2021
You could open this book at any page and be fascinated by the story. Just don't give me a test on all those King James and Roberts.
March 27, 2021
Scotland: The Story Of A Nation
A good book to pair with this reading might be - Scotland: An Autobiography; 2,000 Years Of Scottish History By Those Who Saw It Happen, Rosemary Goring
Magnus Magnusson provides information on Scotland's history: expanding from the times of the ancient settlers on to dedicating the main-body section in illustrating the Scottish king-list, with the penultimate section written on the Union of the Crown and Nations, as well as the ensuing Jacobite struggle - a turbulent time of great passion and romance, to put right the wrong for God and king. A final chapter devotes to the works and life of Sir Walter Scott; of whom Magnus considers to be a "child of the Scottish Enlightenment".
Important in the narrative is describing how the Scottish identity became what it is so well known today: how it was that the native Picts, Gaels, Scoti and Godeddins banded together and were the start of a developing civic nation, "Scotland". Christianity features as the epicentre of what these ancient settlers found in common, from the evangelism of St. Ninian and St. Colomba in the union of Christ, as well as a struggle for survival against the invading Romans, Northumbrians, Normans, and Vikings.
The tragedy that precipitated the Scottish Wars of Independence, from the Wallace to the Bruce - another story of great passion and romance -, is also well established and detailed. The tragedy-hero of William Wallace; the necessity to fight against brutality with brutality; the from-zero-to-hero king Robert the Bruce; and the separation of loved ones to be reacquainted much later in life. The events that started it all, from Alexander III's fall; the Maid of Norway's fateful end; Scotland's king-crisis, and King Edward I of England's betrayal of the treaty, all leading to the eventual independence through the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 after the victory at Bannockburn.
One valuable piece of information that I learned was the fact that the Union, even as we know it today, was a Scottish invention and ideal. James VI of Scotland united the two nations from the Act of Union of the Crowns in 1603, becoming James VI and I of England, it is revealed that he also wished for parliamentary union as well as the union of crowns. The Act of Settlement of the Crown in 1701, passed by the English Parliament behind Scotland's back and without their consent, 'allowed' to bypass the Stewart Catholic-line of kingship in order for a Protestant-line. After reading this, it may indeed be known in history that Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites had the rightful claim to the throne, after all.
A good book to pair with this reading might be - Scotland: An Autobiography; 2,000 Years Of Scottish History By Those Who Saw It Happen, Rosemary Goring
Magnus Magnusson provides information on Scotland's history: expanding from the times of the ancient settlers on to dedicating the main-body section in illustrating the Scottish king-list, with the penultimate section written on the Union of the Crown and Nations, as well as the ensuing Jacobite struggle - a turbulent time of great passion and romance, to put right the wrong for God and king. A final chapter devotes to the works and life of Sir Walter Scott; of whom Magnus considers to be a "child of the Scottish Enlightenment".
Important in the narrative is describing how the Scottish identity became what it is so well known today: how it was that the native Picts, Gaels, Scoti and Godeddins banded together and were the start of a developing civic nation, "Scotland". Christianity features as the epicentre of what these ancient settlers found in common, from the evangelism of St. Ninian and St. Colomba in the union of Christ, as well as a struggle for survival against the invading Romans, Northumbrians, Normans, and Vikings.
The tragedy that precipitated the Scottish Wars of Independence, from the Wallace to the Bruce - another story of great passion and romance -, is also well established and detailed. The tragedy-hero of William Wallace; the necessity to fight against brutality with brutality; the from-zero-to-hero king Robert the Bruce; and the separation of loved ones to be reacquainted much later in life. The events that started it all, from Alexander III's fall; the Maid of Norway's fateful end; Scotland's king-crisis, and King Edward I of England's betrayal of the treaty, all leading to the eventual independence through the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 after the victory at Bannockburn.
One valuable piece of information that I learned was the fact that the Union, even as we know it today, was a Scottish invention and ideal. James VI of Scotland united the two nations from the Act of Union of the Crowns in 1603, becoming James VI and I of England, it is revealed that he also wished for parliamentary union as well as the union of crowns. The Act of Settlement of the Crown in 1701, passed by the English Parliament behind Scotland's back and without their consent, 'allowed' to bypass the Stewart Catholic-line of kingship in order for a Protestant-line. After reading this, it may indeed be known in history that Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites had the rightful claim to the throne, after all.
October 8, 2011
My ancestry does not include much in the way of ethnic color, but the Scots provide most of what there is. Indeed, in the past century the Scottish branch of the family, at some remove, has included a fighter pilot and war hero, a celebrated poet, and two successful movie stars. So it's with a nod to our Caledonian ancestors that we toast each other on the holidays, and I seized on the opportunity to take my bride to Scotland when I got married.
So it was with some surprise that I discovered that, despite Scotland's disproportionate contribution to the modern world, it is not particularly easy to find a good general history of Scotland. Fortunately, Magnus Magnusson's engaging history of Scotland from its early history through the Act of Union makes up in verve what it lacks in sophistication. It vividly recounts the intrigues, murders, and battles of the Royal Court throughout the Stewart Dynasty, explores in some detail the history of the Covenanters and of Cromwell, and limns the portraits of a number of colorful figures in Scottish history such as Viscount Dundee, Rob Roy MacGregor, and Sir Walter Scott. Indeed, the history is loosely structured around Scott's earlier history, Tales of a Grandfather.
The popular tone of the work is often emphasized by a certain guidebook quality, as Magnusson points out the location of current monuments and motor routes, but ultimately this does little to detract from the narrative. At the same time, while the book does give a good general overview of the political forces at work in Scotland, which spent a great deal of time trying to play the French off against the English, one might need to look elsewhere for a theoretical explication of the progress of Scottish history.
In addition, except for a brief coda on the new Scottish parliament, the book effectively ends with the Act of Union and does not address the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth century history of the Scottish people after Scotland was no longer an independent country. While it is not really fair to criticize a book for not doing what it doesn't intend to do, it seems a shame in some ways that this very rich and often turbulent era in the history of the Scottish people is not addressed.
So it was with some surprise that I discovered that, despite Scotland's disproportionate contribution to the modern world, it is not particularly easy to find a good general history of Scotland. Fortunately, Magnus Magnusson's engaging history of Scotland from its early history through the Act of Union makes up in verve what it lacks in sophistication. It vividly recounts the intrigues, murders, and battles of the Royal Court throughout the Stewart Dynasty, explores in some detail the history of the Covenanters and of Cromwell, and limns the portraits of a number of colorful figures in Scottish history such as Viscount Dundee, Rob Roy MacGregor, and Sir Walter Scott. Indeed, the history is loosely structured around Scott's earlier history, Tales of a Grandfather.
The popular tone of the work is often emphasized by a certain guidebook quality, as Magnusson points out the location of current monuments and motor routes, but ultimately this does little to detract from the narrative. At the same time, while the book does give a good general overview of the political forces at work in Scotland, which spent a great deal of time trying to play the French off against the English, one might need to look elsewhere for a theoretical explication of the progress of Scottish history.
In addition, except for a brief coda on the new Scottish parliament, the book effectively ends with the Act of Union and does not address the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth century history of the Scottish people after Scotland was no longer an independent country. While it is not really fair to criticize a book for not doing what it doesn't intend to do, it seems a shame in some ways that this very rich and often turbulent era in the history of the Scottish people is not addressed.
February 16, 2023
This is an unbelievably comprehensive accounting of Scotland's history, beginning with the first human settlers in wake of the last Ice Age, the ensuing Roman conquest, the expansive impacts of the Malcom and Stewart Dynasties, the nation's sociological transformation following the 1707 Acts of Union, up to the rebirth of Scottish Parliament in the late 1990's. Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather is alluded to heavily throughout and is used as placemarker for an early-19th century sentiment, as to demonstrate a special trait of Scottish culture; their persistent willingness to reassess their own history and hold true to causes, even after those causes were defeated on ancient battlefields, and to apply these acknowledgements towards the betterment of their future.
It is absolutely mind-boggling how many different sources Scots idenfied as their cultural epicenters over the last millenia. This book will make the reader view the relationship between religion and politics a little differently. Even the most vehement atheist will be forced to acknowledge the impactful leadership religious sectors had on the people's nationhood, particularly in the Highlands. Given the effete nature of Scotland's later Stewart kings, one might wonder if the church could've done better? The '45 is a prime example, the final swing against a United Kingdom. That campaign alone will leave the reader with numerous "What If?" reflections. While there is no denying that the UK uplifted Scotland's economy, it's very easy to ascertain how many Scots still simply do not identify culturally with it.
This is one of the most well-researched and immersive history books I've ever read. It doesn't shy away from the gory stuff either, the reader will get the full details of every barbaric high-profile execution. There's a heart-shaped imprint on the pavement outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and that innocent symbol will send chills down your spine when you learn why it's there.
Magnusson's work is so thorough, I fully intent on exploring more of it. I'm also very much looking forward to exploring Edinburgh and Glasgow later this year and fully intend to pay my respects to Queen Mary in London afterwards.
It is absolutely mind-boggling how many different sources Scots idenfied as their cultural epicenters over the last millenia. This book will make the reader view the relationship between religion and politics a little differently. Even the most vehement atheist will be forced to acknowledge the impactful leadership religious sectors had on the people's nationhood, particularly in the Highlands. Given the effete nature of Scotland's later Stewart kings, one might wonder if the church could've done better? The '45 is a prime example, the final swing against a United Kingdom. That campaign alone will leave the reader with numerous "What If?" reflections. While there is no denying that the UK uplifted Scotland's economy, it's very easy to ascertain how many Scots still simply do not identify culturally with it.
This is one of the most well-researched and immersive history books I've ever read. It doesn't shy away from the gory stuff either, the reader will get the full details of every barbaric high-profile execution. There's a heart-shaped imprint on the pavement outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and that innocent symbol will send chills down your spine when you learn why it's there.
Magnusson's work is so thorough, I fully intent on exploring more of it. I'm also very much looking forward to exploring Edinburgh and Glasgow later this year and fully intend to pay my respects to Queen Mary in London afterwards.
December 5, 2008
I'll save you the trouble of reading and give you some of the highlights: 1) Scots are bloody, dangerously aggressive people with short attention spans - loved starting wars and could win some battles but lost interest before the war was over.. 2) The Duke of Argyll is one bad mother . . . shut your mouth. 3) The movie BraveHeart did lead to the Scotland getting its own parliament for the first time since the 1700s. Seriously.
This book had some great chapters and others that were not so hot. The chapters on Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie were amazing. Two great examples of the Scottish penchant for biting off way more than we can chew and it turning out surprisingly well (sometimes). Magnusson thinks that William Wallace is overrated, but did a real disservice to him in this book by excluding most of the factual reasons behind Wallace's lingering fame. (magnusson was rightfully arguing that Robert the Bruce is probably more deserving of Wallace's favored position in the Scottish memory).
This book had some great chapters and others that were not so hot. The chapters on Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie were amazing. Two great examples of the Scottish penchant for biting off way more than we can chew and it turning out surprisingly well (sometimes). Magnusson thinks that William Wallace is overrated, but did a real disservice to him in this book by excluding most of the factual reasons behind Wallace's lingering fame. (magnusson was rightfully arguing that Robert the Bruce is probably more deserving of Wallace's favored position in the Scottish memory).
April 20, 2021
This book has a lot of value, but it also has significant flaws. It's very long -- nearly 700 pages, and with lots of footnotes -- and the writing is okay but not compelling. So at a certain point, you feel like it's a slog to complete. But the author is trying to give a summary of Scotland's (and, when relevant, England's) history over thousands of years, so you don't want him to cut it short.
The book is a strange amalgamation of popular history and a travel guide. By that, I mean that when Magnusson discusses an historic event, he tells you which current highways are near the location of the site, whether there's an historic marker, and how to access the place. He'll even tell you if what you're seeing is real or a replica, or even a totally made-up thing (of which there are many in Scotland). This is the real benefit of the book -- that you can read about a particular castle or battle, and the book gives you a sense of how to get there and what you might see. But because it's in a history book, you get a lot more context than if you were holding a typical travel book in your hand.
Even as a history, it's truncated. It's premised as tracking Sir Walter Scott's famous book "Tales of a Grandfather," which was a light, lyrical history of Scotland. This author uses Scott's summary views as the jumping point for deeper discussion of key events in Scottish history. The problem is that Scott died in 1830, and this book basically ends at that point, too. So some of the most interesting things about Scotland are ignored completely, like its Enlightenment thinkers, the Highland clearances, the growth of industry, service in WWI and WWII, and so on. None of it is there, so if your only interest in Scotland is castles, armor and ruined abbeys, then this book is fine.
The related problem with the book is that it's focused almost completely on royal history. It has very little about what life was like for common people, whether in the Highlands or Lowlands, in the cities or on the coasts. It's all about Prince X and King Y, and their knights who went around killing and jailing each other, and burning helpless towns on an annual basis. This wasn't over a 10- or 20-year period, either. This was for more than a thousand years. Apparently, nobody looked around and called an end to the cruelty and nonsense. I couldn't help thinking over and over again that Scotland must have been one of the worst places to live in Europe for centuries. At its best, the land is not very fertile and the weather sucks; but when you add in marauders who are killing, raping and burning in raids and reprisals for generations, well, it's awful. And this book kind of blithely passes through that because that's just sort of how things were in medieval times.
Similar to my complaint above, I found all of the discussions of minor battles and royalty feuds to become repetitive and dull. Perhaps if I was Scottish and had been raised on some of the history, I would have a more inherent interest. But my eyes glazed over after about the 12th similar sounding fight on a marsh between guys with long pikes and guys on horses. I really wanted to know how people actually felt and lived, not about the slaughter of a few hundred men in a couple of hours.
While this book is for a general audience, it would probably be helpful to have some understanding of kingships dynasties of England -- I don't, as I'm American. And it would be helpful to have some sense of the fight between Presbyterians and Episcopalians, which was such a big deal in Scotland for more than two centuries. I have zero understanding of their doctrine differences, which I imagine are even more trivial than those between Protestants and Catholics, and which generated hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths and tortures. Basically, when you read this book you shake your head at the stupidity and cruelty of people in the name of religion, and you think about how it goes on today across the world. Nobody has learned anything.
One interesting aspect of the book is that it was completed in 1999 or 2000, which was right when Scotland's new Parliament took office. This was a watershed event for the nation and a culmination of however many hundreds of years of agitation and fighting with England. It also coincided with (or was driven by) what was clearly a surge in interest in Scottish culture in the 2 decades that preceded it, as the author writes again and again about new museums and renovated castles and homes and battlefields that are now available for visits. I read this book as a prelude to an intended visit in 2021 (we'll see how that goes, given Covid), and it's interesting to reflect that the ease with which I can see historic places is a very new phenomenon in the country, which is capitalizing on interest in Scottish history and culture that began to surge in the 1980s, got more momentum from the awful film "Braveheart," and has continued through with the slightly better TV show "Highlander".
In that light, the book does do a good job of undermining some of the myths of bravery and honor that circle around people such as Bonnie Prince Charlie. It shows how stupid he was, and how he arrogantly sent men to their death by his decisions during his ill-fated invasion in 1745, such as insisting than 400 men stay in England to defend a castle -- which he knew was impossible -- that had nothing more than symbolic significance.
In sum, this is a useful and reasonably entertaining book if you're planning to visit Scotland. I would not read it as a pure history, as there are surely much better and more complete books out there.
The book is a strange amalgamation of popular history and a travel guide. By that, I mean that when Magnusson discusses an historic event, he tells you which current highways are near the location of the site, whether there's an historic marker, and how to access the place. He'll even tell you if what you're seeing is real or a replica, or even a totally made-up thing (of which there are many in Scotland). This is the real benefit of the book -- that you can read about a particular castle or battle, and the book gives you a sense of how to get there and what you might see. But because it's in a history book, you get a lot more context than if you were holding a typical travel book in your hand.
Even as a history, it's truncated. It's premised as tracking Sir Walter Scott's famous book "Tales of a Grandfather," which was a light, lyrical history of Scotland. This author uses Scott's summary views as the jumping point for deeper discussion of key events in Scottish history. The problem is that Scott died in 1830, and this book basically ends at that point, too. So some of the most interesting things about Scotland are ignored completely, like its Enlightenment thinkers, the Highland clearances, the growth of industry, service in WWI and WWII, and so on. None of it is there, so if your only interest in Scotland is castles, armor and ruined abbeys, then this book is fine.
The related problem with the book is that it's focused almost completely on royal history. It has very little about what life was like for common people, whether in the Highlands or Lowlands, in the cities or on the coasts. It's all about Prince X and King Y, and their knights who went around killing and jailing each other, and burning helpless towns on an annual basis. This wasn't over a 10- or 20-year period, either. This was for more than a thousand years. Apparently, nobody looked around and called an end to the cruelty and nonsense. I couldn't help thinking over and over again that Scotland must have been one of the worst places to live in Europe for centuries. At its best, the land is not very fertile and the weather sucks; but when you add in marauders who are killing, raping and burning in raids and reprisals for generations, well, it's awful. And this book kind of blithely passes through that because that's just sort of how things were in medieval times.
Similar to my complaint above, I found all of the discussions of minor battles and royalty feuds to become repetitive and dull. Perhaps if I was Scottish and had been raised on some of the history, I would have a more inherent interest. But my eyes glazed over after about the 12th similar sounding fight on a marsh between guys with long pikes and guys on horses. I really wanted to know how people actually felt and lived, not about the slaughter of a few hundred men in a couple of hours.
While this book is for a general audience, it would probably be helpful to have some understanding of kingships dynasties of England -- I don't, as I'm American. And it would be helpful to have some sense of the fight between Presbyterians and Episcopalians, which was such a big deal in Scotland for more than two centuries. I have zero understanding of their doctrine differences, which I imagine are even more trivial than those between Protestants and Catholics, and which generated hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths and tortures. Basically, when you read this book you shake your head at the stupidity and cruelty of people in the name of religion, and you think about how it goes on today across the world. Nobody has learned anything.
One interesting aspect of the book is that it was completed in 1999 or 2000, which was right when Scotland's new Parliament took office. This was a watershed event for the nation and a culmination of however many hundreds of years of agitation and fighting with England. It also coincided with (or was driven by) what was clearly a surge in interest in Scottish culture in the 2 decades that preceded it, as the author writes again and again about new museums and renovated castles and homes and battlefields that are now available for visits. I read this book as a prelude to an intended visit in 2021 (we'll see how that goes, given Covid), and it's interesting to reflect that the ease with which I can see historic places is a very new phenomenon in the country, which is capitalizing on interest in Scottish history and culture that began to surge in the 1980s, got more momentum from the awful film "Braveheart," and has continued through with the slightly better TV show "Highlander".
In that light, the book does do a good job of undermining some of the myths of bravery and honor that circle around people such as Bonnie Prince Charlie. It shows how stupid he was, and how he arrogantly sent men to their death by his decisions during his ill-fated invasion in 1745, such as insisting than 400 men stay in England to defend a castle -- which he knew was impossible -- that had nothing more than symbolic significance.
In sum, this is a useful and reasonably entertaining book if you're planning to visit Scotland. I would not read it as a pure history, as there are surely much better and more complete books out there.
September 13, 2010
Fascinating.
I got all the way to Charles II where my interest started to wane, and then school started, blah blah.
But still an excellent primer in the history of Scottish state and monarchy. I do wish there was a little more reference to how actual people lived. One of the kings ruled for a really long time and we learned all about his wars and wives and then at the very end of the chapter Magnusson says well the plague was going on for most of his reign. What?! A 50 year plague? That killed a third of the population? And one line in the book?
Other than that really really fantastic.
Now I want to read Magnusson's books about Iceland!
I got all the way to Charles II where my interest started to wane, and then school started, blah blah.
But still an excellent primer in the history of Scottish state and monarchy. I do wish there was a little more reference to how actual people lived. One of the kings ruled for a really long time and we learned all about his wars and wives and then at the very end of the chapter Magnusson says well the plague was going on for most of his reign. What?! A 50 year plague? That killed a third of the population? And one line in the book?
Other than that really really fantastic.
Now I want to read Magnusson's books about Iceland!
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