The Misunderstanding of Glencoe

by Alexander McCall Smith

A full-cast BBC Radio Scotland comedy dramatisation written by Alexander McCall Smith.

An Edinburgh couple on holiday in the Highlands discover that centuries-old tensions are still very near the surface. Starring John Buick, Kenny Blyth, Monica Gibb, and Paul Young.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories, Humor, Scotland, Drama

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually quite amusing, albeit predictable. A short play about a couple basically caught in a centuries old rivalry between two clans. The accents made it even more enjoyable to listen to and it was quick and fun.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun!

[Jacqueline Sorokin · Rating 3 out of 5]

haha, short and sweet. If you want to add a quick book to your reading challenge. Listen to this, it only takes 27 minutes. Entertaining short story.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short but very sweet radio play. In AMS' books he has often included the concept of the "misunderstanding" rather than massacre of Glencoe and some of his characters were modern day Jacobites. Additionally, with Domenica Macdonald being one of his major characters in the 44 Scotland Street series, the issue of Macdonalds vs. Campbells has come up often, satirically of course. Even one of Domenica's old boyfriends was a Campbell who came and stirred the pot. Then there was the time that Bertie and Ranald went camping near Glencoe and of course they used the Campbells as bogeymen. As a Campbell myself, I can't help but laugh (cry?) at the absurdity of centuries old rivalries.

Anyway, AMS, give us more radio plays!

[Choopie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, breezy and fun.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a lovely little 27 minute audio short story I found on Libby! Alexander McCall Smith wrote this delightful story about Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald, who booked a five day holiday in the Scottish highlands. Their hotel, run by a MacDonald family was near another hotel run by a Campbell family. The 1692 massacre of 30 MacDonalds by Campbell’s (who were billeted at the MacDonald house by the government) centered around the Jacobite uprising and which clan swore allegiance to which side. As our holiday couple discovered, the feud had not eased with time. The story was performed as a radio play and I loved the accents. Please do more of these, Mr. McCall Smith!

[Wes F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ha, ha! I loved this short, pithy, hilarious audiobook/play that was originally broadcast on the BBC, as I understand. A seemingly harmless visit to the Scottish Highlands by a touring couple turns out to be a mostly tongue-in-cheek unraveling of the historic bitter feud among the Scottish clans of the McDonalds and the Campbells, which revolves around a massacre at Glencoe. I listened to this on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.

[Popup-ch · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Scottish Highlands grudges last a long time. It turns out that in a tiny valley the MacDonalds and the Campbells still haven't forgotten the massacre of Glencoe (1692).

The rich scottish accents make this radio-play very enjoyable.

[Vani · Rating 3 out of 5]

AMS writes the most low-angst stories about human folly. They're insightful yet never judgemental. I imagine him chuckling or smiling knowingly when he writes scenes where people behave like...well, people.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really, really short. Not really worth the time. So little happens, and there isn't much of relevance. It could have been developed a bit more, but it ended as soon as it began.

[Mary Wherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice BBC audio production.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story about the Scottish Highlands. It's short but great!

[Julie MacKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly short audiobook drama. It was captivating and interesting enough, but seemed kind of pointless. I think I didn't really 'get it'.

[Max de Freitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short but quite amusing

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little listen regarding the MacDonalds and the Campbells.

[Yycdaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short radio play about ancient feuds in Scotland being carried on to the present day.

[Elizabeth Mayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple having a holiday get involved in the age old feud in the highlands of Scotland. McCall Smith's usual lighthearted, funny and enjoyable story. well read.

[Libby Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL delightful and FUN short novella. A. M. Smith does it again.

[Paula Schumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this radio play from the library. It was a delightful half hour. Recommended.

[Mary Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short play which parallels the Hatfields and McCoy's in Scotland. Not too fascinating.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short play about the Campbells and MacDonalds and the way the old feud is still around... Nicely done, well read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great play!

[Sytze Hiemstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining listen.
Bit stereotypical (two Scottish men retire for a fireside chat. first words spoken are how about a wee dram)

[Ramona Jennex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sweet radio play.

[Pammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meh.
I think I expected just a teeny bit more.

[Laura de Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing enough, if a bit pointless.

[Marlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little play. I’ve really been enjoying this author. Quick, easy, engaging.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cameo drama, giving a brief insight into the Scottish clan rivalry that rivals all others.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prolific Alexander McCall Smith has penned a play Misunderstanding of Glencoe in which a tourist couple from Edinburgh visit an isolated area of the Highlands on a holiday. Bill and Fiona MacDonald discover that in the Highlands, as William Faulkner said about the South, the history isn't dead, it isn't even past.