Columba

by Nigel Tranter

This is the story of a very human, fallible but courageous and indomitable man, born an Irish prince in the troubled and pagan sixth century, who rejected the high kingship of all Ireland to be an abbot.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Scotland, Fiction, Historical

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Nigel Tranter OBE was a Scottish historian and writer. He was the author of a wide range of books on Scottish castles, particularly on themes of architecture and history. He also specialised in deeply researched historical novels that cover centuries of Scottish history.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of how one man--and his God--set out to convert pagans and establish Christianity in 6th century Scotland is a testament to faith, optimism, duty, and dauntlessness. I loved reading it.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tranter does a good job in recreating a mindset from a previous time, and helps the reader see the world as it appeared to these historic figures.
This is the second book in chronological order of Tranter's Scottish history told through historic fiction. Google maps adds to the enjoyment of the read with places mentioned easy to find.
Personally, I could do without the detailed descriptions of cliff climbing, but thankfully there were less in this book than Druid Sacrifice.

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born an Irish prince in the troubled sixth century, when Christianity vied with pagan beliefs for the people’s hearts, Colum mac Felim, or Columba or Colmcille, as he was sometimes known, rejected the high kingship of all Ireland to become an abbot. When his role in a fierce battle led to victory at the expense of men’s lives, he gave up all to go north to the Hebrides where on the Isle of Iona he founded an abbey and monastery and sent missionaries out to all of Alba to win men to Christ.

He won the hearts of monarchs as well as common people. His anointing of kings joined the church to the governing authority. Iona is, to this day, a place of pilgrimage where the abbey built by the Macdonalds after Columba’s time, still stands.

As with Tranter’s other stories, he gives great attention to detail, drawing on his knowledge of Scotland and its people. It is a story wonderfully told. You will fall in love with Columba, the man, the abbot and the saint. He was greatly beloved in his time and should be in ours.

[Ruth Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human After All

Nigel Tranter has captured the essence of this man and made him human in the eyes of this reader. As I am not religious in the least, I was not eager to read this book. But, now that I have given it a chance I am glad I did.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This particular book was a bit dry but then Tranter is also dealing with a time where it's hard to separate fact from myth and legend. Columba spends more of his traveling the length and breadth of Dalriada & Alba which leaves him continually short of clergy to help spread God's word. In the latter part of the book Tranter has Columba admit that he finds instructing rather tedious and he'd rather be out and about, but at the same time he can't be continually sending to Ireland for trained clergy. They will have to train their own and send them forth.

[Arlomisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. It was a little slow reading, but very inspiring.