Columba

by Tim Clarkson

Who was Saint Columba? How did this Irish aristocrat become the most important figure in early Scottish Christianity? In seeking answers to these questions this book examines the different roles played by the saint in life and death, tracing his career in Ireland and Scotland before looking at the development of his cult in later times. Here we encounter not only Columba the abbot and missionary but also Columba the politician and peacemaker. We see him at the centre of a major controversy which led to his excommunication by an Irish synod. We follow him then to Scotland, to Iona, where he founded his principal monastery. It was from this small Hebridean isle that he undertook missionary work among the Picts and had dealings with powerful warrior-kings. It was from Iona, too, that his cult was vigorously promoted after his death in 597, most famously by Abbot Adomnan, whose writings provide our main source of information on Columba's career. The final chapters of the book look at the evolution of the cult of Columba from the seventh century onwards, examining the important roles played by famous figures such as Cinaed mac Ailpin, before ending with a study of the image of the saint in modern Scotland.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Scotland

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

An independent historian writing (and blogging) about early medieval Scotland.

Reviews

[bitterheat · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOD FUCKING DAMMIT THIS WAS AMAZING !!!!!
the almost a decade long obsession, the kidnapping, the killing and torturing of a bunch of people for her, he makes a FUCKING SHRINE of things he stole from her over the years, he BEGS on his kneess for her to come back to him oh my god this is a Real Couple with a Real Story !!!! also the little epilog with their daughter's story? HELL YEAH I'll eat it up every single time. I'm feeling what people must feel after that first line of pure colombian coke goddamn

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of Iona I've been waiting for! Highly Recommended.

[Adeptus Fringilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents a fascinating account of Columba's life with lots of historic references. Most was new to me and it was worth reading.