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The Lady of Kynachan: An Epic Novel of the '45
Not long after he inherited the Highland estate of Kynachan, young David Stewart was shown, in a dream, the image of his future wife. When, at a ball in Perth, he saw the beautiful Jean Mercer - the woman of his dream - he proposed at once, determined that she should become his Lady of Kynachan.
The marriage was passionate and happy, and Jean learned to love the life of the Scottish Highlands. But when Prince Charles landed in 1745 and summoned his men to follow him, David Stewart, a devoted Jacobite, went to fight for the Cause, perishing on the field of Culloden with all the men of Kynachan save one.
As the British government ruthlessly set out ot destroy the Highland way of life, the Lady of Kynachan summoned all her courage, her wit and strength, to build a new life for herself, her children, and the people of Kynachan.
The marriage was passionate and happy, and Jean learned to love the life of the Scottish Highlands. But when Prince Charles landed in 1745 and summoned his men to follow him, David Stewart, a devoted Jacobite, went to fight for the Cause, perishing on the field of Culloden with all the men of Kynachan save one.
As the British government ruthlessly set out ot destroy the Highland way of life, the Lady of Kynachan summoned all her courage, her wit and strength, to build a new life for herself, her children, and the people of Kynachan.
- GenresScotland
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
James Irvine Robertson
18 books5 followersJames Robertson was born and educated in Scotland. He studied law before working in advertising in London, Toronto and Johannesburg.
He is an author, broadcaster, historian, humourous columnist & contributor to a wide variety of newspapers and magazines in the UK, US and Australia
After working in advertising he became a pig and dairy farmer in South West England, contributed to agricultural journals and wrote a series of comic novels - the ‘Any Fool’ series. He returned to Scotland in 1991 since when he has concentrated on history.
As James Irvine Robertson, he writes articles and books largely relating to Scots history.
He is an author, broadcaster, historian, humourous columnist & contributor to a wide variety of newspapers and magazines in the UK, US and Australia
After working in advertising he became a pig and dairy farmer in South West England, contributed to agricultural journals and wrote a series of comic novels - the ‘Any Fool’ series. He returned to Scotland in 1991 since when he has concentrated on history.
As James Irvine Robertson, he writes articles and books largely relating to Scots history.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 15, 2013
The
Lady of Kynachan
narrates the lives of an assemblage of Scottish patriots in Highland Perthshire before, during, and subsequent to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The main storyline explores the joyful life and tragic death of Laird David Stewart of Kynachan, his relationship with his wife, Jean Mercer, and the everyday lives of his clan members and neighbouring country folk.
The first part of the book beautifully narrates how Davie and Jean meet. Davie had a dream/vision of his future wife, and when he saw her at a ball he approached her and proposed to her that same night. Jean moves to the Highlands with Davie and becomes the Lady of Kynachan. Their love story is spellbinding and extraordinarily romantic, conveying a relationship between soul mates.
The second part of the book focuses on the political unrest in Scotland at the time, and how this affected the lives of the different people in the area, from the most prosperous tenants to the most humble labourers. Honour demanded that Davie bear arms and defend Bonnie Prince Charlie, as his family had done for three generations. We learn how preparations were made for war, and how hope flourished equally among all those who believed victory would come their way.
The last part of the story describes the fight and immediate aftermath of the Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746, the injustices and consequences to those who aided the Jacobites, and the rewards bestowed on those who adhered to the Government's law.
The descriptions throughout the book are very detailed, so at all times I felt like I was there emotionally involved with the characters. The author makes them come alive by describing their lives painstakingly, and the narration is never dull. The author’s use of Scottish words makes the story more authentic. The book is packed with entertaining portrayals of daily life in the 18th century, and action-filled scenes that describe the different battles.
I experienced numerous emotions while reading this book, including elation, anticipation, excitement, and aching sorrow. On a conscious level, I knew this book would not have a classic happy ending. The author mentions in the blurb that David Stewart dies at Culloden, but I was unprepared for the avalanche of feelings stirred by his death. I grieved for Davie and for the patriots who perished with him, whose stories were recounted throughout the book. Most of all, I mourned for those who remained behind, the widows and orphans who were forced to regroup and move on while their country faced devastating turmoil. Jean’s grief is utterly heartbreaking and her strength left me breathless and besieged. She dealt with raids, overwhelming debts, and the care of her destitute tenants, while providing for her three young children. Her success at the end is bittersweet and well-deserved.
The author mentions at the beginning of the book: “With minor exceptions, the characters in this novel were real. They, and the events in which they took part, are based on history, the contemporary letters and papers of the Stewarts of Kynachan, or tales collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries”. The fact that I was reading a book based on the lives of real people made the story even more poignant and heart-rending. The author does a brilliant job of transporting you to 18th-century Scotland to partake in the joys and tragedies of his characters. This is a passionate tale of love, honour, loyalty, endurance, war, and survival. I absolutely recommend this book to fans of both Scottish historical romance and historical fiction
The first part of the book beautifully narrates how Davie and Jean meet. Davie had a dream/vision of his future wife, and when he saw her at a ball he approached her and proposed to her that same night. Jean moves to the Highlands with Davie and becomes the Lady of Kynachan. Their love story is spellbinding and extraordinarily romantic, conveying a relationship between soul mates.
The second part of the book focuses on the political unrest in Scotland at the time, and how this affected the lives of the different people in the area, from the most prosperous tenants to the most humble labourers. Honour demanded that Davie bear arms and defend Bonnie Prince Charlie, as his family had done for three generations. We learn how preparations were made for war, and how hope flourished equally among all those who believed victory would come their way.
The last part of the story describes the fight and immediate aftermath of the Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746, the injustices and consequences to those who aided the Jacobites, and the rewards bestowed on those who adhered to the Government's law.
The descriptions throughout the book are very detailed, so at all times I felt like I was there emotionally involved with the characters. The author makes them come alive by describing their lives painstakingly, and the narration is never dull. The author’s use of Scottish words makes the story more authentic. The book is packed with entertaining portrayals of daily life in the 18th century, and action-filled scenes that describe the different battles.
I experienced numerous emotions while reading this book, including elation, anticipation, excitement, and aching sorrow. On a conscious level, I knew this book would not have a classic happy ending. The author mentions in the blurb that David Stewart dies at Culloden, but I was unprepared for the avalanche of feelings stirred by his death. I grieved for Davie and for the patriots who perished with him, whose stories were recounted throughout the book. Most of all, I mourned for those who remained behind, the widows and orphans who were forced to regroup and move on while their country faced devastating turmoil. Jean’s grief is utterly heartbreaking and her strength left me breathless and besieged. She dealt with raids, overwhelming debts, and the care of her destitute tenants, while providing for her three young children. Her success at the end is bittersweet and well-deserved.
The author mentions at the beginning of the book: “With minor exceptions, the characters in this novel were real. They, and the events in which they took part, are based on history, the contemporary letters and papers of the Stewarts of Kynachan, or tales collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries”. The fact that I was reading a book based on the lives of real people made the story even more poignant and heart-rending. The author does a brilliant job of transporting you to 18th-century Scotland to partake in the joys and tragedies of his characters. This is a passionate tale of love, honour, loyalty, endurance, war, and survival. I absolutely recommend this book to fans of both Scottish historical romance and historical fiction
December 27, 2014
A historic novel, based on surviving legal and family documents in the Robertson family. An interesting twist on the normal progression of the story and to a historian, who is currently researching a similar cache of documents from Central Perthshire an interesting parallel.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews