Rob Roy

by W.H. Murray

Rob Roy MacGregor, Scotland’s most romantic, elusive hero, was an outlaw and a life-long enemy of Montrose. So well-known was he that no one thought to write down a physical description of him, or any direct record of his childhood and youth. Thus tracking down Rob Roy today is to embark upon a painstaking search through archives, estate records and folk myths, enriched and confused by the romantic yarns that have grown up around him.

W. H. Murray brings together new interpretations of Rob Roy’s life and times to produce a new understanding of the character, actions and motives of a man who became a myth and symbol of Scotland. Murray shows that Rob Roy’s renown stems from his remarkable force of character, rather than his politics or his place in the writings of Sir Walter Scott. His political mission outwardly failed, but his extraordinary resolution in adversity has earned him his place in history and legend.

Genres: History, Scotland, Nonfiction, Biography

314 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 1998

About the author

William Hutchison Murray OBE was a Scottish mountaineer and writer, one of a group of active mountain climbers, mainly from Clydeside, before and just after World War II.

Reviews

[Cynthia Heinrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Not is Murray the first writer I've discovered who writes about Rob Roy as a real human being, as opposed to all Robin Hood or all villain, but he provides such a detailed backdrop to the man's life that you finish the book and feel you've been to Rob's world. Normally I greatly prefer fiction to non-fiction, but this book was an exception: a history book with all the meticulously gathered information and none of the dryness of most history books.

[Brian Bohmueller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at life a few hundred years ago...alas a bit dry...too much detail for me.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob Roy ist wohl Schottlands "romantischster" Held. Zu seiner Zeit war er so bekannt, dass sich niemand die Mühe machte, eine Beschreibung von ihm aufzuzeichnen oder gar ein Portrait zu machen. Schriftsteller wie Sir Walter Scott oder Daniel Defoe schrieben über ihn, ohne sich dabei immer an die Wahrheit zu halten. So gibt es bis heute viele verschiedene Bilder von ihm: er war ein Viehdieb, ein Robin Hood seiner Zeit, jemand, der Menschen zu seinem Vorteil manipulierte und natürlich die Person, die Liam Neeson im gleichnamigen Kinofilm darstellte.

WH Murray hat für diese Biografie zahlreiche Aufzeichnungen aus Rob Roys Zeit gelesen und versucht, die Wahrheit zu ergründen, die hinter den vielen Sagen um seine Person steht. So erzählt er nicht nur die Geschichte Rob Roys, sondern auch die seines Clans und dessen Lebensumstände und der Menschen in seiner Umgebung . Ausserdem beschreibt er die wirtschaftliche und politische Sitaution Schottlands zwischen 1670 und 1735 und malt so ein sehr farbiges Bild von Rob Roy und den Zeiten, in denen er gelebt hat.

Wie schon erwähnt: das Buch ist nicht "nur" eine Biografie Rob Roy MacGregors, es ist mehr ein Geschichtsbuch, worin er zwar die Hauptperson, aber nicht das einzig Wichtige ist. Und gerade darin liegt auch die Schwäche: es war mir teilweise zu ausführlich. Das Leben der einfachen Leute war sehr ausführlich und interssant beschrieben. Ausserdem konnte ich auch einige Ereignisse wie z.B. das Massaker von Glencoe auf den richtigen Platz in der Geschichte setzen, wozu mir bis dahin noch ein paar Zusammenhänge gefehlt hatten. Auf der anderen Seite waren mir ein paar Kleinigkeiten auch zu viel. Mich interssieren weder auch die entferntesten Verwandschaften im Clan MacGregor (besonders wenn sie für die Geschichte Rob Roys nicht wichtig sind) noch die Aufstellung in der Schlacht von Sherrifmuir. Diese Details haben mich ein bisschen gelangweilt. Trotzdem kann ich das Buch nur empfehlen- und zwar nicht nur Schottlandliebhabern

[Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone even remotely interested in Rob Roy MacGregor, the Highland Clans, and/or Scotland from the mid 17th c. - the mid 18th c., W H Murray's Rob Roy MacGregor: His Life and Times is a must read! This biography is eloquently written and scrupulously researched. I'm fairly certain that even those who typically believe that biographies are painfully dry would find it to be readable. What I really appreciated was the attention that Murray paid to life in the Highlands during the severely waning clan dominion. Many Lowland misconceptions, and oftentimes outright defamation of Highlanders and their way of life, are addressed and rendered fallacious by Murray through his thorough descriptions supported by primary source material. The man has done his homework. I'm so glad I finally picked this one up. There's a surprisingly large paucity of scholarly work out there on Rob Roy MacGregor, but in light of Murray's profound contribution, I suppose one can begin to see why! Rob Roy is a fascinating and valiant Scottish hero for good reason. His dedication to the Highland way of life and his country is commendable, his life undeniably due tribute.

[Rose Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First third of the book: Rob Roy MacHardlyInHisOwnStory
Second third of the book: Rob Roy MacFinallyGettingToDoStuff
Final third of the book: Rob Roy MacLEGEND

Overall, definitely worth persevering with this one despite the slooooow pace of the first six chapters (which at times made me feel like I was trapped in a Museum of Highland Life with a guide who, while he knew his stuff, couldn't resist getting bitchy digs in at Lowlanders at every opportunity).

Anyway, I particularly liked the part where Rob Roy gets captured three times and escapes every time, the absolute mad lad.

[Mr O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered this by pure chance while waiting out a rainstorm in a house near Balquidder. Brilliant read. Fascinating subject, excellent research, spirited narrative voice, and superb writing. Should be more famous.

[Keith Boynton · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times dry, often confusing, but evoking such a rich and vivid world - and such a complex and inspiring central character - that it's worth a bit of a trudge.

[Brent McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little biased, but the story of Rob Roy MacGregor is a wonderful read. Heartbreaking at time, occasionally triumphant, but overall a great story that I love to read.

[Jay Callahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkably well-informed, intelligent and well-written.