Restless Land: A Radical Journey through Scotland's History

by Alan McCombes, Roz Paterson

As Scotland stands poised to make a decision that will have ramifications for centuries to come, Restless Land unravels the tangled tale of the centuries gone before.
Unlike many history books, it looks beyond the kings and queens, the aristocrats and industrialists, the politicians and generals, to the extraordinary men and women from the sprawling masses.
Rigorously researched, this epic story of heroism and betrayal, courage and intrigue, sacrifice and avarice, is told with flair and clarity.

Genres: Politics, History

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 27, 2014

About the author

Alan McCombes (b. 1955) was a leading member of the Scottish Socialist Party and the editor of Scottish Socialist Voice until 2003.

He worked for the John Muir Trust for 12 years in various roles, including Communications Editor, Media Manager and Public Affairs Manager, before stepping down in July 2024. He is now a freelance writer and communications consultant.

Reviews

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good interesting look at Scotland's radicals from prehistory through the "rebels" at Culloden to the rise of the Labour Party and the quest for universal suffrage. It also covers the Highland Clearances which dispossessed the people of the Highlands and for the majority of this section of Scotland either resulted in death or forces emigration due to greedy landowners. Brilliant amazing book which gives a slightly biased view but nonetheless informed and educated me on the struggle Scotland has faced in getting where it is today. Look forward to reading the next volume.

[David Webster]

Fantastic book, this is the history I would much rather have read at school than the one I did get. This isn't a history of kings, all set out in long genealogical order. Rather it is the history of people like me and you, the ordinary folk who suffered and died in countless millions over the centuries by standing up for their rights and beliefs. I believe there is a second volume so I will be looking forward to reading that soon.

[Arya · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok source of info, not really all that radical. was very useful for me because my scottish history is very weak, but i feel if i had known a little more going in then the book wouldnt have been as informative.
vehemently anti-communist, always criticising the ussr, stalin etc out of nowhere ?? constantly calling connoly a socialist etc. i dont get why these revisionists just cant help themselves !
also its quite badly written, but it does (generally) get better the closer to modern history they get. this, i think, betrays where their actual knowledge lays.
i think having an editor whos an actual historian would benefit this work so fundamentally

[James Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book which unapologetically presents Scotland’s history from the perspective of the voiceless majority. It is a great read and forces one to look again at our history. A great read.