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King and Outlaw: The Real Robert the Bruce
The iconic figure of Robert the Bruce has gone down through the centuries as one of the most remarkable leaders of all time. With equal parts tenacity and ruthlessness, he had himself crowned King of Scotland after murdering one of his most powerful rivals, and so began the rule of an indomitable military genius unafraid of breaking convention, and more than a few English heads. Indeed, it was under King Robert that the Battle of Bannockburn took place—a famous Scottish victory snatched by a tiny Scots force against a large, supposedly more sophisticated English foe. Here Chris Brown explores the life of Robert the Bruce, whose remarkable history has combined with legend, and brings to the fore the real story of the outlaw
192 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2018
10 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Chris Brown
386 books9 followersAbout the author:Chris Brown is a freelance author and trainer in the United Kingdom and Europe. Following Novell's acquisition of SUSE, he taught Linux to Novell's consultants and IT staff and is certified in both Novell's CLP program and Red Hat's RHCE. Chris has a PhD in particle physics from Cambridge.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 3, 2021
A short and generally sweet account of the situations preceding and during Robert the Bruce’s campaign for Scottish independence. As a previous reviewer has noted, the first two sections are excellently, if speedily, written and provide a brief but entertaining account of Robert’s activities. The third part gives context to the previous two sections. Whilst this is important, it comes across very dry and staid compared what it precedes. Once this section is over, the writing style that the rest of the book is written in resumes.
Not bad at all considering it was £3 from The Works!
Not bad at all considering it was £3 from The Works!
August 13, 2020
It’s a good start to the history of Robert the Bruce especially when there isn’t much actual fact to go on. But it didn’t go into enough detail for me and the part about Scottish society was just very boring
August 31, 2025
#Binge Reviewing My Previous Reads #History of Scotland
"They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom"—a sentiment often echoed when thinking of William Wallace—provides an emotional backdrop for Chris Brown’s King and Outlaw: The Real Robert the Bruce, a book that plunges readers into the gritty, unvarnished realities behind Scotland’s struggle for independence during the early 14th century.
Reading it during the Covid-19 lockdown, when isolation made history feel simultaneously distant and strangely immediate, I found Brown’s narrative compelling for its focus on the human, political, and martial contradictions of Robert the Bruce. Unlike hagiographic accounts that elevate Bruce to near-mythic status, Brown emphasises his duality: king and outlaw, strategist and fugitive, man of conscience and man of expediency.
The book opens with Bruce’s precarious position in 1306, following the murder of his rival John Comyn in the Greyfriars Church, an act that catapulted him from ambitious noble to fugitive. Brown traces the ensuing years of exile, guerrilla warfare, and shifting allegiances, demonstrating that Bruce’s path to kingship was neither linear nor assured.
The narrative captures the precariousness of mediaeval politics: Scottish nobles constantly balancing loyalty and self-interest, English overlords pressing their claims, and Bruce himself oscillating between bold offensives and calculated retreats. It is this tension that defines the book’s rhythm, offering a sense of immediacy that transports readers into the shadowy forests, rugged highlands, and embattled towns of early 14th-century Scotland.
One of Brown’s notable strengths is his focus on Bruce’s human dimension. Readers witness a leader burdened by moral ambiguity, forced to make choices that would haunt him and shape the perception of his reign. Brown avoids romanticising Bruce’s outlaw years; instead, he highlights moments of fear, doubt, and strategic cunning that underscore the complexity of leadership under duress.
The book is replete with vivid accounts of skirmishes, sieges, and covert operations, balancing military detail with the personal stakes of those involved. The use of contemporary chronicles and correspondence adds depth, lending authenticity while keeping the narrative brisk and engaging.
Brown also situates Bruce within the wider social fabric of Scotland. The text illuminates the roles of ordinary Scots—the peasants, soldiers, and local leaders whose loyalty or resistance could tip the balance of power. By emphasising the interaction between king and community, the book resonates with Barrow’s concept of the “community of the realm”, though Brown’s lens is more immediate, highlighting the lived experience of conflict rather than long-term institutional consolidation.
In comparative terms, King and Outlaw complement Penman’s and Cornell’s works. While Penman provides a sweeping biography and Cornell dramatises the climactic battle of Bannockburn, Brown dwells on the turbulent, uncertain interlude—the fugitive years that tested Bruce’s resilience and cunning. Together, these works provide a layered understanding: the idealised hero, the decisive tactician, and the real man navigating life as both king and outlaw.
Brown’s prose is crisp and accessible, often cinematic in its depiction of landscape, conflict, and political intrigue. The book succeeds in humanising legend, making the high-stakes drama of Scotland’s independence struggle tangible and immediate.
Ultimately, King and Outlaw is a reminder that heroism is rarely linear. Bruce’s journey from fugitive to monarch embodies strategy, resilience, and moral complexity, revealing the real man behind the myths and demonstrating that Scotland’s freedom was won as much through endurance and cunning as through courage on the battlefield.
"They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom"—a sentiment often echoed when thinking of William Wallace—provides an emotional backdrop for Chris Brown’s King and Outlaw: The Real Robert the Bruce, a book that plunges readers into the gritty, unvarnished realities behind Scotland’s struggle for independence during the early 14th century.
Reading it during the Covid-19 lockdown, when isolation made history feel simultaneously distant and strangely immediate, I found Brown’s narrative compelling for its focus on the human, political, and martial contradictions of Robert the Bruce. Unlike hagiographic accounts that elevate Bruce to near-mythic status, Brown emphasises his duality: king and outlaw, strategist and fugitive, man of conscience and man of expediency.
The book opens with Bruce’s precarious position in 1306, following the murder of his rival John Comyn in the Greyfriars Church, an act that catapulted him from ambitious noble to fugitive. Brown traces the ensuing years of exile, guerrilla warfare, and shifting allegiances, demonstrating that Bruce’s path to kingship was neither linear nor assured.
The narrative captures the precariousness of mediaeval politics: Scottish nobles constantly balancing loyalty and self-interest, English overlords pressing their claims, and Bruce himself oscillating between bold offensives and calculated retreats. It is this tension that defines the book’s rhythm, offering a sense of immediacy that transports readers into the shadowy forests, rugged highlands, and embattled towns of early 14th-century Scotland.
One of Brown’s notable strengths is his focus on Bruce’s human dimension. Readers witness a leader burdened by moral ambiguity, forced to make choices that would haunt him and shape the perception of his reign. Brown avoids romanticising Bruce’s outlaw years; instead, he highlights moments of fear, doubt, and strategic cunning that underscore the complexity of leadership under duress.
The book is replete with vivid accounts of skirmishes, sieges, and covert operations, balancing military detail with the personal stakes of those involved. The use of contemporary chronicles and correspondence adds depth, lending authenticity while keeping the narrative brisk and engaging.
Brown also situates Bruce within the wider social fabric of Scotland. The text illuminates the roles of ordinary Scots—the peasants, soldiers, and local leaders whose loyalty or resistance could tip the balance of power. By emphasising the interaction between king and community, the book resonates with Barrow’s concept of the “community of the realm”, though Brown’s lens is more immediate, highlighting the lived experience of conflict rather than long-term institutional consolidation.
In comparative terms, King and Outlaw complement Penman’s and Cornell’s works. While Penman provides a sweeping biography and Cornell dramatises the climactic battle of Bannockburn, Brown dwells on the turbulent, uncertain interlude—the fugitive years that tested Bruce’s resilience and cunning. Together, these works provide a layered understanding: the idealised hero, the decisive tactician, and the real man navigating life as both king and outlaw.
Brown’s prose is crisp and accessible, often cinematic in its depiction of landscape, conflict, and political intrigue. The book succeeds in humanising legend, making the high-stakes drama of Scotland’s independence struggle tangible and immediate.
Ultimately, King and Outlaw is a reminder that heroism is rarely linear. Bruce’s journey from fugitive to monarch embodies strategy, resilience, and moral complexity, revealing the real man behind the myths and demonstrating that Scotland’s freedom was won as much through endurance and cunning as through courage on the battlefield.
January 24, 2023
DNF
I was expecting a lot more from this book, than just a rehash of his wars with England from 1296 to 1327. He was a significant leader, fighter, statesman and king and deserves more than this school level book. Out of 192 pages (including glossary) over 100 is devoted to his wars with England and very little detail is given about either Robert The Bruce or Scottish society. There are photos, pictures and sketches with no description or details about what they are. Even in the introduction when Chris Brown is stating what people think they know about Robert The Bruce, a glaring mistake is made. Chris Brown states that people know Robert was born in 1274 and died in 1327, and yet on the next page we are told that he died in 1329 (which is correct). So, from the outset this is a book with issues.
Very disappointing, especially given the amount of information that there is about Robert The Bruce, his family and times. I am thankful that I borrowed this from my local library and so didn't waste any money on it.
I was expecting a lot more from this book, than just a rehash of his wars with England from 1296 to 1327. He was a significant leader, fighter, statesman and king and deserves more than this school level book. Out of 192 pages (including glossary) over 100 is devoted to his wars with England and very little detail is given about either Robert The Bruce or Scottish society. There are photos, pictures and sketches with no description or details about what they are. Even in the introduction when Chris Brown is stating what people think they know about Robert The Bruce, a glaring mistake is made. Chris Brown states that people know Robert was born in 1274 and died in 1327, and yet on the next page we are told that he died in 1329 (which is correct). So, from the outset this is a book with issues.
Very disappointing, especially given the amount of information that there is about Robert The Bruce, his family and times. I am thankful that I borrowed this from my local library and so didn't waste any money on it.
April 11, 2024
Robert the Bruce has gone down through the centuries as one of the most remarkable leaders of all time. With equal parts tenacity and ruthlessness, he had himself crowned King of Scotland after murdering one of his most powerful rivals, and became known as a military genius unafraid of breaking convention.
The book was short and a good overview for a teenager, if it would keep their interest. I realize that records are sparse from the 1300's but their seemed a lot overview and not much detail. He laid siege and took this castle or he split his forces and won this historic battle. Offering no time frames or details on how we won the battle. He must have done this or must have done that.
I was disappointed in the book, perhaps my expectations were too high but it would seem that there is a lot of information available on Robert so I would say this is not the book to start with or perhaps even include when reading on the man.
The book was short and a good overview for a teenager, if it would keep their interest. I realize that records are sparse from the 1300's but their seemed a lot overview and not much detail. He laid siege and took this castle or he split his forces and won this historic battle. Offering no time frames or details on how we won the battle. He must have done this or must have done that.
I was disappointed in the book, perhaps my expectations were too high but it would seem that there is a lot of information available on Robert so I would say this is not the book to start with or perhaps even include when reading on the man.
December 19, 2023
Have you ever gone to a house with old fashioned books?
Have you ever opened one and realized it was full of gibberish? Because it is not meant to be read, only used as a prop for background.
Every sentence was a gloss over an important fact and the author was basically saying if you want to read the real thing, read “the Bruce” by John Barbour.
I also thought this was supposed to be about the first king of England, Robert Bruce. But it turns out it’s about his great grandson of the same name.
Have you ever opened one and realized it was full of gibberish? Because it is not meant to be read, only used as a prop for background.
Every sentence was a gloss over an important fact and the author was basically saying if you want to read the real thing, read “the Bruce” by John Barbour.
I also thought this was supposed to be about the first king of England, Robert Bruce. But it turns out it’s about his great grandson of the same name.
October 21, 2025
Al principi m'ha semblat un llibre de batalletes, superficial, però a mesura que he anat avançant m'he adonat del notable exercici de síntesi i didàctica. Explica molt bé un munt de qüestions complexes de l'època alertant contra mites i presentisme. També permet entendre força bé el treball de fonts i altres aspectes metodològics. Una petita joia.
September 10, 2023
It's a brief history of everything from Robert the Bruce to Scottish farmers. Has some interesting facts but gets bogged down in criticising other historians rather than claiming a opinion and sticking to it.
April 4, 2019
King and outlaw: the real robert the bruce
Excellent reading learnt a lot. Would love to read more on Robert the Bruce of Scotland. Auhor Chris Brown good work
Excellent reading learnt a lot. Would love to read more on Robert the Bruce of Scotland. Auhor Chris Brown good work
February 26, 2022
Very informative, however, I got lost in all the military details. I guess I was looking for more of a narrative book.
February 7, 2024
A good little book on Scottish history
July 20, 2021
Could historical and true version of Robert the Bruce. Dispels the myths and legends regarding the Bruce. Well written and enjoyable.Thouroughly recommend this book.
August 20, 2023
Very insightful into the life of Robert The Bruce.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews