A People's History of Scotland

by Chris Bambery

A People’s History of Scotland looks beyond the kings and queens, the battles and bloody defeats of the past. It captures the history that matters today, stories of freedom fighters, suffragettes, the workers of Red Clydeside, and the hardship and protest of the treacherous Thatcher era.

With riveting storytelling, Chris Bambery recounts the struggles for nationhood. He charts the lives of Scots who changed the world, as well as those who fought for the cause of ordinary people at home, from the poets Robbie Burns and Hugh MacDiarmid to campaigners such as John Maclean and Helen Crawfurd.

This is a passionate cry for more than just independence but also for a nation
based on social justice.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Scotland, Politics, Travel, European History

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Chris Bambery is a Scottish political activist, socialist, author, journalist, and TV presenter and producer.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having Scottish roots om my mothers side, I have decided to balance out my maternal and paternal genealogy knowledge and this book gave me a new perspective on what history has created in this stoic nation.
I can align with my forefathers departure to North America and understand the struggles and causes of that time period.
For me an insightful book!

[Jonny Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a Christmas gift from my brother, who bought it for me when he heard I was moving to Scotland. It's a bit slow going to start with, but once it gets into its stride it's interesting stuff. Fascinating info on the independence referendum especially.

I'm glad to have expanded my knowledge on the rich social history of Scotland - it's not all monarchs, tartan and haggis you know...

[Vishal Misra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a bad book, though it suffers from some distinct flaws. The lion's share of the book focuses on the 20th and early 21st centuries, despite ambitiously starting off with hunter-gatherer societies arriving in Scotland. For a book that is only 300-odd pages, this imbalance can gall a little. In Bambery's defence, I do not doubt that there are many many more sources to analyse for the period that takes the bulk of the book.

"A People's History of Scotland" is pretty much what it says on the tin. Whilst great men (and with Scotland, it really is almost always men) do make the occasional appearance, the limelight is not usually shone on the Kings and Queens and court intrigues. Bambery jumps from the emergence of Scotland, with a quick reference to the famous invective passed regarding the Roman empire, to the wars of independence. He shows how the Scottish elite were not ideologically opposed to English kings, but rather sought to play off against competing factions of power.

From there we are given a whirlwind tour of the Scottish enlightenment. The ascent of Edinburgh university, the contributions of Adam Smith and David Hume to this period are analysed. Bambery does not cast an uncritical eye on this period, and points out that the Scottish embraced capitalism in a big way. Hume himself was a big proponent of 'scientific racism'. However, from here on in, Bambery focuses on the resistance to capitalism.

We hear stories of the radicals who resisted the brutal Highland clearances, and the rebellious crofters who are often airbrushed from history. The greatest strength of Bambery's book is that he uses the rich tradition of Scottish folk music, poetry and songs as a form of protest. The book teems with verses and ditties that cock a snook at the elites and capitalists that emerged from the Union.

Looking at the birth of working-class consciousness in Scotland, Bambery focuses on Clydeside, and the numerous national strikes that Scotland was able to mobilise. Most famously, equal pay was demanded in a munitions strike during WWI, and acquiesced to when the workers refused to back down. This tradition of strikes, grass-roots demonstration, and the ever present ripostes in verse are what helped to shape the modern Scotland.

In the 1930s, the precursor to the SNP was born, in part a reaction against Tory rule, and with disaffected Labour voters who had seen that Labour, as a Parliamentary beast would always capitulate to the dictates of economic orthodoxy. This is the moment that Bambery highlights as the birthing moment of the real divide. This was the period that Scotland was able to highlight the democratic deficit that surrounds Westminster/Scotland in a 'clash of values' manner. Scotland was inherently more wedded to social-democratic principles than the English. Despite Bambery's recognition that this not borne out by SNP policies, his argument is that the appetite for social democracy is palpable north of Hadrian's Wall.

We learn how Scotland has been ravaged by capitalism, and also the Thatcher years. Having been denied a Parliament, and being on the 'losing' side of the battle of the mineworkers against Thatcher, Scotland has been ravaged by the exodus of multinational companies, by an archaic land system in which far too few people own any land and through the centralisation of the bonanza of energy riches in Westminster. Indeed, it was through using the glut of oil money that Thatcher was able to push through her "revolution".

Tony Blair hubristically thought that devolution would solve the "Scottish problem", however, the rampant inequalities that savaged Britain throughout the emergence of capitalism through to the latest crisis of capitalism in 2008 has ensured that Scotland has born the brunt of inequality. With a lower life expectancy, starker inequality than any other constituent nation and a democratic deficit, Bambery cites the multiple "rebel lives" he profiles in this book to make a solid case for independence. I do not necessarily know if his claim that an independent Scotland would have fielded a strong left-wing opposition to SNP rule is borne out, I suppose the matter has become academic after the independence referendum in Scotland.

The book is interesting, but lacks thrust in the form of a central argument. It is not a romanticisation or lionisation of Scotland as compared to the other nations of the Union, but it is an excellent trove of understanding the protest traditions of Scotland. It is an excellent resource in understanding how language, kirk, identity and class have all shaped Scotland and continue to do so.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A People's History of Scotland demonstrates the falsity of the "Clan Mentality" as a tool of the ruling feudal classes of medieval Scotland to control the peasants, and provides a deep history of the radical republicanism, independentist, and labour movement throughout Scotland's history. The last couple of chapters are seemingly a repetitive description of strike after strike, but its history and Bambery couldn't change that: the story of the workers is fraught with class conflict.

Overall, I loved this book and the history of the Scottish people and nation it provides.

[David02139 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history of Scotland. Wads hard to follow initially because I was not familiar with the political parties or players. Very interesting in the sections after WW2, strikes and Nuclear Disarmament movements.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot of great social history I previously had no idea about. Great coverage of the early Chartists and working women. Only for those who are really interested, but if you are among them pick it up.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed very much reading this book, especially the rebel lives included towards the end of some of the chapters. I should hope there are other history books out there written in a similar style.

[Nick Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, but ultimately it suffers from the same problems as other "people's history"/history from below-type works. By ignoring the major figures of history in favor of the common people, Bambery is doing the same thing traditional history books are criticized for but in reverse. Additionally, he allocates more than half of the book to the 20th century alone, with the entire history of Scotland up until then receiving only 140 pages. Interesting things happened in the last century, to be sure, but do we really think the Edinburgh music scene and anti-nuclear movements of the 1960s are more important to Scottish history than the battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn?

If you are looking for a great history book on Scotland, you'll be disappointed. If you want to learn about the Scottish labor movement, and why they hate Margaret Thatcher so much, this is the book for you.

[Bennjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 150 pages were engaging as you learn about the early history of Scotland. However most of the rest of the book is all about workers strikes and much the same repetitive story. Got boring and dense at times. But highlights how Scotland much like America is governed through its history by the 1%.

[Kate M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainly a history of the labour movement in Scotland. Although interesting and an important subject, I would have preferred a bit more balance, by more references to individuals who made an impact on the country.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The history is fascinating, but the prose is so dry I almost choked on it.

[Lauren Gurnee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was so dry that it was very difficult for me to be engaged with the content. There were defiantly some interesting tidbits but overall it felt like a slog to get through

[Philip · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything having "social justice", "treacherous Thatcher era" or "looks beyond the kings and queens" as early as in the annotation is better avoided.

[SadieReadsAgain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanting to know more of the history of my own country (we only really got the Highland Clearances in school), I opted for this book as I am far more interested in social history and how the political or ruling landscape impacted the majority than I am in the lives of the rich and titled. I felt this book satisfied on that front, but possibly not as much as I was hoping.

The early chapters - which as this book takes a chronological approach deal with Scotland in its infancy up to the time of clans - were a bit of a struggle for me. I don't have any background knowledge, so felt it was a bit difficult at time to get a toe-hold. Even when I did, I'd often lose my grip after a page or two. A lot goes on, and this isn't a particularly long book in which to cover it.

I far more enjoyed the chapters on more modern history, particularly the independence debate. And I also enjoyed the touch of highlighting specific figures/figureheads. I found the role of women and the socialist movement particularly interesting, though did feel bogged down with the coverage of the strikes as the labour movement grew in momentum. At that point, I wondered if chronological was really the best way to tell our country's story, and that maybe a topic-by-topic approach may have made for less repetitive reading.

There is so much information in this book that there's no way I'll retain it (my flaw, not the book's), but I'm very glad I read it and will have it to return to when I need it!

[Steven R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent appraisal of scottish history. The vignettes of individual lives are very insightful. Whilst Bamberry does an excellent job of situating them in their historical context, The closing arguments for separation and independence, remain unconvincing. How would Scotland be more free to pursue a socialist policy that really threatened the interests of capital if it was independent of the British state? Bamberry assures that it would be easier, but he fails to explain why.

[Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting content, really well researched but poorly written style/tone.

[Pinko Palest · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a trotskyite take, it is OK, I guess. The author shows his trotskyite colours by his visceral hatred of eurocommunism and in many other elements too. Nor has he come to terms with the more liberal elements of the Left. Still, it is an introduction of sorts, although the tone is a bit too depressive at times

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

A People's History of Scotland is an ok ok history of Scottish organized labor in the 20th century, with a long preamble of the previous history of Scotland. I read this to understand better why Scotland's politics were traditionally left of center and the rise of the Scottish National Party. While I believe this work does explain that perspective decently enough, it often fails to account for all the people of Scotland, even in the 20th century, and the pressures internal and external.

The author does a decent job of citing songs and poetry as part of profiles of individuals. Because the focus of this book is on left of center politics, individuals in traditional communities tend to get overlooked, whether in traditional churches or communities. This is in no way a comprehensive history of Scotland, whether in narrative or analytical form.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tries to be both a history of working class Scotland and a pro-independence political text. Which is not itself a bad thing, but here it just hasn't really worked. The political conclusions are made hastily in the last couple of chapters without being included earlier, which makes them seem like they have a lack of basis at times.

The other issue I had with this book is that I didn't find it very engaging at all. It's taken months of reading a chapter at a time because some of the content seems very repetitive. I know history repeats itself and all, but it doesn't make for an attentive reader. If details of every strike in Scottish history is your thing, go ahead, but it's not mine.

[Phil Hamilton · Rating 1 out of 5]

The timeline this book tries to cover is probably a bit ambitious given the scope the author clearly has more interest in covering (late 20th century). The beginning of the book briefly covers Scotland's ancient history of hunter-gatherers yet already feels like it's trying to link that history to the upcoming critique of Thatcher later in the book. While a critique of Thatcher might be warranted, it seems odd to make the rest of the book a set-up to that critique

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giving up on this one because it cannot hold my interest. Less a "history" than a recitation of facts and dates, with nothing compelling enough to make me keep going.
The one plus was that it provided a reminder, again, that the idea that women never worked outside the home before the 20th century is classist and completely false.

[Jamie]

A well balanced social history of Scotland, looking at both the positive and negative aspects of Scotlands ancient and recent history. As an introduction into various aspects of Scottish history I thought this book was perfect, especially enjoyed the short ‘rebel lives’ segments on the like of Helen Crawford, John Maclean and James Connolly. Have left the book with a longing to read more Scottish social history

[Sean Currie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not to self: stop reading books that try to summarise an entire nation’s history.

If it is possible to condense this into one book without reducing the storytelling quality to that of Wikipedia, I am yet to read an example.

A laboriously researched, ambitious and important undertaking that is, perhaps out of necessity, too much of a drudgery to read.

DNF.

[Marc Xuereb · Rating 4 out of 5]

My trip to Scotland in May piqued an interest in learning more about its history. As a tourist, I heard so much about kings, Jacobites, and neolithic peoples, and I wanted more. I found this gem in Lighthouse Books in Edinburgh, and it lived up to its title: a socialist history looking at the working class perspective on more (and less) well-known events.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im writing this review half way through.

This book seemed promising but it goes from a good history of Scotland to a history of Scottish unions and labour/left wing movements.

These are interesting but are not the totality of Scotland.

[Matthew O'Brien · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very boring for the first 100 and a bit pages. Doesn't get much better when talking about the 20st century as it constantly either neglects the role of the Communist Party of Great Britain or criticises it.

[Brandon Avella · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit boring and dated.

[Kelley Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this last year before I went to Scotland. I wanted to learn a little about the country I was going to visit.

[Kyle Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know more about Scotland now than i ever imagined. Great detailing from Stone Age to present day

[Scott Neigh]

More or less what it says on the tin: a Howard Zinn-ish history of popular struggle in Scotland. Very good book. As happens with that approach, collective militancy is presented in a way that detaches it a bit from everyday life, which isn't ideal but which I think is forgiveable in the service of unerasing said militancy. Enjoyed seeing neighbourhoods of Glasgow that I spent time in as a youth and/or where family lives mentioned as sites of this or that struggle. Would probably have gotten more out of it personally if I had a better grounding in Scottish history going in, but wasn't too hampered by that deficit. Also wouldn't have minded if it had talked at greater length about some of the earlier eras -- it's clear that the author's heart is with the kinds of struggles that only began to happen with industrialization, particularly the era of the Red Clydeside and so on, and those are given most attention. Appreciated that it didn't shy away from Scotland's full partnership-level complicity in empire, the awfulness of Scottish elites, or the horrible oppressive divisiveness of religious sectarianism (and learning about moments of working-class Scottish solidarity with Irish struggles for self-determination was inspiring). Wasn't surprised, based on how the entire book to that point had been framed, when the Epilogue made a direct plea for a rad left version of Scottish independence. Well worth reading!