William Wallace Brave Heart

by James A. MacKay

Sir William Wallace of Ellerslie is one of history's greatest heroes, but also one of its greatest enigmas-a shadowy figure whose edges have been blurred by myth and legend.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Scotland, Medieval, Medieval History, European History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Also credited as "James MacKay" or "James Alexander MacKay".

Dr. James Alexander MacKay was a prolific Scottish writer and philatelist whose reputation was damaged by a criminal conviction for theft and repeated accusations of plagiarism. In an obituary by John Holman, Editor of the British Philatelic Bulletin, Mackay was described as a "philatelic writer without equal". Mackay's output was broad.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out slow, but has a good overview of the issues of the times, and the narrative really picks up speed and interest once it really gets into Wallace's story. The evidence of his life is sketchy and incomplete, but the author does a great job of being clear about what his sources are, and sharing some of the fun stories from the oral tradition even while he is open that the evidence behind the stories isn't reliable.

In the end, you get a fairly complete picture of William Wallace: the few hard facts, the few mostly certain events and the atmospheric, swashbuckling nature of the reputation he gathered around himself throughout a life of heroism and violence in service of a cause as told through folklore and songs and rumors about him. There were a lot of great stories that I think would have made fantastic scenes in the movie Braveheart- it could have been made even better than it already was- there's a lot of material to work with from Wallace's life.

Wallace was a more influential figure than I had realized, a true political as well as military leader, who spearheaded some very important changes to military tactics and organization that undermined the feudal organization of the army that had existed before. He, for a short time, turned the Scottish into a real army, not just a ragtag bunch of fighters. And despite the english victory at Falkirk, they were never really able to keep Scotland all the way subdued during this period.

A really good read-fun, epic underdog history at its best.

[Brandon Dalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I basically wore out the VHS tape of the original Braveheart movie (in fact, two VHS tapes due to the movie's length) when I was young. As I prepare to visit Edinburgh and some sites directly associated with William Wallace later this year, I decided to delve into the true story behind the man who inspired the (incredibly historically inaccurate but nonetheless classic) movie.

The book I chose was James Mackay’s “William Wallace: Brave Heart” and I’m so glad that I chose this one out of the various options. The surviving documentation and other evidence surrounding Wallace’s life is often sparse and incomplete, and the various sources we do have often conflict each other. It is not an easy task then to try and weave all of these various (and typically flawed) narratives into one flowing one that makes the most sense based on all of the facts that we do have. James Mackay does this masterfully, stating his sources, explaining the various biases (including his own) and trying to truly figure out as much as he could.

The author balances Wallace’s story with the broader historical context and does so with skill. Just when I felt anxious to get back to Wallace after hearing about everything else that was happening at the time, this typically came soon after. His story is told chronologically and with so many fascinating details and lesser known stories throughout. Another aspect I particularly enjoyed was following along on the map, tracking locations as the narrative unfolded. However, very often place names could not be found on modern maps so it would have been helpful to have more clarification on the present-day locations of certain places mentioned in the book.

Mackay's storytelling is undeniably dramatic, and it surprises me that Wallace's extraordinary life has not been adapted into more movies. The vividness of the account lends itself perfectly to a captivating television series, reminiscent of the epic scale of Game of Thrones. Mackay's writing has a remarkable ability to transport readers to the time and place of Wallace's experiences. The excitement is palpable, and it feels as if 700+ years of history simply fade away.

This book was a real page-turner for me and became almost impossible to put down. As I reached the end, I found myself not wanting the journey to conclude. The realization that these events truly transpired and that Wallace lived through them is crazy to think about. One is also struck by Wallace's heroism and his unwavering dedication to his cause.

In conclusion, "William Wallace: Brave Heart" by James Mackay is a captivating exploration of a legendary figure. Although this was a few hundred pages, it felt like a quick and engaging read. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in European history, Scottish history specifically, or any fans of the movie.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several years ago I read “Holy Blood, Holy Grail,” by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln, which was a work of historical research regarding the relationship between Mary Magdalen and Jesus Christ, testing the hypothesis that they were married, with further research regarding Mary’s missionary trips to what is not the south of France. It was one of the publications serving as the background for Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code.” So Mr. Brown (and Ron Howard, director of the film) knows how to spin a thriller yarn off a controversial aspect of early Christian history, and indeed it was entertaining! Well, “Holy Blood, “Holy Grail” was much less fanciful than “The DaVinci Code.” Indeed, it was in many places dull and plodding and suffused with very obscure research paths, and I thought I would NEVER get through it. However, the longer it went on, the more I was able to feel the frustration and meticulous attention to detail the authors went through to reach even those unverified conclusions. So, I’m glad I read it, for it taught me that historical research, especially for events that happened so long ago, is largely a matter of guesswork and interpolation from documents of vague authorship, most of which antedated these events by a number of years, sometimes centuries.
I say all this as an introduction to Mr. Mackay’s treatise on William Wallace, early fierce fighter for Scottish independence in the late 13th and early 14th Century. As above, Mel Gibson’s movie “Braveheart” is a rendition of this biography in an exciting, very popular manner, with Wallace portrayed as extremely heroic and dedicated to his cause. By contrast, this book, like “Holy Blood, Holy Grail,” strives to establish as realistic a portrayal of the man and the political events surrounding him, but in a much more tentative manner. Indeed, the first chapter concerns itself with the pronouncement of his family name and where he was from. He was the son of a minor knight and was described as quite intelligent (yes, he did learn Latin). His rise to power, his branding as an outlaw, his decline (though he did manage to retain his brand as an “outlaw”), his betrayal, trial via kangaroo-court, and grisly execution are all documented generally, and the movie is fairly consistent with those aspects.
However, keep in mind that Wallace lived 13 centuries after Christ, so one would think that there were more, and accurate, sources from which to draw. Not so much, really. The main source for the historical Wallace was a poet named “Blind Harry,” whose lengthy poem “The Wallace” was written almost 200 years after Wallace’s death. Nonetheless, it is replete with details which if nothing else supply various landmarks against which to compare other sources. Indeed, according to Wikipedia, “The Wallace” may well have been a fictionalized account of Wallace’s life, though it is purportedly based upon a book by a priest who was a contemporary and friend of Wallace; the book’s existence is also a matter of conjecture. Part of the fun of reading Mr. Mackay’s book is the ferreting out of what may have really happened or not, with some contemporary sources at variance with, if not outright contradictory of, Blind Harry’s account, or indeed agreeing with him.
As with ‘Holy Blood, Hoy Grail,” “William Wallace” is at times very slow-going (swimming through Jell-O, as I heard the saying), but in the process we learn a lot about this very intriguing man who “came up through the ranks” in an unlikely manner and whose patriotic fervor has little to match it. I’ll certainly watch “Braveheart” with a different point of view next time I see it. Recommended for history buffs of all types. Four stars.

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacKay provides a critical and fascinating biography of the Scottish hero. There are precious few sources on Wallace. MacKay examines them and evaluates much of the story, acknowledging bias while barely concealing his own bias. He both builds up Wallace, but also acknowledges his bloody ways. The result is a seemingly authoritative study of Wallace.

The first chapter is a dense tome on Wallace's genealogy. Multiple sources offering contradictory information, combined with a rather common name, make it difficult to definitively identify Wallace's family background. MacKay basically goes in to ignore the secondary sources and focus on what the oldest sources can say about him. Then MacKay adds his own analysis to make a definitive judgement about the second son of a minor knight.

The book hinges on the writings of Blind Harry, who wrote an epic poem about Wallace nearly 100 years after Wallace's execution. MacKay dissects the various passages and compares them to any other Medieval sources for corroboration. There are admittedly few sources; but MacKay does frequently consult the Scotichronicon, written nearly contemporaneously with Blind Harry. He also consults some English sources; but generally considers them too biased to be factual. Only in rare and isolated instances does he confer with English sources. He barely mentions secondary sources except to highlight major errors or fallacies.

Because there is so little information directly on Wallace, MacKay is forced to round off his manuscript with studies on as many associates as possible. As a result the book takes many turns to discuss the Bruces, Comyns, Balliols, and other major, "natural" Scottish leaders. MacKay tends to vilify most of these nobles who changes allegiances at a rate so alarming that MacKay openly questions why anyone would trust their oaths. The natural result of turning so often to these characters is to minimize Wallace's role in the wars for independence. Bishops Lamberton and Wishart, and Andrew de Moray take positions almost equal to that of Wallace. MacKay even directly states that the two bishops probably had more to do with directing Wallace's activities than Wallace.

Wallace was a barely educated giant of a man who was destined for the clergy when Edward Longshanks claimed overlordship over Scotland. The heavy-handed manner of Edward and his troops rapidly built resentment, which MacKay argues was unnecessary because the Scottish magnates were all under control and probably would have quietly absorbed into England without such aggression. Petty squabbles and fights steadily grew until Wallace's father was killed in a sketchy situation. Wallace may already have been a bandit by that time, or he left the church to take up banditry and guerilla warfare.

MacKay makes it clear that Wallace was first and foremost a bandit leader and outlaw before a guerilla fighter and Guardian of Scotland. As one of the few successful freedom fighters, he attracted an ever-growing band and his depredations gained momentum with assistance from the bishops. MacKay does make some vague allusions to the Robin Hood story without directly making the connection. Wallace may have been married to a lady named Marion, who was courted by an English Sheriff whom Wallace ultimately slays. Wallace always maintained that his war was in loyal support of King John Balliol, even if that king was enjoying house arrest in England and France.

Both sides committed atrocities. MacKay acknowledges the sanguinary details of both sides; but he clearly lays more blame at Edward for the sack of Berwick and the destruction of Dunfermline Abbey outweighing the violence of the Scottish partisans. It is up to the reader's point of view. MacKay is clearly biased when writing about violent people in violent times. The sheer body count of Wallace as a bandit leader is shocking before considering the wholesale slaughter of armies. He sometimes ignores the claims of army sizes and the number of men slain; other times, he seems to have no quibbles at the thought of Edward gathering 80,000 men to invade Scotland.

Overall, this is a great portrait of a difficult subject. Wallace was both a hero and an antihero. MacKay includes a lot of incidental information that can overwhelm most readers. His sources are difficult to pinpoint because his notes and bibliography omit the poem by Blind Harry. Readers are better served to have familiarity with Blind Harry first and then read this book to provide some much-needed critical analysis.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. I have been to some of the places in this book and one of my ancestors was martyred at the same spot that William Wallace was and I've been there. I could not believe there is a church right by it that was there at the time. If history is correct, William Wallace did more for Scotland than anyone and did it for the right reasons. He was not a politician and he never gave up. I cannot imagine how Scotland and England co-exist with the past history they have had.

[Michael C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

[Kevin Kierstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever the hero...

William Wallace is my favorite male hero of all-time. The movie set the fire, and research since its release has stoked it.

This book, while being slightly confusing regarding language use to an average American reader--one suspects some Scottish language structure was employed--William Wallace: Brave Heart was a wheelbarrow full of facts and side notes that help to define this great figure in every capacity.

While there is an underpinning of favor/sympathy shown for Wallace, just below the surface of the narrative (as one reviewer noted on the back of the cover), the facts are the facts, and the good is presented with the bad. The accusations involving atrocities are included, and appropriate weights are given to each witness's account, from those that described the Battle of Stirling Bridge to those that witnessed the execution, and everything in-between.

I wanted to give it five stars but I found a few minor inconsistencies and the language barrier (or use-of-the-English-language-barrier, rather) sometimes difficult. If you are a Wallace fan, or foe, you need to add this factual account of his deeds and all of the proxy players in his life to your reading repertoire.

--Author Kevin A. Kierstead

[Sara Mehrjouei · Rating 5 out of 5]

wallace the meaning of freedom

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-written and spectacularly well-researched book runs into twelve chapters:

1- Origins and Boyhood
2- Early Manhood
3- Toom Tabard
4- From Outlaw to Guerrilla
5- From Guerrilla to Commander
6- Stirling Bridge
7- The Invasion of England
8- Guardian of Scotland
9- Falkirk
10- Diplomatic Manoeuvres
11- The Comyn Wars
12- Betrayal and Death

Alone among his contemporaries, William Wallace has made the transition from one millennium to another in a positive manner, with his reputation intact, even enhanced.

His are attributes which confront the passing of the years to remain inspirational today. In the eyes of some, he is worthy of canonisation on the model of Joan of Arc.

Wallace has thus left behind in their own time the major figures of the war of 1296, whether Scots or English. John Balliol, for example, we know only as a feeble incompetent, forever ‘Toom Tabard’, stripped of his title and his dignity.

John Comyn, likewise, has all but disappeared from our ken, a victim of Bruce violence and pro-Bruce propaganda, the aspirations of his line extinguished with the death of his son on the English side at Bannockburn and that of his grandson two years later. Comyn deserves more of us, but his reputation went with his murder in 1306.

William Wallace was born into a Scotland long at peace with its southern neighbour and, since the celebrated if mistitled Battle of Largs and the subsequent Treaty of Perth in 1266, free from the fear of invasion from Norway. His family, though landed and established in Scotland for over a century, was not noble and was without influence.

The education he received, perhaps in training for the priesthood, gave him a facility in languages but was distinguished above all by that love of liberty which he retained to the end of his life. It is possible that before his invasion of northern England in late 1297, he had never set foot outside of Scotland.

His world, and much of his experience, was centred on the west of Scotland. We may reasonably suppose that his contacts were unexceptional, restricted and governed by the rigidly hierarchical nature of the society in which he was raised.

His knowledge of great men and great events would be circumscribed by his immediate environment; the name of Stewart or Bruce would carry more weight with him than that of Alexander III. A younger son, he had few prospects and an uncertain future.

He was thus in no way prepared, by birth, education, or training, for a role of any consequence in the history of his native land. Yet when the ambition of Edward I combined with the weakness of John Balliol to usher in that conflict which we choose to call the Scottish War of Independence, Wallace was to rise within a year to a distinction and standing, in Europe as in Scotland, which none could have foreseen.

He led and directed the resistance to Edward, broke the sequence of English successes in the field, maintained the cause of John Balliol, restored his country to its rightful place in the councils of Europe, and where others, ostensibly his betters, yielded and collaborated, set an example of faithfulness and insistence.

Even his horrific death in London came to be seen as a victory. He became and remained an inspiration to both singer and poet.

Wallace was by any standards a remarkable man. But if undoubtedly heroic, he was not perfect. There is to Wallace not merely a dark but an unknown side.

In an age of brutality, he was brutal. He was no less cruel than those against whom he fought. He repaid the sack of Berwick in 1296 with the ravaging of Northumberland the year after.

To achieve his ends, he turned, often violently, on any, Scots or English, who stood in his way. The Church he supported in Scotland, its English representatives he treated less tolerantly.

The crimes with which he would be charged by Edward’s justices in 1305 were not wholly fabrications; Wallace himself at his trial, far from seeking to deny or excuse them, gloried in what he had done and regretted that he had not done more.

Implacable to the end, he exuded defiance in the midst of his enemies.

Most recommended for history buffs.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the Mel Gibson movie came out William Wallace has gained a following well outside of Scotland. It is nice to get a look at the true "Braveheart" instead of the Hollywood version. The very best thing about this book is how easy it is to read. Not being at all familar with Scottish history during this period I was afraid I would quickly become lost. Much to my delight that was not the case in fact I was able to follow what was going on with very little problem. The only real problem I have with the book is that MacKay often refers to someone once by their name and the next time by their title. For example the future king is sometimes refered to as Robert Bruce and sometimes as the Earl of Carrick. It is hard enough to keep up with all of the names thrown at you in this book without having to keep up with a name AND a title for each person.

While reading this book keep in mind that Mr. MacKay has little materal to work with from the time period. Most of his research is taken from materal that dates well after Wallace's death. Still by looking at this material along with what records do exist from the period he does a good job of telling us what probably did happen. In fact, this is probably as close as we will ever get to the real story. That is unless new records are found which is very possible. MacKay points out several places where in the future new records may be found including Rome where Wallace may have visited Pope Boniface VIII looking for aid for Scotland. It is known as a fact that King Edward did get a letter from the Pope about his treatment of the Scots.

This is a great read for anyone interested in Scottish history or anyone who enjoyed the Gibson movie. The reader will find for example that Wallace's wife was not killed before he began his raids. She was killed in fact while protecting Wallace. Let the movie make you wonder. Let this book fill in the gaps. Even for someone not into history at all this will be a joy to read.

[Stuart Fear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dissecting the life of William Wallace and trying to separate the fact from fiction.
As many have said before me, the book takes time to warm up and gets easier to read as it goes along. The first chapters can be difficult, in setting the scene for the climate Wallace was born and grew up in there are so many names and places thrown around it feels like you need a PhD in the Scottish Middle-Ages to make head or tail of it.
Once the author has set the scene (which you probably struggled to fully understand), he moves into the real focus of the book which is the life and actions of the Scottish rebel. The author tries to separate fact from fiction but in parts where evidence is lacking he simply makes assumptions, which somewhat contradicts what this book sets out to do.

At times this book can get a little too political, it can try to cram too much into a single paragraph. However, overall it was an enjoyable read and provided great insight into the struggles which plagued Scotland in the middle ages.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

As everyone said it would, this did pick up in the latter half of the book, with almost 2/3 of it being historical background. By the end I was enjoying it, and read the last quarter in around a week.
This book likely deserves better than 3 stars, but since I personally am terrible at reading non-fiction, and these are personal reviews, it gets 3.
I am however far more knowledgeable about this time in history, both specifically concerning Wallace, and Scotland and England as a whole.
My main takeaway is that every major player at the time seemed to be a backstabbing, fickle, traitorous bastard of epic proportions; with the apparent exception of Wallace himself.
If you have an active interest in this era, read this book. Otherwise, wait until some clever chap writes a nice historical fiction book about the events in question.

[Martin Boulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in just 5 days for me that is a big deal. I really enjoyed the information in the book. There are quite a few events that were well documented but others that were not. It was interesting to see how time and pride really effect oral traditions. Some of the twists and turns were frustrating where information was lacking. Sadly also some of the most pertinent information like the content of the letters he was carrying at the time of capture were lost most likely destroyed by Edward. This book is sympathetic to Wallace but not overly so. His behavior in the well documented releases of priests, women and children it really puts the English description at odds with his behavior. I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in the great patriot of Scotland.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1995, 'William Wallace - Brave Heart' tells the story of a heroic figure from the late 13th/early 14th century of Scottish history. The fragmentary nature of past records, aprocryphal anecdotes and serious discrepancies between all of them are all recognised by the writer as he pieces together some semblance of the facts of Wallace's life. And whilst he does a very good job of it, I can't help detecting an element of 'Wallace-bias' in the telling, but other readers opinions may differ. After a slow start concentrating on the various theories of Wallace's origins, things get more interesting when it comes to telling of his emergence as a guerrilla/terrorist. A great read.

[Occhi Aperti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting historical dive into the life and times of William Wallace. This is not the Hollywood version. James MacKay draws from various sources to paint a more accurate picture of Braveheart and his contemporaries. The politics and stakes are high as Anglo Saxons and Normans balance their need for freedom with their necessity to keep the lands they obtained from the Norman Conquest. There were so many Earls and Knights changing sides and support from Wallace to the King of England that no one could be trusted. Read this for yourself and you will see that reality was stranger than a Games of Thrones TV Series. Poor Wallace never stood a chance.

[Madison Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great information and context provided in this biography of Scotland’s notorious hero of the late 13th century - author Mackay provides several quotes and points of view at the time period, essentially giving the reader all the relevant information and allowing us to decide fact for ourselves (with his opinion as well).

The style of writing was somewhat difficult, I found that he jumped around a bit, making it sometimes challenging to keep the timeline straight. All in all, a very informative and thorough telling of a very famous historical figure, Scotland’s William Wallace.

[Melissa Inman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I liked the movie better lol usually it’s the other way around. This was a straight history book on Scottish politics more than about William Wallace. A lot that was said about him was all hearsay. The main facts were there but a lot was worded like maybe this happened Or Some say that happened. But oddly he was not the main focus of this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a snooze and I admit that I skimmed a lot of it. It is well researched, but it is just so TEDIOUS. Surely it must appeal only to historians and Scotophiles (not sure if that is a word but you know what I mean). I’m not even sure how it ended up in my library but it will be exiting in the next box of books for donation.

[Kyle Gore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing detailed book on the life of William Wallace. Loved getting to read about stuff portrayed in the movie. It got a bit detailed about arguments over parts of his life, but an incredibly interesting read

[Vida · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dry, read like a textbook. Couldn't sustain my interest.

[Tana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history, wordy writer.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little more about Scottish politics then I wanted to know but
a interesting story about Wallace.

[Jeff Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept waiting for Mel Gibson to show up. Never did.

[Jamie Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a bit heavy on the general Scottish history part but I didnt mind that. Easy to read and very informative.

[Kyri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic book on William Wallace. Not written with very in-depth research.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author attempts to separate fact from fiction in telling the story of the life of Scottish patriot, William Wallace. He relies heaving on the tales told by the Scottish bard, Blind Harry - often where other authors have dismissed Harry's stories as falsehoods. Overall it was interesting to compare the history of Wallace (known and speculated) with the film Braveheart of Mel Gibson fame. In particular it was interesting how some of the events depicted in the movie were based on actual events, but placed in a very different spot in the chronology. It also portrayed the Scottish lords and nobles constantly switching sides depending on the current mood and their own self-interest. Overall, a very interesting read for anyone with an interest in Scotland and its fight for independence.

[bkwurm · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems that not very much is known about this iconic figure of Scottish nationalism. As a result, this book which seeks to set out only the facts, suffers from having to admit that many years of William Wallace's life are either unknown or padded out with frankly unbelievable myths.

Thus the reasons for Wallace's decision to stand and fight at Falkirk are not considered in any detail for the simple reason that they are not known.

That said, Wallace's rise from unknown landless younger son to Guardian of Scotland and his subsequent fall and gruesome death makes for a compelling read.

[Rachael Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading a history of Scotland rather than the story of William Wallace. The author went overboard describing the political intrigues of the time to such a degree that it was difficult to remember who was for or against whom. Every once in a while the story line would return to William Wallace but then veer off on a tangent about someone else and his/her wife/husband/son/third cousin twice removed - you get the point.

While it's nice to have historical background that is important to set the stage about the main character of the book, too much background muddles the story until you almost forget what the book's about.

[Ron Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good read this was. I enjoyed the book immensely and learned more about my Scottish heritage than in any other book I ever read.
The movie is a work of epic myth, and I loved it, but the book is a work of great historicl value. It does away with much of the flowery romance and tells the story as best as it can I think.
I may be a Wallace and naturally biased in favor of William, but I think I'm looking at this in a level manner. I'll read it again, and I think that's a mark of an excellent work. I like the writing as well as the story.

[Josh Bradham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read, and definitely gave me significantly more incite into the life of William Wallace. The only issue I have is my issue with all sorts of books like this, and with books where 95% of the information put out is conjecture. Which ends up giving the reader a different version of the story depending on which version of the book they read. Over all a good biography and a very interesting story.