Rowan’s review of The Shortest History of Scotland > Likes and Comments

Nice review Rowan! Have you used the website "Scotlands People" to trace your ancestors? It's excellent!

That emigration number seems huge! I wonder how it compares to Ireland during the same period?

Excellent review, Rowan!

Ian wrote: "Nice review Rowan! Have you used the website "Scotlands People" to trace your ancestors? It's excellent!"

Thank you, Ian! 😊 I agree about that website! I've found it quite helpful and have really enjoyed learning more about my Scottish family and ancestry.

Lewis wrote: "That emigration number seems huge! I wonder how it compares to Ireland during the same period?"

Absolutely, Lewis! I was amazed to read that. The second half of the quote mentions that by 1991, Scotland's population was lower than it was in 1961! Would be fascinating to compare it to Ireland during the same period.

Fran wrote: "Excellent review, Rowan!"

Thank you, Fran! 😊

Glad this one was able to provide information in such a short few pages! Great review, Rowan.

Canadian Jen wrote: "Glad this one was able to provide information in such a short few pages! Great review, Rowan."

Thank you, Jen! 🙏🏻 Definitely learned a lot in this one!

Another great review Rowan! I really enjoy history but it can get tedious sometimes, so I understand the parts where it felt like reading schoolbooks😅❤️

Rowan wrote: "Lewis wrote: "That emigration number seems huge! I wonder how it compares to Ireland during the same period?"

Absolutely, Lewis! I was amazed to read that. The second half of the quote mentions th..."

There was a flurry of news items a year or so ago when the population of the island of Ireland (i.e. the Republic plus Northern Ireland), passed 7 million for the first time since the 1850s. Prior to the Irish potato famine of the 1840s, the population of Ireland had been around 8 million. There were approximately one million deaths from the famine, but it was mass emigration that caused the biggest part of the population decline.

Most emigration from Ireland was to the USA and to Great Britain (especially to the cities of Glasgow and Liverpool). Some also went to Australia of course, not always voluntarily!

Scottish emigration was mainly to England or to the Dominion countries of Canada, Australia and New Zealand (especially the South Island). The Scottish courts rarely sentenced people to transportation, so Scottish emigrants to Australia were mostly volunteers!

A fine review, Rowan!

Nice review! I added this to my to be read list as I’m proud of my Scottish heritage!

Great review, Rowan, glad this was an enjoyable read for you. 😊

Nice one Rowan!

Fantastic review, Rowan. 🤗💕

Thanks for your great review Rowan! I’ve been fortunate to travel to Scotland twice and I’ve been to Bannockburn and Culloden..I’m putting this on my TBR. 👍🏾

Mickaela (school is keeping me very busy rn) wrote: "Another great review Rowan! I really enjoy history but it can get tedious sometimes, so I understand the parts where it felt like reading schoolbooks😅❤️"

Thank you very much, Mickaela! ❤️ Thankfully this book moves quite fast so any such parts were fleeting.

Wow. This really packs quite an impressive punch in a small number of pages. Good stuff. Phenomenal review, Rowan! 🤩

Ian wrote: "Rowan wrote: "Lewis wrote: "That emigration number seems huge! I wonder how it compares to Ireland during the same period?"

Absolutely, Lewis! I was amazed to read that. The second half of the quo..."

Fascinating information, Ian! Thank you for sharing. My great-great-great grandmother was one of those sent to Australia - not voluntarily! Incredible that the population only just reached 1850s levels again.

On the other side, my Scottish grandparents reflect what you said about those voluntarily moving to Australia. Such massive numbers of people moving around the world from these nations.

Terence M [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] wrote: "A fine review, Rowan!"

Thank you very much, Terence! 😊

Hope things improve for your Blues soon.

Tree wrote: "Nice review! I added this to my to be read list as I’m proud of my Scottish heritage!"

Thank you, Tree 😊 I hope you enjoy this read and learning more about Scottish history!

Amina wrote: "Great review, Rowan, glad this was an enjoyable read for you. 😊"

Thank you, Amina! 😊 I learned plenty!

Teresa wrote: "Nice one Rowan!"

Thank you, Teresa! 😊 I believe The Shortest History of Ireland was also published recently.

Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "Fantastic review, Rowan. 🤗💕"

Thank you, Shelley! 🤗💕

Nicole wrote: "Thanks for your great review Rowan! I’ve been fortunate to travel to Scotland twice and I’ve been to Bannockburn and Culloden..I’m putting this on my TBR. 👍🏾"

I love that you have been to Bannockburn and Culloden! It's about time that I visited Scotland and explored these places myself - at least I better understand the history now. Thanks for your kind words, Nicole 😊

Tracy P. wrote: "Wow. This really packs quite an impressive punch in a small number of pages. Good stuff. Phenomenal review, Rowan! 🤩"

Thanks so much, Tracy! 😊 Yes, it was impressive how much information was packed into this small book!

Excellent helpful review Rowan😁

Fantastic review Rowan, this sounds really interesting and I love Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿!

Dale wrote: "Excellent helpful review Rowan😁"

Thank you, Dale! ☺️

Maureen wrote: "Fantastic review Rowan, this sounds really interesting and I love Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿!"

Thank you very much, Maureen! It was an interesting read ☺️

Rowan, how wonderful to read a book that allows you to connect with your own family history in Scotland!

Great review, Rowan! I've never heard of the "Shortest Histories," but this sounds like a great way to get an overview. I think I might check out Scotland, and Israel and Palestine!

Your reviews are always so delightful to read, Rowan! I love how it connected with your own family story which only proofs that the best (or most profound) histories aren’t just read, they’re felt in the blood. Wonderfully written! :)

The "Shortest History" series sounds fabulous. Thanks for introducing me to the series!

My grandfather emigrated from Scotland during that time, so I will really have to read this one. Great review, Rowan!

Wow, this is a great review, Rowan! This sounds so interesting. I love how it allowed you to feel connected to your ancestry and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the history. So glad you enjoyed it. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Beautiful review Rowan. I'm so happy you enjoyed every single word of this novel. ♥

Such an informative, great review, Rowan. How especially great to understand your family history and parents better now too.

Rowan wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Nice one Rowan!"

Thank you, Teresa! 😊 I believe The Shortest History of Ireland was also published recently."

Must look into that although I've read so much about Irish history over the years I'd be surprised to learn anything new 😊

Laysee wrote: "Rowan, how wonderful to read a book that allows you to connect with your own family history in Scotland!"

Absolutely, Laysee! ☺️ That aspect made reading this even more fascinating. I learned so much.

Renee wrote: "Great review, Rowan! I've never heard of the "Shortest Histories," but this sounds like a great way to get an overview. I think I might check out Scotland, and Israel and Palestine!"

Thank you, Renee! ☺️ It seems to be a great series covering many subjects and countries. I hope to read more of them!

Debbie Y wrote: "Your reviews are always so delightful to read, Rowan! I love how it connected with your own family story which only proofs that the best (or most profound) histories aren’t just read, they’re felt ..."

Aww thank you for such nice words, Debbie 🥰 That’s so true about what you said - feeling a history. Any book that helps you better understand your own family story is worthwhile. I certainly learned plenty in this one!

Barbara wrote: "The "Shortest History" series sounds fabulous. Thanks for introducing me to the series!"

You’re welcome, Barbara! There are so many interesting subjects covered in this series ☺️

Brooke ☯︎ wrote: "My grandfather emigrated from Scotland during that time, so I will really have to read this one. Great review, Rowan!"

Thank you, Brooke ☺️ How fascinating! I love that your grandfather also emigrated from Scotland. I was amazed to learn just how many did during that time!

❀ Tia ❀ wrote: "Wow, this is a great review, Rowan! This sounds so interesting. I love how it allowed you to feel connected to your ancestry and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the history. So glad y..."

I appreciate your kind words, Tia! ☺️ It was definitely a worthwhile read - simply to better understand that history and connect it to ancestry in various ways. Need to visit the country next!

Kealyn wrote: "Beautiful review Rowan. I'm so happy you enjoyed every single word of this novel. ♥"

Thank you very much, Kealyn! ❤️

Elizabeth wrote: "Such an informative, great review, Rowan. How especially great to understand your family history and parents better now too."

Thank you very much, Elizabeth! ☺️ Yes, I especially loved that aspect of reading this book.

Teresa wrote: "Rowan wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Nice one Rowan!"

Thank you, Teresa! 😊 I believe The Shortest History of Ireland was also published recently."

Must look into that although I've read so much about Iri..."

I would be so interested to know your thoughts if you end up reading it one day, Teresa! ☺️

Excellent review Rowan!

You always have a way of making history interesting in your thoughtful and interpretative reviews, Rowan. Thank you. ☺️