Highlanders: A History of the Gaels by John Macleod
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Book Reviews of Highlanders: A History of the Gaels
Book Review: A Great Introduction To Scottish History
Summary: 5 Stars
This is what you might call `a popular history' in that, the facts are there, but so is the author's commentary. The author obviously meant to cover a lot of ground, fully intending his work not to be exhaustive, but a personable introduction to the history of Scotland. This is an excellant introductory work which will serve every reader as a primer for further, specialized study. A bit of bias with some topics, is here, very welcome: a Scot writing of Scotland can't be anything but bias. He provides an enlightening view on the Celtic Church and St. Columba. There is an excellant chapter dealing mostly with the vikings. Of course he talks about Bonnie Prince Charlie, Burns, and obvious figures of note. The style of his prose is most powerful when talking about the Clearances... and Sutherland. His later chapters dealing with all the complicated goings on of the churches in Scotland was at times illuminating, and even a bit humorous. I learned more on those matters in Highlanders, than anywhere else. His exploration of recent Scottish culture in the last century was the crown of the book: everything from the hopeful renewal of Gaelic culture to the story of "Whiskey Galore" (the tragic event, the book, AND the movie).
Throughout the book there are maps of the different parts of Scotland being discussed, excerpts from popular folk songs, and even a reproduction (albeit in black and white) of "Poet's Pub" I have read this book, in whole, and in part, so often in the last year or so, that the spine is near broke. I rate it- a high five. We ride!
Book Review: An Absorbing History of the Highlanders
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a highlander and Scottish romance fan (big time) Kathleen Givens and Marsha Canham are among my favorites and their work is well researched. I wanted to have a history of the highlanders for background--and to understand my Scottish heritage better. I was prepared to slog through a dull history just to gain the knowledge. I was not prepared for an entertaining and fascinating look into the past of the highlanders. This is well worth a read no matter what your motivation. It's great history made relevant to us today. And, as an aside, I think this book should be a companion for Scottish romance books. It's that good. Kudos to the author who makes the history interesting and relevant...and shows us why there is sometimes sadness when we view today's Scotland. I've traveled Scotland and felt that sadness. If the proud Scots had been allowed to develop on their own and govern themselves, and the English had not destroyed a way of life, we might have an even richer Scotland today. Certainly we would have more of the castles left. I have both Scottish and English blood so I'm not speaking only as a Scot. But I do regret what might have been for Scotland. And for the romance readers, perhaps if so many English had not intermarried with the Scots, we'd have taller, more rugged Scottish men today..no?Book Review: A highly recommended history of the highlanders.
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife read this book aloud to me and my two children during a driving tour of the Highlands last year. It completely changed my perspective on the landscape I was driving through and helped me understand how the Highlands have been ravaged by human hands from the Vikings onward. I saw the beautiful but desolate land in a completely different light. His portraits of historical personages obliterated the false and somewhat romantic image we have of the Highlands and left us with a more honest and ultimately more satisfying picture of the people. It is not a historical text and I don't think that's what he intended to write. It is, however, immensely readable, entertaining and the perfect book to accompany a drive through this magnificent country. I recently met two people planning a driving trip through the Highlands and recommended it without reservation, and I would do the same to anyone looking for an honest and enjoyable history of the Highlands and its people.Book Review: So much interesting information...
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading Tranter's "Story of Scotland," I was ready to delve deeper into Scotland's history. This work fills in many of the blanks, and does so in a way that holds my interest. There was much that I had missed, including a true grasp of the Viking culture and how it affected Scotland. I knew very little of the way the clan system worked in the isles, and how the Crown tried to control them. MacLeod explains with insight why some of the clans virtually disappeared, and others flourished. I also didn't realize that the Isle of Lewis had been almost entirely destroyed and burned. Some events that are simply alluded to in other books are explained here, so that I feel my grasp of the history has truly been improved. A highly recommended read!
Book Review: Excellent Insight and Information
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book to be full of helpful and interesting facts and insights into a people I consider to be fascinating and inspiring.
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