Reviews (5)

Visual Feast of Scottish Links Golf
Great volume on the essential key links courses in Scotland.The text is fine and to the point.There's some interesting insight especially into the history of golf (St.Andrews and Dornoch in particular), but nothing overboard.
Must Read
If you have, or have dreamed of traveling to Scotland, you must read this book. The photos are magnificent.I have played many and the book brings back such fond memories. Will play more next year as we return.
Fantastic Photos
This book is simply wonderful.Why it took three months to get to me I will never know, but the wait was worth it.The photos are first rate and give the reader the true feeling that he is walking these legendary fairways.For anyone who has ever played in Scotland or who dreams of doing so, this book is for you.You will not be dissappointed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Gt. Britain/Scotland    2. Golf - General    3. Golf courses    4. History    5. Pictorial works    6. Scotland    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Subjects & Themes - Sports    10. Golf    11. Places & peoples: general interest    12. Sports & Recreation / Golf   

Reviews (32)

Robert the Bruce - As real as it gets
This is a great biography of Robert the Bruce.Ronald McNair Scott gives a nice full and fleshed out story of Robert the Bruce and his rise to throne of Scotland.Mr. Scott does a great job following Bruce through his Grandfather and Father's initial competition and ultimately his own attempt for the Throne after the deaths of King Alexander and his last remaining heir.Like most noble families in Scotland of the time they had land and family links to England.The Bruce, Balliol, and Comyn families all dynastic ties and claims to the throne but in the end the Bruce family won out.Mr. Scott does uses well known sources for his biography like Barbour, Fordun and Barrow.Of course they glorify all that Bruce does and spends minimal time on his faults.Mr Scott gives us a general bio that is great for the novice to Scottish history and those reading their first book on Robert.There is a lot of personal story here with some supposed quotes to help you feel you are with Bruce when he knights Wallace, accepts the Guardianship, or when he murders his primary rival John Comyn and claims the throne or when he wins his great victory against the English at Bannockburn.But Mr. Scott doesn't stop there.We see him continue to firm up Scotland's independence against Edward I, II and finally III.We get a vivid view of his great Lieutenants, James Douglas and Thomas Randolph.Bruce finally sees peace in "old age" at 55 and dies with a son and grandson to succeed him.But in the end he was a man with all the faults ordinary man and for all he gained he equally paid a price in family, pain and life.After his death the English rise again and his heirs continue the struggle.But that is another story for another book.Robert the Bruce, King of Scots by Ronald M. Scott is the life of the Bruce as history remembers him today.

Hail to the King of Scots!
Scott's "Robert The Bruce" is a truly enjoyable and fascinating book.One is shown the growth of the playboy Lord of Annandale to the courageous, self-sacrificing warrior king who risks everything to lead his people to freedom. A chunk of history I was not too familiar with, Scott fills in the gaps and describes the situations and major characters in an engaging manner. Highly recommended!

Another brave heart...
This is one of the most well written books on Scottish history that I have had the pleasure to come across. Its thoroughly gripping whereas other books about this time period have positvely made my eyes glaze over.
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Subjects:  1. 1274-1329    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Historical - British    5. History    6. History: World    7. King of Scots,    8. Kings and rulers    9. Robert    10. Robert I, 1306-1329    11. Royalty    12. Scotland    13. Scotland - History    14. Biography: royalty   

Reviews (8)

If the synopsis is any indication.....
Inasmuch as Robert the Bruce never actually lived at Castle Tioram, as the book states according to at least one reviewer, I might exercise some caution......

In Search of Ancient Scotland, a Guide
A useful book if you're planning a trip, know where you're going, and want to add some very old, off-the-beaten-track sites.If you're planning a trip and trying to figure out what part of Scotland to visit, another guide such as the Michelin is probably more useful as the latter guide differentiates better between the must see sites and those of only modest interest.

This book MADE my trip
This book was simply wonderful.I purchased this book to help me plan a trip to Scotland this year, and I am so glad I did. The authors give a detailed descrpition of each site and give it a rating to help you, the traveller, prioritize. They also give some pretty handy directions for locating the sites as well (we found every one we looked for, even some that were far off the beaten track). Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Antiquities, Prehistoric    3. Europe - Gt. Britain/Scotland    4. Europe - Scandinavia    5. Guidebooks    6. Historic sites    7. History / Europe / Western    8. Scotland    9. Travel    10. Travel - Foreign    11. Travel / Europe / Great Britain    12. Europe - Great Britain    13. Europe - Western    14. History   

Subjects:  1. 1566-1625    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. James    7. James I, 1603-1625    8. King of England,    9. Kings and rulers   

Reviews (3)

Intriguing Subject.
The author does a fine job in the first 6 chapters considering the paucity of information on this somewhat mysterious people. In chapter 7 he briefly discusses their origins. This was where I found the book wanting. There appears to be no definitive answers or agreement among scholars of the various disciplines. Was Tacitus right about their Germanic origin? Are they a pre-Brittonic people, or Celtic? Can archaeology and DNA testing ever provide us with some certitudes? The remainder of the book is about the Picts often hostile relations with their numerous neighbors. The photographs and maps were somewhat helpful. This book posed as many questions as it answered. For that it was worth the price.

A wonderful book, and an excellent resource!
In this wonderful book, Professor W. A. Cummins collects all of the information known (as of 1995) about the Picts, the people of ancient Scotland. In the first eight chapters, the author examines what is known about the Picts, taking each subject one at a time to produce a clear and concise analysis of the data. The remaining ten chapters examine the Picts through a historical prism, showing how they interacted with neighboring peoples, and what those interactions tell us about the Picts. The cr�me de la cr�me, though, are the three appendices. The first two deal with the lists of Pictish kings, while the third analyzes the 30 Pictish "kings" who all have the name Brude. And yet another Pictish theory enters the ring
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Antiquities, Celtic    3. Ethnology    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. Europe - Great Britain - Scotland    6. Great Britain    7. Great Britain - Scotland    8. History    9. History - General History    10. Picts    11. Scotland    12. To 1057    13. British & Irish history: BCE to c 500 CE    14. British & Irish history: c 500 to c 1000    15. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (1)

Not Just for Scotland Lovers
David Yeadon has been composing beautiful hymns to remote places for many years, and here is another in a distinguished list of books he has written. If Seasons on Harris doesn't impel you to plan a trip to Scotland and more specifically the Outer Hebrides, well then, you should consider shopping for a tombstone. I understand the next in his "seasons" series will be on the Beara Peninsula in southern Ireland, and with a name like O'Reilly, I can't wait for that one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Europe - Great Britain - General    4. Harris (Scotland)    5. Hebrides (Scotland)    6. Social History    7. Social life and customs    8. Travel    9. Travel - General    10. Northern Scotland, Highlands & Islands    11. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    12. Travel writing   

Reviews (7)

Brilliant!

Never left the hotel without it!
I purchased 3 books prior to my first trip to Scotland in November, 2004.I actually purchased Scotland for Dummies to be funny!My family was hysterical when I showed them my purchase.However, once we got there, the laughter was replaced with "where's the Dummies book?" We truly didn't go anywhere without it. (Although, to avoid being spotted as a "tourist", they made me hide it. :) ) The maps were SO helpful. We did purchase a road map once there, but used it along with this book. The information about tourist attractions was invaluable. Where to find restaurants and which ones to avoid was great. Once in Scotland, I never touched the other two books purchased. If you're only going to buy one book, this is the one. Read the others at the library before you go.

anyone can do this!
I traveled to Scotland with a friend(who happens to be an experienced traveler; and i'm not!) in the summer of 1997. Deb planned everything and i coughed up the money and was just along for the ride. Which by the way, was most exceedingly pleasant! I recently purchased this book as I am planning a return trip with my sister in the summer of 2005. Reading this book was like experiencing the '97 trip all over again! Any advice given in this book should be well heeded; it absolutely does not steer you wrong. From "what to pack" to "where to eat" this read has instilled in me the confidence that i can do this trip without being led by the hand of a more seasoned traveler. I will be packing a couple of different maps but this will be the only tour book i pack! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. Europe - Gt. Britain/Scotland    4. Reference - Guides (General)    5. Scotland - History    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel Guides    9. Scotland    10. Travel & holiday guides    11. Travel / Europe / Great Britain   

Reviews (6)

Good as an introduction, fair as history
I was expecting a more comprehensive examination of how the Scottish temperament (unique in the whole world, believe me!) & within the clan system causes an unusual disposition with respect to other clans and the imposed English governmental system.What was missed in this exposition is coverage of the clan system as de facto government.The imposition of English common law and the English system of land transfer on the Scots precipitated great opposition because it was diametrically opposed to clan-based landholding, wealth, integration, prestige and power.The Anglo-Norman 'lords' and 'land barons' thought the Scots would quickly forget false entailing of land through marriage (according to their own legal precepts) or other means (e.g., murder, land clearance); but owing to the Scottish temperament, these depredations (ostensibly to keep the Scots from having too much power/wealth & too much prestige) have never been forgiven nor forgotten.The writer assumes a British (English) orientation when a more Scottish point-of-view is needed to get at foundational aspects of the clan and Scotland.

Disappointing, hard to read.
I am a technical editor. I was so distracted by half-page sentences and incorrect punctuation that I couldn't continue reading. The author knows a great deal of history, but he jumps from century to century so fast that I couldn't keep track of whom he was talking about or what century he meant.

My Favorite Book of Scotland
This book is a treasure to me. It sits in a prominent spot on my bookshelf, and will someday be handed down to my children. Flooded with relevant pictures, beautifully written, if you love Scotland, you will love this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Clans    3. Ethnohistory    4. Ethnology    5. Europe - Great Britain - Scotland    6. Highlands    7. Highlands (Scotland)    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Scotland    12. Scotland - History    13. History / General   

Subjects:  1. 1868-1928    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Botanical illustration    5. Exhibition Catalogs    6. Exhibitions    7. Flowers    8. Flowers in art    9. Individual Artist    10. Mackintosh, Charles Rennie,    11. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    12. Individual artists    13. Mackintosh, Charles Rennie    14. Scotland   

Reviews (2)

Great historical evidence...
Readers will appreciate Aitchison's thorough historical and archeological review of the "real" Macbeth.In the second section of the book, he traces the growth of the "myth" (or story) about Macbeth.I found the entire work fascinating.

MacBeth: Man and Myth
This is one of the best examples of historical research I've read in a long time.The author thoroughly discusses the pertinent sources, their provinence, accuracy, contemporanety, and biases.Using a variety of thesesources he paints a very clear and interesting portrait of both MacBeth andto some extent his queen, for whom there is even scanter evidence. Thereafter Aitchison follows the development of the myths of MacBeth, twoof which began in the king's lifetime or shortly thereafter.BecauseShakespeare's MacBeth is one of the threads of this mythologizingtradition, he also discusses the manner in which Shakespeare changed thestory and for what purposes.Probably the most important aspect of thisbook is the fact that the author is able to give a balance account ofMacBeth.He neither indulges in the condemnation of some authors or thealmost unrealistic praise of the appologists, both of whose efforts heevaluates as part of his study of the effects of the myth on modern times. Of considerable interest is the discussion of modern cinimatic recreationsof MacBeth, including my favorite, the Japanese version Throne of Blood. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Europe - Great Britain - General    4. Historical - General    5. Mythology    6. Scotland - History   

Reviews (1)

Five important works on swordsmanship
If you want to learn how to use a basket hilted broadsword, buy this book.
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Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    3. Military - Weapons    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Combat sports & self-defence    7. Northern Scotland, Highlands & Islands    8. Regiments   

Reviews (7)

Thorough, well-structured, and entertaining
Until England and Scotland were united under a single king in March 1603, the border between them was, unsurprisingly, a natural place for strife and disorder.The two countries had been at war intermittently for centuries, and many armies had passed back and forth across the border counties.Fraser's history covers the last hundred years of the border, from 1503 to 1603, a period during which the decayed (and astonishingly corrupt) administration could never cope with the local gangs -- known as "reivers" -- who terrorized the district with cattle theft, murder, and arson.
The Definitive History of the Borderers
This book is the definitive history of the riding families -- the Border Reviers.It is a long scholarly look into the nature of these complex and determined families that does not pass judgment or apply modern values in the assessment of their history and deeds.This is not for the casusal reader.It uses a fair amount of old English spellings and can be an effort to decifer at times.However Fraser MacDonald combines this along with his natural story telling ability to make you feel as if you are on a foray across the border and it keeps you coming back for more.If you are a student of Border history or are lucky enough to have one of the riding names, make the effort to read this book.It has no equal in its treatment of the subject.

Fascinating book for me as a Reiver descendant.
I was born in Carlisle, England. The second big town of the border area other than Berwick. My father is from Longtown, Cumbria which is right next to the debateable land and I have the last name of Crozier. This book was like reading about my own history and explained a whole lot of things about my home town and the people I grew up with. Just in my neighborhood, there were Armstrongs, Taylors, Littles, Nixons, Grahams and many other Reiver names. Read more

Subjects:  1. Boundaries And Frontiers    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. General    4. Great Britain - History    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    9. England    10. Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare    11. Scotland   

Reviews (4)

Very nice book -- just what I was looking for!
I read this book cover to cover just prior to my trip to England (along with Antonia Fraser's "The Lives of the Kings & Queens of England").This was a fun and easy read with nice pitcures.It is nice for anyone looking for a brief overview about the English Monarchy and also for anyone who just wants to have a handy reference.

A great buy.
I bought this book many years ago, and I still pick it up at least once a month. The book gives you the most important information of every king and queen who has ever ruled England or Scotland. Excellent British Royalty Review
I have now read through this book twice - once before each of my trips to Great Britain - and have found this book to be immensely helpful in understanding Britain's past and present.The book purports to be about the British monarchy, but in addition to thoroughly covering royalty, this book also covers a fair amount of history so the reader has some feel for the cultural setting of the monarchs as well.There are numerous color illustrations and photographs throughout the text, finely placed, and quite instructive.Each monarch has typically 2-4 pages devoted to their reign, with important dates and events set out in an easy to consult style.Some attempt is made to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each ruler and to assess how the British peoples fared under their guidance.In general, the presentation is fair-minded, following Shakespeare's dictum to comment on each ruler as s/he appeared, "nothing extenuant, nor aught set down in malice."Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Great Britain    3. Great Britain - History    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Kings and rulers    8. Monarchy    9. Scotland    10. British & Irish history    11. British Isles   

Subjects:  1. Clans    2. Encyclopedias    3. Europe - Great Britain - Scotland    4. Fashion    5. Genealogy    6. Highlands    7. Highlands (Scotland)    8. History - General History    9. Reference    10. Scotland    11. Social History    12. Tartans    13. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    14. Reference / General    15. Textile arts   

Reviews (9)

A well-thumbed guide . . .
Circumstances permitted us only a one-week visit to Scotland, and this book helped us make every day full and enjoyable. It led us to out-of-the-way places we never would have found on our own. Its straightforward descriptions made it easy to choose among several options in any area that we traveled through.
The best of the 3 books I took to Scotland
I took 3 books to Scotland -- Rough Guide, Frommer's, Fodor's (all 2004) and this was clearly the best.It was bigger and had more detail than the other's which was very useful when travelling 2200 miles around the country and wondering what there was to do or where to eat while in transit between planned stops.Rough Guide had lots of interesting things to do and places to visit in areas where the other two books had nothing.Fodor's and Frommer's tended to be more opinionated which was sometimes useful and I did find a good accommodation from Fodor's one night, but if I was only to take one book, it was clearly Rough Guide.

Outstanding
This was my fourth Rough Guide, and was perhaps the best of them all.It contains an incredible amount of detail on all sorts of historical monuments, large and small.This guide helped make my trip to Scotland perhaps the best of my vacations.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Europe - Gt. Britain/Scotland    3. Scotland - History    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides    7. Scotland    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Europe / Great Britain   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Christianity - History    3. Church history    4. Reformation    5. Reformation (1517-1648)    6. Religion - Church History    7. Scotland    8. British & Irish history    9. Constitution: government & the state   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. General    3. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    4. Biography: historical    5. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    6. Charles Edward    7. Friends and associates    8. MacDonald, Flora    9. Scotland    10. USA    11. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (4)

The Stone Puzzle that still is
Philip Coppens does write a fascinating book but leaves more questions than answers.I believe the book attempts to explain some of the mysteries and dispel some which seem to be more conspiracy theory and late mythology than fact.However, the puzzle of Roslyn Chapel still eludes us.There are too many unexplained symbols and designs in Roslyn.More so than are found in the great Gothic Cathedrals of Europe which I believe somehow are connected to a greater meaning and purpose.
Hearsy to disprove hearsay
The author of this iconoclastic text claims that the Sinclair legacy in Scotland is based on hearsay and then he proceeds to use hearsay to try and disprove it. I bought the book to learn about the Sinclairs and Rosslyn and came away knowing not what they are, but what they aren't.

Gnostics,kabbala ,Freemasonry, back versions.
From ethic historiography, sometimes to A point of incorporating elements from fictional literary devices describing entirely imaginary cultures. More commonly, however, elements are appropriated from a rapid process of reinterpretation and change thattransformed`exotic' occurrences or beliefs, into an organic part of the new context.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History: World    4. Medieval World History (Circa 450 - Circa 1450)    5. Sociology    6. World - General    7. Central Scotland    8. Christian worship    9. Religious buildings    10. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Europe - Gt. Britain/Scotland    3. General    4. History: World    5. Human ecology    6. Landscape    7. Natural History    8. Nature    9. Nature / Field Guide Books    10. Scotland    11. Scotland - History    12. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Europe    13. Wildlife    14. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    15. Places & peoples: general interest   

Reviews (5)

Nice piece of history
I enjoyed this dip into a pocket of history that I knew only by allusion from other works.Historical surveys are always entertaining; this one might have been improved by providing more depth and analysis--erudition--in probing the subtleties of the philosophical or economic world of the luminaries presented, or suggesting a reading program.

Disappointing
While Mr. Buchan provides interesting bits of knowledge, the book as a whole lacks a sense of cohesion to this reader. It seems torn between an attempt at a history of Edinburgh during a specific time and a random discussion of famous Scots of the same era.
very disappointing
Because of its glowing reviews and my strong interest in learning more about Edinburgh and Scotland, I had high expectations for this book. I was very disappointed. It assumes that the reader has a strong knowledge of Scottish history, so the neophyte will not learn much. Yet, the book is written at such a superficial level that a knowledgeable person will learn nothing new. As another Amazon reviewer points out, the book is essentially themeless and has no point of view. I know that the book received many positive reviews, but it is difficult to know what audience will get much out of it. I havn't been this disappointed in a book for a long time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Edinburgh    2. Edinburgh (Scotland)    3. Enlightenment    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Intellectual History    9. Scotland    10. Scotland - History    11. History / Great Britain