336 pages, Tempus Publishing, ISBN-13:
978-0752438146
The history of the
Scottish monarchy can be presented as a long tale of triumph over adversity,
characterized by the personal achievements of its truly remarkable rulers who
transformed their fragile kingdom into the master of northern Britain. The Kings & Queens of Scotland charts
this process, tracing it through the lives of the men and women whose ambitions
drove it forward on the often rocky path from its semi-mythical foundations to
its integration into the Stewart kingdom of Great Britain. It is a route filled
with such towering personalities as Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, and Mary Queen of
Scots, whose lives have made an indelible imprint in world history, but
directed also by a host of less well-known figures, such as Causantin mac Aeda,
who challenged the heirs of Alfred for the mastery of Britain; David I, who
extended his kingdom almost to the gates of York; and James IV, builder of the
finest navy in northern Europe. Their will and ambition, successes, and
failures not only shaped modern Scotland, but have left their mark throughout
the British Isles and the wider world.
The collection of
biographical essays on Scottish monarchs, edited by Richard Oram, offers the
reader a unique opportunity to learn Scottish history through the lives of her
kings and queens. Due to scarcity of available materials, the early Scottish
kings are presented in one chapter. Starting with Malcolm III, each of the
monarchs is given a brief separate presentation of their lives and achievements
both before their ascension and during their reigns. The book clearly
concentrates of the medieval history (the reigns of “The British Stuarts” from
Charles I to Anne comprise less than 10% of the volume) but I can hardly object
as the early Scottish kings are quite obviously the least known and, probably,
the most interesting. The essays are illustrated with photographs of coins,
seals, and portraits of the monarchs, adding to the value of the book.
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