A vivid, comprehensive history of Scotland ranges from its earliest Stone Age settlers, through the influence of the many invaders--Romans, Picts, Vikings, and the English--on the country, to recent movements to promote Scottish independence from Britain, documenting the political, cultural, economic, and other forces that have shaped the nation.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Near Stirling, Scotland, stands a memorial to the warrior William Wallace, put to death at the orders of the English king Edward I in 1305. Within that memorial stands a glass case, and inside of it stands a broadsword 1.7 meters long. Legend has it that the hero himself wielded the weapon, and so "Wallace's Sword" it is.
Magnus Magnusson, a native of Iceland who has long lived in and written about Scotland, may spoil it for some readers when he writes that Wallace's Sword probably wasn't Wallace's. To use it, Wallace would have had to have stood at least 6-foot-6 in height and to have lived two centuries later. The business of the sword is just one of the "cherished conceptions" about Scottish history that Magnusson picks apart and then, corrected and improved, restores. At other turns he considers the true identity of the legendary king Macbeth (and entertains some surprising but plausible theories about the king's alter ego); reconstructs decisive battles such as Otterburn, Flodden, and Glencoe; and looks closely at the complicated negotiations (and, many would say, treacheries) that led to the union with England of 1707. Magnusson closes with an account of modern independence movements and the recent return of some measure of national autonomy, opening a "new chapter in a nation's story, which the people of Scotland are now beginning to write."
Lucid, witty, and unafraid of controversy, Magnusson's book does a fine job of condensing a complex history, stretching out for 10 millennia, into a single volume. --Gregory McNamee
Magnus Magnusson is an Icelandic national who has spent most of his life in Scotland. After studying English at Oxford, he joined the Scottish Daily Express in 1953, and The Scotsman in 1961 as Assistant Editor. Since 1967 he has been a freelance writer and broadcaster, specialising in history, archaeology and environmental affairs. He has presented many programmes on BBC TV, including Chronicle (1967--80), Mastermind (1972--97), and a 12-part series on Vikings! (1980). He has published more than 20 books.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Seller: Books Unplugged, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.
Condition: Fair. Buy with confidence! Book is in acceptable condition with wear to the pages, binding, and some marks within 1.58. Seller Inventory # bk0871137984xvz189zvxacp
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Acceptable. Very Good. Seller Inventory # 00082115727
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00077676058
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Ergodebooks, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. A vivid, comprehensive history of Scotland ranges from its earliest Stone Age settlers, through the influence of the many invaders--Romans, Picts, Vikings, and the English--on the country, to recent movements to promote Scottish independence from Britain, documenting the political, cultural, economic, and other forces that have shaped the nation. Seller Inventory # SONG0871137984
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Good condition. This is the average used book, that has all pages or leaves present, but may include writing. Book may be ex-library with stamps and stickers. 1.58. Seller Inventory # 353-0871137984-gdd
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Old Sage Bookshop, Prescott, AZ, U.S.A.
Hard Cover with Dustjacket. Condition: Like New. Dust Jacket Condition: Like New. Book Club Edition. Hardcover with dustjacket : like new / like new. Jacket in new mylar protector. Might cost extra for priority or international shipping. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book. Seller Inventory # 132116
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 1.58. Seller Inventory # 0871137984-2-3
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Manyhills Books, Traralgon, VIC, Australia
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Edition. Hardcover. 734 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Atlantic Monthly Press, USA, 2000. First Edition. *** CONDITION: The book itself is in fine condition and comes in good dust jacket. More specifically: Boards have no wear, rubbing or soiling. Edges of dust jacket have light bumping and moderate chips and/or tears. Dust jacket is unclipped. Pages are clean and unmarked and in excellent condition. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: A vivid, comprehensive history of Scotland ranges from its earliest Stone Age settlers, through the influence of the many invaders--Romans, Picts, Vikings, and the English--on the country, to recent movements to promote Scottish independence from Britain, documenting the political, cultural, economic, and other forces that have shaped the nation. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: History; ISBN: 0871137984. ISBN/EAN: 9780871137982. Inventory No: 24030074. This item is heavy and may require additional shipping costs for destinations outside Australia. Seller Inventory # 24030074
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Sabra Books, Naperville, IL, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First American Edition. Binding is not as tight. Some wear along the DJ edges. Minor rubbing wear to DJ. Some wear along the edges of the book. THIS IS A HEAVY AND OVERSIZE BOOK. ALL ORDERS MIGHT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES. Book may contain some residual odor from prior storage. Seller Inventory # 110169
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: BennettBooksLtd, North Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!. Seller Inventory # Q-0871137984
Quantity: 1 available