Read Scotland discussion

The first two Scottish books I plan on reading this year are Matter and Motion by James Clerk Maxwell and the third McAuslan story by George MacDonald Fraser: The Sheik and the Dustbin.

Speaking of Fraser, since I have greatly enjoyed all of his works, I plan on reading his infamous Flashman books. That should definitely help me achieve my goal if I get around to that series.

Elliot wrote: "The first two Scottish books I plan on reading this year are Matter and Motion by James Clerk Maxwell and the third McAuslan story by [author:George MacDonald Fraser|1..."

Glad you're here Elliot, good luck with your challenge :)

I've not heard of the author or the Flashman books, but you're right, they'll certainly keep you going - there's lots of them!

I finished my first book of the year and am off to a good start!

1. McAuslan Entire by George MacDonald Fraser. This collection of short stories inspired by Fraser's own experiences as subaltern in the Gordon Highlanders is an absolute gem! Here is my review if you're interested https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Even if you're not interested in military/war books, I think you could find these books enjoyable. The stories are mostly lighthearted and focused around such trivial matters as guard duty at Edinburgh Castle, inter-regimental golf rivalries and trivia competitions, and more!

P.S. This counts as a Scottish read because Fraser is Scottish, and several stories take place in Scotland, and in one of Scotland's most famous regiments.

2. Matter and Motion by James Clerk Maxwell .

This is a brief summary of mechanics and Dynamics, a field of physics by, arguably, Scotland's most important scientist. The style is archaic, and a little difficult to get used to. It mostly served as a review of what I've learned in my classes, but there were some new items that I picked up. I mostly read it because I am taking Dynamics currently, and wanted to read an old scientific text. While the language is dated, the material is sound. I had a fun time reading this, but wouldn't recommend it to those trying to learn physics for the first time.

Fascinating about Matter and Motion. Not that I would read but I love the variety of things everyone is reading.

3. A Distant Field: A Novel of World War I by our very own R.J. MacDonald.

I must say it's strange reviewing a book after interacting with its author (even if only online), but I can say without guile that I enjoyed this book. It will probably appeal to those with an interest in military history and World War I in particular. The attention to detail is great, but the battle scenes are gruesome and not for the faint of heart. Here's my review if you're interested https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4. Napoleon's Conquest Of Prussia, 1806 by F. Loraine Petre

I had no intention of this being a book towards my Scotland challenge, as I read it for another group (The Napoleonic Wars). But, it turns out the author, Francis Loraine Petre, was born in Aberdeen, to an English father and Scottish mother. Either war, I'll take a surprise addition to the list! I also plan on reading his other books on the Napoleonic wars, as I enjoyed this one a lot.

Here's my review if you're interested, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5. Napoleon's Campaign In Poland 1806-1807 by F. Loraine Petre.

Following up on his book about the 1806 Prussian campaign, Petre gives an excellent account of the subsequent Polish campaign. This aspect of the Napoleonic wars has very little written about it in English, which makes this account valuable, even considering its age.

Here's my review if you're interested, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Again, it counts towards my Scotland challenge because Petre was born in Aberdeen.

Well I received a copy of Swords for Hire: The Scottish Mercenary from the library today. It looks like the perfect book for me! I'm currently reading The Thirty Years' War by Geoffrey Parker right now, which is great timing, because much of Swords for Hire focuses on the Thirty Years War (It's almost like I planned it that way!). It'll be nice to flesh out the very detailed but dry account in Parker's book. I'll start it soon.

Here's an excerpt from Swords for Hire: The Scottish Mercenary that I couldn't resist sharing. Have fun deciphering!

"The record of the Scottish Privy Council's decision in 1552 to send men to fight in France provides details of the weapons and clothing of these levies: 'all thai to be hagbutteris, will furnist with pulder flask, morsing horne, and all uthair geir belangand thairto gif it be possibill, and abilyeit [clothed] with new hoise and new dublett of canvas at the least'. Men without firearms [hagbuts] were to carry the pike - 'ane speir of sex ellis lang' e and were to be clothed in jak, steilbonet, swerd, buklair, splentis and slevis of plait or mailye.' "

From reading I've found another book right up my alley: Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment Called Mac-Keys. This is the first example of a regimental history. Robert Monro was a mercenary officer who served for the king of Denmark, Christian IV and most notably under Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden. The regiment he served in, the Mac-Keys consisted of Scottish mercenaries, many being recruited from the Highlands. They saw action in significant events during the Thirty Years War, such as the siege of Straslund and the first battle of Breitenfeld. I received a copy from my library yesterday, and while I have a few books I have to finish first, I look forward to reading it!

6. Swords for Hire: The Scottish Mercenary by James Miller.

I had a great time reading this book, which surveyed the experiences of those Scots who served as mercenary soldiers from the 15th century up until the late 18th century. I was surprised to learn how many ubiquitous they were on the continent, and at how many achieved high-ranking positions in various countries.

If you're interested, here's my review, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

7. Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment Called Mac-Keys by Robert Monro.

This memoir of sorts tells the history of the Scottish Mac-Keys regiment which Monro served in (and commanded) during the Thirty Years War.

Here's my lengthy review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

In short, the book was interesting at times, and boring at times. It's a significant historical text, as its the most complete record of a soldier in the Thirty Years War written in English, but I doubt anyone but the historians (and crazy people like me) would read this book.

Well, it's been nearly two months since my last Scottish read. I'm glad I can now remedy that absence,

8. The Gallant Gordons: or 'Scotland For Ever' by John Percy Groves

This book is a juvenile novel from around 1900, set mostly in the early years of the French Revolution. The main character begins as a young boy of "true highland blood". Later on, he joins the Gordon Highlanders, one of Scotland's most famous regiments, where he sees combat in Ireland, Belgium, and even Egypt.

Here's my full review if you're interested, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Elliot wrote: "Well, it's been nearly two months since my last Scottish read. I'm glad I can now remedy that absence,

8. [book:The Gallant Gordons..."

Interesting review, Elliot, I think you gave it a fair appraisal. I love old books, even if the stories and plots are a bit iffy, they feel nicer to keep somehow. And you can’t go wrong with illustrations :)

I agree! For me, one of the reasons why I'm interested in old books is because I enjoy owning a piece of history.

I am currently reading The Romance of War or the Highlanders in Spain by James Grant.

Grant was a prolific Scottish author in the 19th century. The Romance of War, which was first published in 1845, follows a young (fictional) officer in the Gordon Highlanders -- a Scottish regiment of the British army. The book is set in the Peninsular War; that is in Spain and southern France in the years 1811-1814 and even includes the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

I'm really enjoying this book so far, though I dare say few modern readers would like it. The following article contains a detailed and academic review of the book by a professor of Spanish literature, among other British novels about the Peninsular War: https://rua.ua.es/dspace/bitstream/10.... If you're not interested in the whole article, here is a germane excerpt which summarizes the book well:

"...by far the most important nineteenth-century novel of the Peninsular War is James Grant's The Romance of War, or, The Highlanders in Spain, published in 1845 (London, George Routledge). James Grant (1822-1877), "the novelist of war", was the son of a captain in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders who had served with distinction in the Peninsular campaigns and whose recollections formed the basis of The Romance of War. James Grant entered the Army as an ensign but resigned his commission at the age of twenty one to devote himself to writing historical novels. His novels, all meticulously researched, dealt mainly with military episodes and characters, frequently taken from Scottish history. Grant, a partisan of the Stuarts, considered Scottish history "romantic". The Scotland he recreates is one of brutal chieftains, superstition, blood feuds, and treachery.

Apart from the frequent references to the Scottish risings of 1745 and their heavy-handed repression, the history covered in The Romance of War parallels that of the military service of Grant's father during the Napoleonic War. Ronald Stuart. with a regiment of the Gordon Highlanders, arrives in Portugal in the spring of 1812; he is stationed in Alburquerque and serves with Sir Rowland Hill's division at the capture of Mérida and in the subsequent campaigns in central and western Spain. Between 1813 and 1815, he takes part in the Battle of Vitoria, the campaigns of the Pyrenees, and the Battles of the Nive, Orthez, Toulouse, and Waterloo."

9. The Romance of War or the Highlanders in Spain by James Grant

Here's my review, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I hope it's informative, at least!