Read Scotland discussion
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Mar/Apr Nominations
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Ooh, sounds exciting! I'm going to spend some time finding a good book to nominate.
Mod
Can't wait to see what you suggest - I'm going to go have a good think too :)
Ooh such a big topic... I think I already have something in mind to nominate but I will mull it over for a day or so...
Looking forward to seeing what suggestions come up.
Ellen, do plays count? Specifically... I have in mind to nominate a reading of Macbeth by Shakespeare.(If plays are not a valid entry here, I'll just choose another title.) :)
I'd like to nominate Robert Owen: Social Visionary by Ian Donnachie. Although he's not Scottish, Owen is most closely associated with the New Lanark Mills near Glasgow, now a World Heritage Site.The book blurb rightly describes him as "one of the most important and controversial figures of his generation", and the book is written by a well-known Scottish historian.
OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life stories, shining a light on slavery and a pivotal moment in Scots Law. And Robertson is just a supremely wonderful writer. I'll be honest, I haven't read this one yet but have read many of his others, and admired the writing enormously.
Alan wrote: "OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life stories, shining a light on slav..."
Oh good choice, Alan, That's been on my radar for a while, really enjoy Robertson's works.
Was going to suggest The Bull Calves by Naomi Mitchison but it looks like it's out of print sadly.
Going to throw in The Bruce Trilogy by Nigel Tranter since the only other two that are springing to mind are either too heavy or too depressing.
Katrina wrote: "Alan wrote: "OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life stories, shining a ..."
Could you narrow it down a little? The trilogy is over 1000 pages and seems overwhelming to me.
Mod
(If plays are not a valid entry here, I'll just choose another title.) :)"
Yep, plays count. I’ll add Macbeth to the list :)
Mod
A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life sto..."
Katrina wrote: "Alan wrote: "OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.
A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life stories, shining a ..."
I would probably suggest the group reads the first book of the trilogy, The Steps to the Empty Throne , and then folk can decide to read further if they choose :)
Mod
A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life stories, shining a light on slav..."
Yes, I’ll add it to the list. I’ve read it, it’s brilliant! He’s one of my favourite writers :)
Mod
Perfect, I’ll add it to the nomination list :)
Alan wrote: "OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden real life stories, shining a light on slav..."
This sounds very interesting - definitely going on my "want to read" list.
Ellen wrote: "Susan wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Alan wrote: "OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden..."
Yup. Apologies. Throw a dash of sleep deprivation as well being that used to seeing it collected on the odd shelf in a book shop, it just turned into one book as far as I'm concerned. Really didn't think that one through at all.
Nominate the first one then The Steps to the Empty Throne
Ellen wrote: "Susan wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Alan wrote: "OK, decision made.... Can I nominate Joseph Knight by James Robertson.A fictionalised account of one of Scotland's hidden..."
Great. I am really interested in the subject. As an American I had a view of Robert Bruce influenced by the movie Braveheart so he was a little suspect to me. I was shocked to get to Scotland and discover how admired he was. I would like to get a truer picture of him.
https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2016/10/...8 Historical Fiction Books Set in Scotland
By Carly Silver|October 6, 2016
Whether you’re a history buff or simply waiting until the return of Outlander, we’ve rounded up a list of great historical fiction set in Scotland to tide you over. From the Tudor era to World War II, here are some of the best Scottish historical fiction titles, complete with publishers’ descriptions.
The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory — a dazzling new novel about the intriguing, romantic, and maddening Mary, Queen of Scots.
Fleeing violent rebellions in Scotland, Mary looks to Queen Elizabeth of England for sanctuary. Though promised protection, Mary, perceived as a serious threat to the English crown, is soon imprisoned by her former friend as a “guest” in the house of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The newly married couple welcomes the condemned queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court.
To their horror, they grow to realize that the task will bankrupt their estate and lose them what little favor they’ve managed to gain as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Queen Elizabeth. And Mary is not as hopeless as she appears, manipulating the earl and spinning her own web of treachery and deceit, as she sharpens her weapons to reclaim her Scottish throne — and to take over Queen Elizabeth’s of England.
Why we recommend it: Philippa Gregory, queen of Tudor fiction, turns her masterful pen north to Scotland. She brings the story of Queen Elizabeth I’s arch-nemesis and royal shadow, Mary, Queen of Scots, to vivid, dangerous life in a way only the author of The Other Boleyn Girl can.
High Kings and Vikings by Nigel Tranter
As Christendom approached the first Millennium, conflict and war prevailed throughout a troubled Scotland. The population remained under constant threat from bloodthirsty Viking raids, and the High Kings of Scots came and went, their brief reigns usually coming to a violent end.
In 995, young Cormac mac Farquhar, newly succeeding his father as Thane of Glamis, was to find himself reluctantly caught up in the misfortunes of the ruling monarch, Kenneth the Second, and the ensuing national chaos. But little did Cormac know that out of this legacy of hatred, he would find unexpected happiness.
In this compelling tale, Nigel Tranter vividly recreates the so-called Dark Ages, one of the most little-known — and violent — periods in the whole of Scotland’s dramatic history.
Why we recommend it: The don of Scottish historical fiction, Nigel Tranter wrote about virtually every period in his country’s history. High Kings and Vikings is a standout for shining a light on a little-explored period in Scottish history and highlighting the chaotic politics of the time with a strong, hunky hero.
Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King
From towering crags to misted moors and formidable fortresses, Lady Macbeth transports readers to the heart of 11th-century Scotland, painting a bold, vivid portrait of a woman much maligned by history.
Lady Gruadh, called Rue, is the last female descendant of Scotland’s most royal line. Married to a powerful northern lord, she is widowed while still carrying his child and forced to marry her husband’s murderer: a rising warlord named Macbeth. Encountering danger from Vikings, Saxons, and treacherous Scottish lords, Rue begins to respect the man she once despised — and then realizes that Macbeth’s complex ambitions extend beyond the borders of the vast northern region. Among the powerful warlords and their steel games, only Macbeth can unite Scotland — but his wife’s royal blood is the key to his ultimate success.
Determined to protect her son and a proud legacy of warrior kings and strong women, Rue invokes the ancient wisdom and secret practices of her female ancestors as she strives to hold her own in a warrior society. Finally, side-by-side as the last Celtic king and queen of Scotland, she and Macbeth must face the gathering storm brought on by their combined destiny.
Lady Macbeth as you’ve never seen her…
Why we recommend it: The fascinating character from Shakespeare’s Macbeth finally gets her own story told in Susan Fraser King’s medieval masterpiece. Here, the most infamous woman in theatrical history plays the Game of Thrones as well as anyone.
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
In this thrilling new novel from the author of Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen again demonstrates her talent for creating spellbinding period pieces. At the Water’s Edge is a gripping and poignant love story about a privileged young woman’s awakening as she experiences the devastation of World War II in a tiny village in the Scottish Highlands.
After disgracing themselves at a high society New Year’s Eve party in Philadelphia in 1944, Madeline Hyde and her husband, Ellis, are cut off financially by his father, a former army colonel who is already ashamed of his son’s inability to serve in the war. When Ellis and his best friend, Hank, decide that the only way to regain the Colonel’s favor is to succeed where the Colonel very publicly failed — by hunting down the famous Loch Ness monster — Maddie reluctantly follows them across the Atlantic, leaving her sheltered world behind.
The trio find themselves in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands, where the locals have nothing but contempt for the privileged interlopers. Maddie is left on her own at the isolated inn, where food is rationed, fuel is scarce, and a knock from the postman can bring tragic news. Yet she finds herself falling in love with the stark beauty and subtle magic of the Scottish countryside. Gradually she comes to know the villagers, and the friendships she forms with two young women open her up to a larger world than she knew existed. Maddie begins to see that nothing is as it first appears: The values she holds dear prove unsustainable, and monsters lurk where they are least expected.
As she embraces a fuller sense of who she might be, Maddie becomes aware not only of the dark forces around her, but of life’s beauty and surprising possibilities.
Why we recommend it: Scotland stuns as a wonderful secondary character in this touching World War II novel. The country’s magic and exquisite scenery are a perfect backdrop to this magical tale.
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
Fans of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series will devour this hauntingly beautiful tale of love and time travel by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Susanna Kearsley.
History has all but forgotten…
In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.
Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write.
But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth — the ultimate betrayal — that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her…
Why we recommend it: This time-jumping romance is replete with drama and excitement — and who doesn’t love a Gothic castle as a suspenseful backdrop?
The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett
The first book in the legendary Lymond Chronicles, Game of Kings takes place in 1547. Scotland has been humiliated by an English invasion and is threatened by machinations elsewhere beyond its borders, but it is still free. Paradoxically, her freedom may depend on a man who stands accused of treason: Francis Crawford of Lymond.
Why we recommend it: A classic for any historical fiction fan, the Lymond Chronicles follow the adventures of Francis Crawford, a devious yet fascinatingly sympathetic character across Europe. Dunnett shines a light not just on Scotland, but also other nations and the changing face of the Renaissance-era world around Crawford.
The Captive Queen of Scots by Jean Plaidy
“Burn the murderess!”
So begins Jean Plaidy’s The Captive Queen of Scots, the epic tale of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, cousin to Queen Elizabeth of England. After her husband, Lord Darnley, is murdered, suspicion falls on Mary and her lover, the Earl of Bothwell. A Catholic in a land of stern Protestants, Mary finds herself in the middle of a revolt, as her bloodthirsty subjects call for her arrest and execution. In disgrace, she flees her Scottish persecutors for England, where she appeals to Queen Elizabeth for mercy, but to no avail. Throughout Mary’s long years as the Queen’s prisoner, she conceives many bold plans for revenge and escaping to freedom — but the gallows of Fotheringhay Castle loom…
Set against royal pageantry, religious strife, and bloody uprising — and filled with conspiracies, passion, heartbreak, and fascinating historical detail — The Captive Queen of Scots is an unforgettable, page-turning tale of the intense rivalry between two powerful women of noble blood.
Why we recommend it: The British counterpart to Nigel Tranter, Jean Plaidy made her name writing about almost every monarch in English history. The Captive Queen of Scots focuses on the end of Mary, Queen of Scots’s rule, and her epic downfall and rivalry with her cousin, Queen Elizabeth.
The Forest Laird by Jack Whyte
In the predawn hours of August 24th, 1305, in London’s Smithfield Prison, the outlaw William Wallace — hero of all the Scots and deadly enemy of King Edward of England — sits awaiting the dawn, when he is to be hanged and then drawn and quartered. This brutal sundering of his body is the revenge of the English. Wallace is visited by a Scottish priest who has come to hear his last confession, a priest who knows Wallace like a brother. Wallace’s confession — the tale that follows — is all the more remarkable because it comes from real life.
We follow Wallace through his many lives — as outlaw and fugitive, hero and patriot, rebel and kingmaker. His exploits and escapades, desperate struggles and victorious campaigns are all here, as are the high ideals and fierce patriotism that drove him to abandon the people he loved to save his country.
William Wallace, the first heroic figure from the Scottish Wars of Independence and a man whose fame has reached far beyond his homeland, served as a subject for the Academy Award–winning film Braveheart. In The Forest Laird, Jack Whyte’s masterful storytelling breathes life into Wallace’s tale, giving readers an amazing character study of the man who helped shape Scotland’s future.
Why we recommend it: If you loved Braveheart, check out The Forest Laird, which shows the harsh reality of the Scottish freedom fight. A one-man tour de force, Wallace emerges as a flawed hero whose story readers will eagerly follow.
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Nominating
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Mod
Swords for Hire: The Scottish Mercenary by James Miller."Great, I’ll add it to the nomination list :)
Mod
A fictionalised account of one of Sco..."
Hi Susan, I know very little about Robert the Bruce, it’s on my list of things to explore. I also haven’t seen Braveheart (shock horror)! From memory, I think Joseph Knight is set later and swaps between two eras before and after the Jacobite cause. It is also a book about a slave fighting for his right to freedom in Scotland. Hope this helps, though I could be wrong, I read it a long while ago so easily could be confused! :)
Mod
8 Historical Fiction Books Set in Scotland
By Carly Silver|October 6, 2016
Whether you’re a history buff or simply waiti..."
Great list, Kirk! Are you wanting to choose one of these to nominate? I was planning on making the poll tonight ready for tomorrow (it has to be set up the day before) so if you could let me know which book you fancy that would be awesome. If you’re busy and I don’t hear from you, I’ll pick one at random last thing tonight and add it to the poll, as they all look pretty good :)
Ellen wrote: "Kirk wrote: "https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2016/10/...8 Historical Fiction Books Set in Scotland
By Carly Silver|October 6, 2016
Whether you’re a history buff or s..."
Hi Ellen. It was a great list, wasn't it? I note at the end of it (which you might have missed) that Kirk says he would like to nominate At the Water's Edge - just in case Kirk doesn't see your message in time for the poll to go up!
I know which one I'm voting for but it looks like a great bunch and great reading ahead, whichever wins :)
Mod
8 Historical Fiction Books Set in Scotland
By Carly Silver|October 6, 2016
Whether you’re a his..."
Ooh thank you! I was distracted looking up the books on the list!
Mod
8 Historical Fiction Books Set in Scotland
By Carly Silver|October 6, 2016
Whether you’re a history buff or simply waiti..."
Forget my first reply Kirk, Alan kindly pointed out which one you nominated, and I've added it to the list :) I've had my third cup of black coffee now so finally may be awake!
Mod
(The Lady Macbeth one looks utterly fantastic as well, I'll be looking that up for my TBR pile too...)
Nominate before 10pm GMT tonight if you haven't already :)
I think we've got a really good selection of books and I'll make up the poll this evening. Really excited to see which books wins...
Ellen wrote: "Kirk wrote: "https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2016/10/...8 Historical Fiction Books Set in Scotland
By Carly Silver|October 6, 2016
Great, thx to both!!!
Whether you’re a history buff or..."
Mod
I'll message everyone when it's open...
Eek it's affa close. I got my copy of Joseph Knight out of the library today, and given I nominated it I sure hope it wins!! Either way, it's on my tbr list this next month.
Mod
We have a winner in the poll (I thought it was going to be a tie!)
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
I’ve set up two discussion threads for general chat, offers and availability on the book, thoughts on the author etc...
General Discussion Thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
And here’s the Spoiler Thread for those who have finished and want to discuss all the juicy plot twists and details...
Spoiler Thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Enjoy!
Mod
I highly recommend Joseph Knight, I would read it anyways!
Alas, my library doesn't have the winner, and tbh it doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I will be reading Joseph Knight, so will probably pop back in now and again just to annoy you and let you know how it's going lol. Enjoy the winning title, and see you all again in advance of the next vote!!
Ellen wrote: "Hey everyone, We have a winner in the poll (I thought it was going to be a tie!)
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Yea!!!!
I’ve set up two discussion threads for general..."
Mod
We have a winner in the poll (I thought it was going to be a tie!)
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Yea!!!!
I’ve set up two discuss..."
Congrats Kirk, looking forward to reading it :)
Read Scotland
Books mentioned in this topic
At the Water's Edge (other topics)At the Water's Edge (other topics)
At the Water's Edge (other topics)
The Forest Laird: A Tale of William Wallace (other topics)
At the Water's Edge (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sara Gruen (other topics)Sara Gruen (other topics)
Sara Gruen (other topics)
Jack Whyte (other topics)
James Robertson (other topics)
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The theme is Historical Scotland - nominate books about fierce Scottish battles, famous Scottish historical figures, or past eras from ancient Scotland to retro Scotland. Any decade, any era, the choice is yours!
Comment your nomination below, looking forward to seeing what past-time is nominated...
We're revisiting Historical Scotland as a request from a group member: if you want a particular theme for a group read, feel free to let me know! :)
Notes: Please only one nomination per person for this theme. If you can, use the 'add book/author' button to link the book and author to avoid confusion. Nominations must have a Scottish link.