Chain of Destiny (Coronet Books) [Paperback]

Nigel G. Tranter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996 | Series: Coronet Books

A fictionalized account of James Stewart King of Scots. His reign was to be colourful and during those years he became Scotland's best loved king. He inspired loyalty from men and love from women. So great was his people's affection that his entire army gave their lives for him at Flodden.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340212381
• ISBN-13: 978-0340212387
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,264,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant King, the Stone of Destiny and a love story!!, December 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Chain of Destiny (Coronet Books) (Paperback)

If you love Scotland and its history, if you think you know what it is to admire a King, then you must read this account. First some confessions. I own some 25 titles by this author, and I have loved everything I have read. Nigel Tranter's rich and thorough understanding of Scotland and the Scottish heart make him a unique narrator of this heritage. We miss and long for the Senachie (my spelling here is incorrect, and drawn from memory), the Storyteller and Historian, someone who knows the stories, understands their meaning as they relate to one another, and makes them relevant. This is what Nigel Tranter does, again and again in each of his fictionalized histories. I sometimes imagine Mr. Tranter standing next to the newly Crowned and Anointed King of Scots, reciting the lineage from Kenneth to the current King. (But the Blair government would have to go so much farther.)

After reading any one of his works, I go back to the histories and find more detail and understand more of what is presented because his stories create the point of reference. And this is the case with the story of James the IV, of Scotland, by the Grace of God, King of Scots, and as the story tells, first Crown to be called, "Lord of the Isles."

If you like early Renaissance Romances, or Pre-Elizabethan story lines, if you love the coming of age stories and the success of a capable young man coming into his own, then this is a great story. The history is magnificent, but, like other histories, as grand and noble as it is at its best, tragic in the end.

I remember admiring the character of the young Prince, newly made fatherless by the assassination of the King, James III in the battle that took his life. In seeing his father's dead body, and the mystery surrounding the exact means of this death, James felt a level of responsibility and guilt in the insurrection that caused the battle. As he looks at his father, the King of Scots, dead body, he sees a chain of iron hanging nearby. According to legend, he wore this chain about his waist throughout his life.

He grows to become one of Scotland's most beloved Kings. He attempts to reign in the Douglas Family, who at this point would have continued to rule in effect and, as implied in the story, to the detriment of Scotland. I love the History of the Douglas's in and around 1350 to 1400, as they come to power. This story reflects on what that power had become, and at what price the son's of the great Douglas Earls would pay to maintain their station.

We read a story of young love, as the King tries to negotiate his own marriage, and the resulting power plays and legends that are fed by this attempt. Any Lindsay will thrill at the idea of the close association to the Crown. Issues with the 'Lordship of the Isles,' with Crowned Heads playing in tournaments and a great speculative story line concerning the 'Stone of Destiny' is to great for summary and requires reading.

However, marriages of Kings are part of politics. And without this thread, there would be no foundation for the claims by James's great-grandson, James VI to become King of Scotland and England, in succession to Elizabeth I. These are the days of the uncertain succession of Henry VIII, and the impact on the destiny of Scotland. Bound, as it were, by a chain, linking Scotland's Throne inevitably with that of England. Not even Queen Mary of Scotland, in attempting to make things happen by force and intrigue, could undo the chain of events that would lead to this final history. But those are other stories and other books. Many of which, if not all, have been written by Nigel Tranter.

In closing, I will note that I had the good fortune of seeing Mr. Tranter on an A&E or History Channel program concerning Clans in Scotland called, as I recall, "Gathering of the Clans." It was a delightful piece. Again, full of anecdotes and stories. But it was great to see one of my favorite authors. I only hope he keeps writing, and producing these splendid books.

Mathew Allen Phoenix, AZ December, 1998 [e-mail] or [e-mail]

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern-day heroic tragedy, March 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chain of Destiny (Coronet Books) (Paperback)

I'll not go to the great effort of the previous reviewer, who is undoubtedly very educated in Mister Tranter's work and Scots history. Nevertheless, I must reiterate his praise of Nigel Tranter's "old-fashioned" brand of story-telling. I have read around a dozen of Tranter's historic-based fictions, and rate this one in my current top four, along with the "The Montrose Omnibus" (trilogy), "Poetic Justice" and "True Thomas." Things I like about this book & Nigel Tranter's works (not necessarily in order). . . 1. The richness and depth of the history, which is thoroughly Scotland, and thus heroic, bloody, colorful, sad and tragic. 2. Tranter's extremely detailed geographic reference; whereby the traveller's route is almost always thoroughly described. This makes it fun to look on a modern-day map for reference, and gives my wife and I some ideas for our upcoming first trip to Scotland! 3. In many books the focus is not always upon the chief historical character (e.g., Mary Queen of Scots; James V), but on a "lesser" player in history. While these characters are actually far from being the "common man," they do remind us that great people and great events have many less-known players behind them! 4. Mister Tranter's willingness to "tell it like it is/was" and not "pull punches" in telling of historic events. Great blunders of Scots history are revealed and explained, often related to the divisiveness of the great noble houses and clans that Tranter makes oh so clear.

OK-- enough already! I didn't intend to write even this much, but the books of Tranter have truly taken a hold on me. These stories have inspired me to take up reading after years of never finishing or caring to read other books. Next book in line to be read: "The Wisest Fool."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 200 years later, Bruce Re-born!, June 19, 2006

By 

Shawn Marchinek "McDonald" (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chain of Destiny (Coronet Books) (Paperback)

Here we have a worthy descendant of the hero-king, Robert the Bruce. Bearing his own guilt at gaining the crown after the murder of his father, James III, he follows his ancestor, Robert who bore the guilt of the murder of his rival for the Scottish throne, John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch. James IV wears his iron chain of penitence as he proves to be "the" King of Scots.
Soon after his coronation he shows himself adept at Kingship by throwing off the yoke of the Lords who would rule through him, lead by Archibald, bell the cat, Douglas, Earl of Angus. Always weary James must play one lord off the other, as he slowly asserts himself as King of all Scotland, Lowlands and Highlands. With his close companions, Sir Robert Bruce of Airth and Highland Chieftain, MacGregor of Glenarklet, he seeks out the Stone of Destiny in the highlands, claims the Lordship of the Isles for the crown and finally pacifies the MacDonalds and ultimately all the highlands. Then he plays the Lowland lords off one another keeping the peace in Scotland for many years.
James IV also has a love for Women, much like his ancestor, the Bruce, but maybe he is also taking after his Grandfather, Christian, King of Denmark too. Although we see his love life progress from Mariot Boyd, mother of Alexander, future Archbishop of St. Andrews and companion of his father's fate. He progresses through many to the love of his life Margaret Drummond. Who was queen in all but name. She helped shape him and nurture him and make the King he was. After her tragic loss, the way is cleared for an all but loveless marriage to Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England, and proves the beginning of the end of James.
He is the first popular King of ALL the people of Scotland. He maintains his sometimes overly zealous honor to the ultimate loss of Scotland. We see the tragic end of a great King and all the possibilities for a Scotland on the rise in the European stage. This is where James departs from his ancestor the Bruce. Bruce began his ultimate rise at the Battle of Bannockburn with the English, whereas all ended against the English Army at the Battle of Flodden Hill, for James IV and his brave and Chivalric Scots.
A wonderful tale by Tranter, Chain of Destiny is second only to the Bruce Trilogy for story, character development; vivid detail and being able actually feel like you are there. This book ever reinforces my respect and love of the Tranter books. I lived, learned, loved and died in Scotland with James IV. I stopped reading only to sleep and sometimes that had to wait for "Just one more chapter..." If there was a six star rating this book would get it.