Customer Reviews

Edinburgh Under Siege: 1571-1573

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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In his introduction, the author states that he has tried to describe the events from the point of view of the participants, "uncoloured by our knowledge of the final denoument." Like most Americans, I actually did not know anything about the Siege, much less how it turned out. In this short book, I learned a great deal about that tulmultuous period of Scottish history, the individuals involved, and the geography (helped by having visited Edinburgh). The story is told deftly, with the author able to keep the events clear and exciting, even though there are many complicated details and a great number of individuals who play a role. I could not wait to find out exactly what happened (although a big hint is given at the beginning when the author tells us that one of the characters will end in the gallows). This book is an example of how history should be written.

There are few books that I have purchased twice, and Edinburgh under Siege is one. I use one for my research and make notes in the margins, but the other is for my library. It is the principal source used in my forthcoming historical novel THE LAST KNIGHT and the Queen of Scots, the adventures of William Kirkcaldy of Grange. Potter very astutely pointed me to my hero's fatal flaw, and while I winced to read his words, I could not disagree. I agree with the other review that states that Potter writes history in the way it should be written. With issues of union and independence viable topics in today's Scotland, this book takes upon a special significance.