Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre [Hardcover]

John Prebble (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 1966

'You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and to put all to the sword under seventy.' This was the treacherous and cold-blooded order ruthlessly carried out on 13 February 1692, when the Campbells slaughtered their hosts the MacDonalds at the Massacre of Glencoe. It was a bloody incident which had deep repercussions and was the beginning of the destruction of the Highlanders. John Prebble's masterly description of the terrible events at Glencoe was praised as 'Evocative and powerful' in the "Sunday Telegraph".

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd; First Edition edition (March 21, 1966)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043638602X
• ISBN-13: 978-0436386022
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,508,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still proud to be a Campbell!, December 29, 2003

By 

Dennis Phillips "The Book Friar" (Bulls Gap, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glencoe (Paperback)

As a blood member of Clan Campbell I always make every effort to avoid the subject of Glencoe. For some reason though I picked up this book and I am glad that I did. John Prebble has done an excellent job of telling the whole story in this book and I have found that the legends leave a lot of the story out. This is a book that would be of interest to all people with Scottish ancestry, especially to those of Clans Campbell and MacDonald.

It seems that King William had become the target of mocking tongues around Europe because he could not control the Highlanders. He and his Secretary for Scotland, the Master of Stair were willing to do anything to solve the problem except spend money. Stair, a Lowlander had the normal Lowlander's hatred for the Highlanders and it was he who was most responsible for the massacre. But there is plenty of blame to go around.

The Campbells of course are not blameless for they actually carried out to plan, although they had no idea what they had been sent to Glencoe for until just hours before the deed was to be carried out. There were also very thinly veiled threats against the commander of the expedition if he failed to carry out the orders delivered to him less than twelve hours before the massacre was to commence. Campbell of Glenlyon, the commander of the troops involved, and most of his command had very good reason to despise the MacDonalds of Glencoe and were well chosen for the mission. After the massacre many Campbell troops carried home household items and animals that had been stolen from them by this set of MacDonalds. There was even a kettle in the chief's kitchen that had been stolen from the Campbell commander himself. Still warnings were apparently given to some of the Glencoe families and that along with a blinding snowstorm allowed most of the intended victims to escape. The author makes a very good argument that if Lowland or English troops had been sent instead of Campbells, the slaughter would have been much greater.

MacDonald of Glencoe himself must bear part of the blame for he knew full well that he must take the oath of loyalty before his local sheriff but since that officer was a Campbell he showed up at Fort William only twenty-four hours before the deadline hoping to avoid appearing before the Campbell sheriff. The commander of the fort as well as the Sheriff were sympathetic to MacDonald and asked that his late submission be accepted. The Master of Stair again enters the picture, making sure the oath wasn't accepted and ordering the attack. Even James II bears some responsibility as he delayed for an unreasonable time in freeing the clans from their oath to him, thereby putting his most loyal supporters in grave danger for no real reason.

Stair had assumed that there would be no repercussions from the raid since no one seemed to be all that fond of the MacDonalds of Glencoe. They had after all stolen from most of their neighbors and Stair figured this was just the group to hold out as an example of what happened to those who opposed King William. On one point Stair was correct for several other chiefs after hearing of Glencoe began to submit to the King. Stair had not taken into account the political hay that could be made of such an event however and he would shortly pay the price. The Jacobites were quick to try and use the massacre for their own purpose but they never got very far. On the other hand, Stair's political enemies were much more successful and in the end the King blamed Stair and the troops involved for the whole mess. It's good to be the King!

Well written, interesting account of an event that was and is far more notorious among Lowland and English politicians and American tourists than among the Clans themselves. Not a proud moment for us Campbells but I enjoyed the book anyhow.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scottish History at Its Best, April 22, 1998

By 

James Paris "Tarnmoor" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre (Hardcover)

In the waning years of the 17th century there was committed an atrocity whose echoes are still reverberating. Angered by the marauding ways of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, the King (William of Orange) and his ministers -- most notably the Master of Stair -- draft orders for their murder.
The Argyle regiment is sent to Glencoe and asks to be quartered with the MacDonalds. After two weeks of accepting the sacred hospitality of the highlanders, the troops wait for the signal and butcher their hosts. A wry "coda" describes how all the English and Scots politicos, from the King on down, tried to wriggle out of the responsibility for the massacre.
Prebble's Scottish histories are unfortunately out of print now. GLENCOE, as well as CULLODEN and THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES, are superbly written and a necessity for any tourist visiting Scotland who wants to understand the historical background.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mists of legend have lifted, January 3, 2006

By 

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

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This review is from: Glencoe (Paperback)

Glencoe is a great book. It helps peel back the legends and expands on references to the massacre of Glencoe for anyone who knows or has an interest in Scottish history. As mentioned, I was under the impression that it was mainly a clan feud. Being a member of Clan Donald I have heard of the Campbells and MacDonalds historical rivalry. Mr. Prebble helps show that it was more, much more. The MacDonalds of Glencoe were no angels for sure but the Highland way of life was very different from Lowland Scotland and England. Mr. Prebble shows us that it was a power play of a lowland government aiding an English cabinet and Dutch King (William III). This was a knee jerk reaction to the Jacobites and the beginning of the end of the Highland way of life. Mr. Prebble shows each character and his involvement in Glencoe and the fallout. We get a great history of the Glen and prior inhabitants and a good view of highland life and that of the Glencoe MacDonalds. We get some background into the primary Campbell's; the Earls of Argyll and Breadalbane and Captain Robert Campbell, laird of the neighboring Glenlyon and common rival to Glencoe. We meet MacIan of Glencoe and his sons. Plus the Master of Stair, Col. John Hill of Fort William and a little of William III. This book helps take out the legend and put in the facts and the many motives and actions that led to the Glencoe tragedy. Mr. Prebble spares no details. He is definitely thorough. A must read.