In the terrible aftermath of the moorland battle of Culloden, the Highlanders suffered at the hands of their own clan chiefs. Following his magnificent reconstruction of Culloden, John Prebble recounts how the Highlanders were deserted and then betrayed into famine and poverty. While their chiefs grew rich on meat and wool, the people died of cholera and starvation or, evicted from the glens to make way for sheep, were forced to emigrate to foreign lands. 'Mr. Prebble tells a terrible story excellently. There is little need to search further to explain so much of the sadness and emptiness of the northern Highlands today' - "The Times".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dramatic but without Direction,
By
This review is from: The Highland Clearances (Paperback)
Chronologically the last piece of Prebble's "Highland Trilogy", this book chronicles the forced removal of the Highland peoples from their land so that sheep farming could be introduced. I found this book a little difficult to follow. In the other two books there is a defining event around which actions before and after are connected. In "The Highland Clearances" there is no seminal event to serve as a focus. Instead we're given a thorough exposition on the extirpation of a way of life. In that regard the book is very good. Prebble weaves drama with scholarly detail. One comes away with a profound understanding of how laissez-faire economics, prejudice, and unwavering loyalty to the feudal system all clashed. Prebble clearly sides with the evicted peoples and it's easy to see why. But he offers no explanation as to why there wasn't more armed resistance to the "factors" and their writs of removal. Forced evacuation from one's land stirs the emotions and the lack of resistance to it is puzzling. So is the fact that the resistance was usually staffed by women, whose blood was shed more often than that of their husbands. An explanation for why the menfolk didn't participate in the meager defences is never given. Probably my biggest objection to the book is that there is a shuffling timeline presented whereas a chronological exposition would have made the book more accessible. Still, Prebble was a great author who knew his subject matter very well. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Scottish history.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An essential parable for our times,
By Mark Dowie (dow@nbn.com) (Point Reyes Station, California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Highland Clearances (Paperback)
Anyone who believes that the "ethnic cleansing" we are witnessing today in Yugoslavia is something new, should read this gripping history.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read, but un-necessarily emotional at times.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Highland Clearances (Paperback)
Well researched, lucid review of the highland clearances, with vivid descriptive examples of conflict and black-house burning.
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