Customer Reviews

Highlanders: A History of the Scottish Clans

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book, in itself, is a study in the origin of the clan system in Scotland and a general history of how the Highlanders came to be in the land of Scotland as it is known today. Highlanders: A History of Scottish Clans is a book anyone interested in the Clans of Scotland would find quite informative. Seasoned historians alike could learn much from Fitzroy McLeans' book about the Highlanders. His approach is fresh, his timing is superb, his views keenly discriminating. To the origins of the Scottish Highlanders his facts are unequalled. A must for any historian or genealogist studing the names of Scotland

A wee bit more of a coffee table book than a really history book, it gives those interested in Scotland an arm chair view of Scotland from its Origins to Culloden. The history is very good, more than a Wee Guide to...and is loaded with 100s of gorgeous colour photos of every aspects of the wonderful and beauty of Scotland, from its stone circles to jewellery, portraits and naturally, the castles.

After the Epilogue, it has a quickie Clan and Tartan section, so the book is everything for the person wishes to learn a little more than 'Braveheart' about Scotland. Likely one of the best in this range of lots of photos and a good start on its history.

This book is a treasure to me. It sits in a prominent spot on my bookshelf, and will someday be handed down to my children. Flooded with relevant pictures, beautifully written, if you love Scotland, you will love this book.

I was expecting a more comprehensive examination of how the Scottish temperament (unique in the whole world, believe me!) & within the clan system causes an unusual disposition with respect to other clans and the imposed English governmental system. What was missed in this exposition is coverage of the clan system as de facto government. The imposition of English common law and the English system of land transfer on the Scots precipitated great opposition because it was diametrically opposed to clan-based landholding, wealth, integration, prestige and power. The Anglo-Norman-appointed 'Earls' or 'Dukes' (i.e., 'land barons') thought the Scots would quickly forget false entailing of land through marriage (according to their own legal precepts) or other means (e.g., murder, land clearance, forced sale for debts); but owing to the Scottish temperament, these depredations (ostensibly to keep the Scots from consolidating power/wealth along their own lines) have never been forgiven nor forgotten. The writer assumes an apologetically British (English) orientation when a more Scottish point-of-view is needed to get at foundational aspects of the clan and Scotland.

Not truly a history book yet does have alot of interesting information about our Highlander ancestors. If you want more clan specific information this is not the book you want, this is more a general overview. There are some great photos, which is nice for those of us who wish we could go there and tromp around first hand.

Highlanders, a history of the Scottish clans by Fitzroy Maclean, is a wonderful and magnificent book. The book was full of colorful picture which helped to bring everything to life and help to add to the tale Mr. Maclean was telling. The primary focus is from the late 1200's to the 1745 and the clearances that followed the battle of Culloden. At the end is a colorful index of the Highland Scottish clans with a tartan and a short history.

This book was great. I received it as a gift from my Good-parents and have used it as a reference in my own research and browsed the picture numerous times for the last year or two. I finally sat down and read it from cover to cover and was amazed. I have read numerous books on Scottish history but never realized how Lowland focused those really are. This book shows it from the Highlanders point of view. It helped to show that not all Scots were Highlanders and they didn't get to write many of the history books. Yet history is told by the victors and the lowlanders took over the historic stage. This book helps to bring that balance back to history. This is more than a reference book with great pictures. It truly is Scottish history from a new perspective and very appreciated. A must for Scottish fans, especially for those of Highland descent.

I am a technical editor. I was so distracted by half-page sentences and incorrect punctuation that I couldn't continue reading. The author knows a great deal of history, but he jumps from century to century so fast that I couldn't keep track of whom he was talking about or what century he meant.