Scottish Arms and Armour (Shire Collections) [Paperback]

Fergus Cannan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Shire Collections | Publication Date: September 22, 2009

The Scottish warrior has throughout history been armed with some of the most famous and instantly recognisable weapons and armour ever produced. From the majestic Highland two-handed sword and the diminutive sgian dhu that tucks into the sock of every Scotsman in formal dress to the distinctive leather shield or targe, these objects are redolent of great men and hard-fought battles – men such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie and battles such as Stirling Bridge, Bannockburn, Flodden and Culloden. An important aspect of national heritage and folklore, Scottish weapons and armor are icons of valor and pride for millions worldwide.
 
With a foreword by the 23rd Chief of the Clan Macnab, this pioneering study by Fergus Cannan examines the Scottish people at war and the armor and weaponry they have used on the battlefield from the Stone Age to the present day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Featured in the December 2009 Foreword Footnotes

"This book works well both for the expert and the Gaelic enthusiast – an excellent title from Shire" –Military Illustrated

"Excellent." – Greenock Telegraph 

"Historian Fergus Cannan is not only an expert on the subject of Scottish weapons and other military subjects, he is a descendant of Highland warriors who more than likely used many of the weapons described in his new book. His account traces the Scottish arms from their humble beginnings in 2200 BC, with axe heads made from stone, to the early 20th century, when ceremonial swords and knives were still worn by Scottish regiments... In battles such as Bannockburn, Flodden, and Stirling Bridge, heroic Scots fought for their freedom using the very weapons that Cannan describes in this book." -Military Heritage Magazine (June 2010)

"A most impressive aspect of this book is the numerous color and black and white photos from various museums and private collections. They combine with historical art to provide a comprehensive chronicle of Scottish warfare. Crisp and clear, the photos really bring the book to life and are well paired with corresponding text....Overall this is an excellent book with high-end photos and plenty of historical references to make even a history teacher sit up and take notice. Reasonably priced, this is definitely a recommended choice for an evening read." -Charles Ives, Toy Soldier & Model Figure

About the Author

Fergus Cannan is a medievalist at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He has published on subjects including arms and armor, funerary monuments and Northern European sculpture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Shire (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747806985
• ISBN-13: 978-0747806981
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 0.3 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,437,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Sourced, Sweeping Generalizations, August 5, 2010

By 

Martin Cox (Cambridge, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scottish Arms and Armour (Shire Collections) (Paperback)

Being interested in medieval weaponry and tactics, I was excited when I recently purchased this book at Edinburgh Castle (not from Amazon). Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the book. The author does a very poor job of sourcing his statements, many of which would fall under the category of "sweeping generalizations". He makes blanket comments about a period, a type of weapon, or a tactic, without explaining in any kind of detail about why he is making such a generalization. You're left to presume that he's such an expert on the topic (which may or may not be true) that you should take his word as gospel, without any responsibility to explain WHY he's saying something.

In addition, he jumps around through the centuries. Much of his "Medieval Arms" section is based upon weapons and battles that occurred during the 16th Century--hardly what most people would consider to be "medieval", even in the Scottish highlands. Worse, the author will refer to an event from the 1550's and, in the next sentence, refer to a weapon or event from the 1330's, leading one to presume that there was no advancement in weaponry from the mid-14th to mid-16th century. This, of course, is patently false. The book would have been far better if the author had covered the periods in something approaching a chronological fashion. After all, you wouldn't talk about the dress and manners of James VI as if they were the same as Robert the Bruce; they weren't.

So you may ask why I still give the book three stars? Couple of reasons:

1) Based upon his body of works, I presume that the author is an expert in the field and really does know what he's talking about (which may be a wrong assumption, but I don't think so). He presents just enough sourcing to suggest that he's not just an amateur.

2) The artwork (photos and illustrations) in the book are excellent. Even if the text is barely above the level of an Osprey publication, the graphical content is top notch and worth the cost of the book.

Bottom line: an average book that could have been so much more.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Scottish Arms Guide For Advanced Collectors, November 24, 2009

By 

Elizabeth D. Ringler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scottish Arms and Armour (Shire Collections) (Paperback)

Well written and thoroughly researched and investigated. Excellent for advanced Scottish arms collectors to add to their knowledge base. Not the first book a novice collector should buy but well worth the money.