A Traveller's History of Scotland, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

Andrew Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

The broad sweep of Scotland's story, both past and present, is chronicled by one of the country's best historians. Andrew Fisher begins with Scotland's first people and their culture and ends with Devolution and the setting up of the first Scottish parliament since 1707.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Part of a "Traveller's History" series, Fisher's Scotland paints a bleak, bloody picture of the country most of us associate with clans, tartans, and Robert Burns. The title is something of a misnomer. Fisher, who serves as archivist to the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry and administrator of Drumlanrig Castle, and has produced a biography of William Wallace, gives us a political history that largely ignores Scotland's unique culture and landscape. The fascinating Chapter 1, "The First Scotland," acquaints us with the original Scots who came from Europe to create an agrarian, coastal society before the appearance of the Romans and, later, marauding bands of Vikings. The remainder of the book is a gloomy recounting of battles for power, on the field and in the bedroom. In his attempt to provide a comprehensive history, Fisher misses the mark for his prospective audience of travelers; his text reads like a dry lecture of names, dates, and bare events lacking in background color. The book includes maps, a list of rulers and monarchs, a chronology of major events, and a historical gazetteer, making it a handy reference source. Recommended for libraries needing a concise history of Scotland.DJanet Ross, Sparks Branch Lib., NV
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Andrew Fisher's A Traveller's History Of Scotland explains the roots of Scottish history beginning with the Celts, Scotland's first people and their culture. There were centuries of kingdoms and pragmatic struggles for power that saw the coming of the Vikings in 900AD, leading to ever more conflict and cultural changes up through the turbulent years of Mary Queen of Scots, the Calvinistic legacy of Knox, and the bitterness of final defeat at the hands of the English invaders. Scotland then entered an age of industry and despoliation, the result was substantial emigrant and an obsession with the nation's past which glorified the legends of the Highlander and the Clans. The 20th century saw a resurgences of national pride and a political movement for independence that is still going on today. A Traveller's History Of Scotland is a very good history, soundly researched, and ably written. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Interlink Pub Group Inc; 4 edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566562791
• ISBN-13: 978-1566562799
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,339,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars grim, dry listing of names and dates, May 21, 2006

By 

Brian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scotland (Traveller's History of Scotland) (Paperback)

I purchased this book to get some background before a short trip to Scotland. I thought that a short (230 pages) book written for travelers would give me a good overview of Scottish history - focusing mainly on the important events. Instead, this book is a very dry listing of names and dates without any depth. It might as well just be published as a list of bullet points (which would probably be easier to follow too). The author also presents a very bleak and depressing view of Scotland's past.

As mentioned, the book is very hard to follow as Fisher throws many unimportant facts at you - often out of chronological order. He has the very irritating habit of introducing a new king or ruler by immediately describing their death and the choice of a successor before going back in time to actually tell you about their reign. This focus on death also contributes to the depressing tone of the book.

The intended audience of travelers will not find this book useful at all. There are several maps, but many of the places mentioned in the book are not on any of them - requiring a much greater familiarity with Scotland than most visitors will have.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatise on the history of Scotland, August 11, 2010

By 

Fionn mac Cumhaill (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Travellers History of Scotland (Paperback)

A previous reviewer complained the author presented this history of Scotland in a "bleak and depressing" manner. My dear boy, Scotland's ancient history WAS bleak and depressing! Were you expecting a joyous recitation on the wee people, Nessie, and how to make Scotch? How would it be possible to present a history of Scottish kings without mentioning they had died?

Part of what is so incredible about Scotland and its people is the horrible elements hurled at them, by both man and nature, with which they battled for survival, and over which they triumphed. For a serious intellectual interested in the unglossy, non-touristy version of Scotland's history, this is an excellent, if somewhat necessarily abbreviated, source of well-researched factual history, presented by a leading expert in the field.

On the other hand, if your cerebral matter requires a bit less challenging source of information, you might check out "The Ultimate Guide to Being Scottish," a wonderful, light read. Or, if you're visiting Scotland try hooking up with a tour, such as whiteheathertravelDOTcom, where you get happy, little, romantic, snippets which require no nasty depressing, brain-strain whatsoever.