Product Description

A new cover reprint of the second volume of T. C. Smout's magnificent -- and indispensable -- account of the Scottish people, from 1830--1950. 'Professor Smout's "History of the Scottish People 1560--1830" was hailed as a classic piece of social history. If you had time to read only one book on Scotland, this was it!Unfortunately, you now have to read two!"A Century of the Scottish People" is as satisfying and enlightening as its predecessor.' John Kenyon, Observer 'An admirable example of how academic history may yet be written for the general reader. It is deeply enjoyable, lively, packed with interesting detail, illuminating anecdote and pithy observation.' Allan Massie, The Times

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71422 in Books
• Published on: 1997-11-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

About the Author
Professor T. C. Smout was educated at the Leys School and Clare College, Cambridge. He was appointed to the Personal Chair in Economic History, University of Edinburgh, in 1971, and took up his present position as Professor of Scottish History at the University of St Andrews in 1980. Besides publishing journals, he is the author of Scottish Trade on the Eve of the Union and A History of the Scottish People (the companion to this volume, also availavble from FP), and co-author of Scottish Population History from the Seventeenth Century to the 1930s, The State of the Scottish Working Class in 1943 and Scottish Voices 1745--1960 (also available from FP)

Customer Reviews

a balance between info and empathy
This book had me hooked. I felt that it was important to have a knowledge of certain important time periods and events in order to get the best out of it. T. C Smout brings to life politics and social issues in a way that opens the readers mind. It is a delicate balance between information and empathy that has been achieved perfectly by Smout. The issues of housing, liberalism and clearance were brought to life by this book. Smout changes a set of facts and opinions into worthy insight. After I had read it I felt disappointed that it was finished just like one might feel about a good novel.

Excellent source for the general reader
Having enjoyed the author's wonderful "History of the Scottish People 1560-1830", I just had to see what he had written on the next century. I recommend both works as very readable but accurate sources with lots of references to more academic works for anyone who wants to pursue more detail on a particular topic.A HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE: 1560-1830.

A Mine of Background Information for the Genealogist
A Century of the Scottish people is everything I hoped for. Having read and enjoyed T.M. Devine's The Scottish Nation 1700-2007, I wanted to fill in the picture with more detail in order to understand the kind of lives my ancestors lived in various parts of Scotland. T.C. Smout is a wonderfully well-informed scholar who also writes really well and, on occasion, reveals a good sense of humour. This book is a great read for anyone interested in Scottish history.