Product Description

Stephen Driscoll explores a period of revolution in Scotland which established a new nation. Topics cover the royal palaces and burial sites of the kings of Strathclyde and the great inaugurations of Scone in an age of pageantry, power and ambition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #125404 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Customer Reviews

A cracking introduction to a neglectged area
I would readily commend this little book as an introduction to an often overlooked and poorly understood part of Scotland's history. Nicely put together and well illustrated.

Excellent introduction
Although a shortish book, this crams in all the basic information you need to understand this period. If you're familiar with the Osprey series, it's a similar size and length. The text covers the development of the Scottish kingdom of Alba out of its Pictish forebears, but is commendably un-nationalist in its approach, giving space to the role of the Vikings, Britons and Angles who played a formative part in Scottish history in this period. The text is clear and readable, but still intelligent and up-to-date on historical and archaeological theory (e.g. on the nature of ethnicity). You won't be bored, you won't feel talked down to, nor will you feel like you've bought a kid's book. It'd be a good quicky primer for university students, even.
Much of the book is thematic, covering the ethnic make-up of the country, centres of power, the development of the church etc. It could perhaps do with a fraction more synthesis, but this is a minor niggle.
It's very well illustrated with relevant colour and b/w pictures, maps and plans and reconstruction drawings and paintings. The most important sites are also well-discussed. No-one will leave this book without knowing the main arguments, events and sites relevant to this period.
It would be nice if Birlinn or other publishers would bring out similar series for Wales, Ireland and the English regions. I haven't yet read the rest of the series, but I've bought 3 more which look to be of similar quality. Heartily recommended.