Ambitious, richly detailed and highly readable, Scotland: A History From Earliest Times skilfully weaves together a dazzling array of fact and anecdote from a vast range of sources. The result is an imaginative, informative, balanced and varied portrait of Scotland, seen not just through the experience of the kings, saints, warriors, aristocrats and politicians who populate the pages of conventional history books, but also through that of ordinary people who have lived Scotland's history and have played their own important part in shaping its destiny.
I can trace my family to Edinburgh and Stirling as early as 1300s. Shame the country has been destroyed by the left and muslims (particularly Glasgow).
ReplyDeleteYou might enjoy Neil Oliver's series: "A History of Scotland". It's excellent and might still be available on DVD. I have a lot of time for Neil Oliver. Steve_in_Ottawa
Deletei'm from the Stewart line, almost an entire clan, moved to Maine in the turn of the1900's, my great grandma married, and another grandpa, married coastal Indian's, Township 29 townhouse burnt before 58, before i was born so no precise records survived, ended up all kinds of mixed blood, though some details remain from a great uncle who was a cod fisher boat captain left a few notes in his ship's log, never found out till after my grand dad and grand ma died, always wondered, till their personal info was read later, why i get very red from working out in the sun, and have very high cheekbones, but knew i was definitely a Scotsman, different world up in those parts of Maine back then, it was a really great life, for me personally, growing up back then, all our food came from garden woods stream and sea, nothing like that day fresh cold water Maine seafood
DeleteClan Graham of Monteith here. Some of whom settled in Michigan though all of mine settled North of 49. I get the sense there's more than a few Scots who follow CW. Ne Oublie. Steve_in_Ottawa
DeleteWas shocked to learn that the name "McCloud" originated with a Norse settler in Scotland. Norse + Scots + probably more than a drop or two of Pictish and you get some wild folk.
DeleteHighland descent on one side; lowland on the other. Both sides in NA - one in Canada, other in what became the US - since late 1600s/early 1700s. Ancestors on both sides of the Revolution. Both sides bred within their respective groups. DNA tests show a fair bit of Scandinavian blood. Not sure if those were the rapers or rapees. Been in NA too long to be called "Scottish" anymore but the blood lines are there.
ReplyDeleteA Bennette myself, at least on my mother's side.
ReplyDeleteI have read a lot of Nigel Trantor's books and loved them all. It opened a whole new understanding and appreciation for Scotish history. When I finally made it to Scotland in the late 80's and got totally piss drunk at the inn at John O groats with a bunch fron Kirkwall, it became part of my blood. Too bad they have allowed their pols to drag them to the left.
Ulster Scots from East Tennessee on both sides. Family came over in the early 1700s and settled Tennessee a decade before the Revolution. George MacDonald Fraser’s book, The Steel Bonnets, is a good read for those of Border Reiver stock.
ReplyDeleteA little niggle, CW. The Scots I have met pronounce it "Och Aye". English people say "Oh", Scots don't. I have George MacDonald Fraser's "Quartered Safe Out Here" about his experiences fighting the Japanese in Burma, it's a good read. Anything by Neil Oliver is worth reading, he also has a youtube channel.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
My ancestor Scots were of the WEIR clan.
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