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From Scotland’s leading cultural historian—the captivating story of a legendary European nation, from clan castles and conflict to Robert Burns and Brexit
One of the oldest nations in Europe, Scotland’s rugged natural landscapes and ancient ruins—not to mention the world’s preeminent golf courses and more than a few iconic film locations—inspire millions of visitors to explore its historic cities and craggy green Highlands each year. The small nation’s territory remains fundamentally unchanged since the fifteenth century, its southern border with England barely altered since 1237 and many of its oldest sites protected by stringent preservation laws and the National Trust. But for all its singularities—a country with its own law, education system, and church—Scotland is not a state at all.
Leading cultural historian and longtime author Murray Pittock argues that this very ambiguity is what has made the nation a central part of the global story. Stepping back in time to the very beginning with a Scotland before Scotland—a tribal society connected closely by sea to Ireland, before becoming a place defined by being the part of an island beyond the Roman wall—Pittock ranges with dazzling expertise through the defining episodes of Scottish history up to the present day.
This sweeping history covers major events and key figures, assessing the country’s most defining cultural contributions from poetry to architecture, and analyzing the contemporary political struggles that continue to plague the country, from Brexit to the Scottish independence referendum. With increasing tourist numbers and international students drawn to its historic universities, Scotland is gaining visibility even as its politicians struggle to find common ground. With over 75 insightful maps, images, and illustrations, this is an immersive and enlightening romp through a varied and myth-filled history, and one that remains relevant in the global conversation today.
