A History of Scotland [DVD]

This historical documentary series has a tough agenda of explaining in a few episodes around a thousand years of Scotland's history. And the approach taken received criticism, although I think that was unfair.

It was said that the series was superficial. This is an obvious point as every episode contains enough material for a 13 part tv series, but the aim was clearly to give a brief overview and in that the show succeeds. It was also said that the series looked too much at the English-side of events. Again I don't feel that's fair. Pretty much every tv show featuring Scotland gets that criticism thrown at it, and besides, much of the history of the UK does involve England. English history has to be covered to provide a context or you're just left with lots of squabbling clan leaders. And finally it was criticised for historical inaccuracies. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what they are, but if they do exist, then to my mind the history as presented was already messy and if they glossed over events for clarity, that was to the good.

What we do have is a solid introduction to a subject that makes interesting the long history of the kings of Scotland, which for me previously had just consisted of names without any knowledge of who they were or what they did. Enjoying the show is easier if you like Neil Oliver's presenting style of walking quickly along windswept moors talking over his shoulder, and for me he brings the right level of authority, even if he isn't an historian. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the intrusive historical re-enactments and dramatic techniques. The events are dramatic enough without interludes that are neither well acted or add anything that couldn't be conveyed in words. That aside, I enjoyed this series and afterwards I was often moved to seek out more details on the events covered, which as far as I was concerned was the whole point of the show.

Neil Oliver's History of Scotland was absolutely enthralling and interesting from beginning to end. Visually, the series is stunning with wonderful landscapes, cities and historic buildings.The music perfectly complements and enhances the whole- and unlike many modern documentary series, the music did not drown out the narration. The dramatisations were not intrusive but added to the visualisation of the people and the periods. Neil Oliver clearly explains a long and complex social, cultural and political history and his constant appearances are not intrusive but add to the intensity of the story. His quirky little asides add a lovely element of Scottishness. The second half of the series from the Union of the Crowns to the present day clarified a period which though closer to our own has always seemed remote and unknown even to Scots, probably because it does not have the romantic elements associated with earlier Scottish history that we all cling to and enjoy.
I would recommend this to Scots who would like to better understand their history and to non-Scots who have very little knowledge of the long and rich history of this nation.
I saw the first part of the series on Australian tv and it was much admired and enjoyed by Australians.
Neil Oliver has done for Scottish History what David Attenborough has done for Natural History!
Can't wait for his next production.

This is first-class production of the high standard that we have come to expect from
The BBC. Historian Neil Oliver skillfully navigates us through the highlands and lowlands
,the places and faces that have shaped the country's history with all its triumphs and defeats,
beauty and brutality in the stuggle for independance. He peirces the veils of myth and
legend to bare the sometimes shocking truth whilst still keeping up the excitement
and romance. At once. Both educational and entertaining. He tells the story with
doses of dry scottish wit and obvious patriotism for his native land yet maintains the
objectivity of the professional historian.
The cinematography is excitingly innovative.At first I was somewhat irritated by the out-of-focus close-ups but this is far out-weighed later by the spectacular scenic
shots and incredible stop-motion sequences.
The musical score by Paul Leonard-Morgan is just brilliant and perfectly
mirrors the ever-changing moods of ther narrative and scenery.
In fact I loved it so much I bought the CD!
All in all, a real bargain in its 10 hourlong episodes.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!