17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Views by a MacGregor, 17 May 2000
By Sott Whyte - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The MacGregor Trilogy (Coronet Books) (Paperback)
Being a MacGregor myself I was interested in these books purely to see if they were entirely fiction or based on fact. What I found was three books of excellent quality which grip the reader and mkae you forget everything else. Trantor has produced some of the best Scottish fiction I have ever read and the way he endears you to the characters in these books is subtle yet intoxicating. The third book has made me realise that Trantor knows more about the clan than I first thought, he mixes fact with fiction and I believe that somewhere off the West caost of Scotland there is a ship or caches of gold hidden from the English. These are a must read for any true MacGregor or patriotic Scotsman who wishes to know just that little bit more about our countries history.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
MacGregor Alive!, 10 Sep 2011
By Varda Whitebird - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The MacGregor Trilogy (Coronet Books) (Paperback)
How can I express my love for Tranter's Scottish historical fiction? He is an author who makes a time period and people come alive. I am begging the universe for his books re-printed and better bound. After a couple of readings they fall apart which is such a shame. I have rubber bands around the beloved volumes. Anyone who loves the Outlander series and loves Scottish history will be enthralled by these books. He outdoes Sir Walter Scott by far! Enough in general. In specific, the MacGregor series is one of his best.
The first book is mostly about the famous Rob Roy MacGregor's nephew, Gregor MacGregor of Glengyle. The episode with Glengyle and the bull and his wooing of his lowland Mary are pure comedic magic. This is a lighthearted tale, at the same time bringing in historical episodes of the gathering of gold and raising of the highlands for the cause of "the king over the water" in 1708. It also shows Rob Roy at the height of his powers in evading lowland law in his black-rent business.
The second tale is more serious in nature. The lowland law has become more invasive. Rob Roy MacGregor has been brought to his knees with the burning of his glen, the rape of his wife, Mary, persecution by Montrose. This is the peroid of Rob's life covered by both Sir Walter Scott and the Rob Roy movie starring Liam Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave.
The third tale was most interesting to me, as it shines a light on a period somewhat dark to me before. The story centers on Glengyle's son, Duncan MacGregor, in the aftermath of the 1745 uprising and defeat at Culloden. Bonnie Prince Charlie is on the run and it's each man for himself. Just after Prince Charlie goes into hiding, looking for a way of escape from Scotland, a large amount of gold arrives from the King of France, alas too late to help the struggle. Each clan chief feels he deserves some portion of the gold as recompense for his suffering. In an isolated glen, the romantic and idealistic Duncan, does his best to protect the gold for when the Prince should return...
Tranter forever!!!!