Robert the Bruce: King of Scots [Paperback]

Drawing from various historical and literary sources, including a number of contemporary chronicles on both the English and Scottish sides, Scott takes us from the death of Alexander III to the intervention and interposition of Edward I; from Stirling to Falkirk; from the death of Wallace to that of Longshanks himself. And then in riveting detail, the campaigns of the Bruce.

"Braveheart" would have you believe that Scottish independence was won on the fields of Bannockburn. While that was indeed a turning point for the rag-tag Scottish army, it was not until 14 years later that a truce was signed and England formally recognized Scotland's borders and her right to be secure within them. We also learn of many other discrepancies between history and film.

A pair of Grahams receive honorable (or, dishonorable) mention--Sirs David and Patrick. Unfortunately, the tendency for our Scots forbears to be on the wrong side of history holds true. Sir David is named in the plot to capture Wallace (who is actually taken in the home of Sir John Menteith--a cadet clan of the Grahams). Sir Patrick was connected with a plot to assassinate King Robert--he was later acquitted.

If you are interested in learning the facts behind a great quest for freedom and independence--or simply some of the history behind this great warrior-king, I highly recommend this fine work.

From the in house fight with the Comyns, through the early fighting against the English by Wallace, the hit and run raids to the brief, deadly assaults with his solid henchman, Bruce rampages through this book like a juggernaut, coming alive after seven hundred years, his faithful lieutenants, among them his brother Edward and 'The Black' Douglas, range the English/Scottish border taking revenge for years of privations and cruel vengeance of the English King, Edward I, 'Longshanks.'

Working his way through legend and myth to find the 'real' Bruce, the author weaves his tale of high adventure, blook-curdling killings and heartbreaking marches. His brother's adventures in Ireland are not neglected, nor is the climactic battle of Bannockburn, that is highlighted by such a killing of English nobility that the Scots won their freedom and the Bruce was recognozed as their king.

Very seldom does a book of this quality show up. If you haven't read it, you're missing a great treat. If you have, you'll want to read it again, as I have.

Scott does have a tendency to state as fact that which is only theory or an educated guess but given the state of affairs in 13th and 14th century Scotland any other tact would have led to a huge and hard to read tome that would have added little to the general understanding of Bruce. By deciding to write in this style Scott brings this great hero of Scotland to life for the reader and lets us see the greatness that was Robert The Bruce.

Bruce's early decisions during the Wallace wars are explained by Scottish politics. Bruce's grandfather had laid claim to the Scottish throne but Edward I decided in favor of John Balliol, Lord of Galloway. Wallace always fought in the name of King John making it very hard for any of the Bruce faction to lend their full support to the cause. Once he established himself as King, Bruce faced the same problem from the Balliol faction. This divided state of affairs could very well have doomed Scotland had not Bruce taken action. He began with an action that seems to have haunted him for the rest of his life when he struck down the "Red" Comyn on the alter of Greyfriars church. Slowly the rest of the Balliol faction was subdued until Bruce was the unchallenged King of Scots.

Scott manages to go into some detail of Bruce's battles with the English without getting the reader lost. In fact, I was able to clearly understand what happened and as I was reading these accounts I could almost see what was going on. Scott's ability to describe events with words is his greatest asset. One feels as if he is actually there side by side with The Bruce.

This book is not the deep study of Robert The Bruce that some people may be looking for. It is however a good place for any reader to begin to understand the history of Scotland. After reading this book anyone who wishes to dig deeper will be ready for the challange. For someone who is simply after a quick and easy to understand history of Robert The Bruce I doubt you will find a better source.