Scottish Culture and Traditions [Paperback]

Well, I honestly don't know where to begin with this review. This book makes sweeping generalizations with a few specific quotes from well-known sources as if those specific quotes can buttress the sweeping generalizations that were made in between. For example, on page 30 he says, "In the Highlands, stealing cattle from another clan was an acceptable part of life. However, it did create a lot of clan warfare when it was done on a large scale. Theiving cattle was not acceptable in the Lowlands under any circumstance." And he cites Samuel Johnson in his 1773 book, "A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. p.170." Well, there is nothing in that entire section that talks about this kind of cattle-thieving being acceptable in the Highlands.

It is true that cattle-thieving DID occur, in the Highlands AND the Lowlands (Mosstroopers, Border Reivers!!!) but the practice was far more common in the 12th throuh 15th centuries, and even a bit in the 16th century, but by the time that the REgulations for the Chiefs were enacted in the early 17th century, this practice had largely subsided. To make a sweeping generalization about the Highland Culture in this sense is naive, ridiculous, and sloppy research.

Another point of sloppy research - in the sectiong that he quotes regarding "cattle-thieving" in the Book "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" there is a lengthy discussion about the price of various things in terms of Guinneas. Well, in the paragraph above the "cattle-thieving" comments, Mr. Milne writes that:

"Bartering was the main method in which rent and all other exchanges of produce or labour was made, as money was scarce. Even as late as 1773, Johnson maintains that in St. Kilda bartering was the mode of exchange for goods and labour as money was not yet known."

Sloppy citing, sloppy conclusions. What happened in St. Kilda in 1773 is hardly a basis upon which to make sweeping claims of economic history that apply to the whole of Scotland or even the whole of the Highlands.

I could probably do this for just about every page of the book. He claims that the system of parcelling out land as a sublet to small crofters was the way of life in the Highlands of the 17th and 18th century (the book title sort of claims to be about that time period, right?) but people who lived on Skye know for a FACT that the runrig system was still in place as late as 1811. 1811 is the 19th century.

There are comments in the book about how Highlanders would never "stoop" beneath themselves to be shopkeepers in the 17th and 18th century, despite the fact that on the Isle of Skye, the first "Shop" to EVER be introduced was at the direction of Alexander MacDonald, Lord of Sleat and Chief of the MacDonalds of Sleat in the early 1800s. Again - 19th century. And that "shop" was introduced as a means for invigorating a dying economy. By 1841, at least 41 shops were created and owned in the parish of Duirnish alone.

So, this Mr. Milne, in my humble opinion, has just enough of a clue to be dangerous in his writing. He throws a mish mash of ideas that have half-semblances of truth to them onto paper with poor editing, poor grammar, and poor flow of information. The concepts range from 12th century to the 20th century, and they are poorly documented, poorly applied, and poorly understood. While some of what he says was true at some point in history in some places in Scotland, they were by no means true of most places during the 17th and 18th centuries. His grasp of historicity is poor. His ability to make distinctions between districts, parishes, or regions is poor. What the inhabitants of the Hebrides experienced in the 17th and 18th centuries was as different as it was similar to what the inhabitants of the Caithness or Loch Lomond areas experienced in those times.

The only reason I give this 2 stars instead of 1 star is because he actually had the honesty to preface his book as follows:

"This book is intended to elucidate certain aspects of this period with some chronology thrown in. Certain references are made to characters outwith the perimeters of this book. I must also mention that some parts have been written with dogmatic humour mainly for my own amusement therefore, no insults are intended. I have also tried to be impartical but historical truth will always have discrepancy depending on the writer. For readers with better knowledge, time and resources I give my apologies for any errors made. My aspirations are to be an intellectual hooligan although I realise I will never succeed in comparison to the likes of Ian Hamilton QC, another inspirational character.

Fere libenter hominess id quod volunt credunt
Men Willingly believe what they wish.

Julius Caesar"

Well, that pretty much sums up the book. At least the author had the honesty and wit to admit that he was an intellectual hooligan, and that he was going to "Throw in" some chronology, grab some facts from "outwith the perimeters of this book" and that he would end his preface with a Julius Caesar quote saying that, essentially, the reader can believe what they want, and this book will, implicitly, be a vehicle to that end.

I have to give him 2 stars for putting that in there. I have to give Amazon 1 star for putting this on my recommended reading list. I am a serious student/scholar of Hebridean and Highland culture, and a serious student of Gaelic culture and language. This book is a Hollywood joke compared to what I read and study. For anyone wanting to perpetuate your own ignorance about Scotland, the Highlands, the Hebrides, or Gaelic culture, then please, buy this book and read it to yourself. But for those looking for serious scholarship about the life and history of these regions in these time periods, you would be better served reading the Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, Volumes 1-5 By John T. Koch (which is a great starting point for all studies in Celtic and Gaelic culture, worldwide). It will cost you about $400 to $800 to acquire the whole set, so I recommend you visit your library to research from it. It will provide you with significant citations and sources from which you can compile your own reading lists.

This book is the last place you should look for serious scholarship. It is, as the author himself states, a work of "intellectual hooliganism."

› Go to Amazon U.S. to see the review  2.0 out of 5 stars