- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd; New edition edition (23 Aug 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 075092800X
- ISBN-13: 978-0750928007
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.7 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,210,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
An account of the remarkable rivalry, sometimes bloody conflict, between two great families which originated on the west coast of Scotland - the Campbells and the MacDonalds. Starting with the violent death of the Campbell chief in 1297 the feud then went on for 450 years in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with numerous cullings and clashes inflicted by both sides, amongst which the incident in Glencoe just happens to be the best publicised. Yet despite the mutual antipathy both families continued to grow, to scatter over the world and to produce a large number of talented, energetic descendants including two British prime ministers (Campbell Bannerman and Ramsay MacDonald) and the first Canadian prime minister. The second half of the volume charts this more peaceful period after 1745 when large numbers of both clans spread rapidly around the world: transported as criminals, evicted in clearances, or simply seeking their fortune in peace or war. We follow the families in the American and Napoleonic wars, to India, the West Indies and Australasia. We meet politicians, poets, terrorists, sportsmen and women, entrepreneurs, world speed record holders and a mistress introduced to Kennedy by Sinatra. The fame of both families now rests on fast food (soup and burgers).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A great concept for a book but ultimately you are left feeling rather disappointed. The first half is the most interesting and readable. It outlines the origins and history behind the feud from both sides, although you do get a hint that the author is of the Campbell side of the fence (or is that just Macdonald paranoia creeping in!).
The side half is to be honest a huge disappointment, and is merely a list of famous namesakes from around the world. It would have been much better to forget the second part, or at least place it in an appendix and use the space to flesh out extra some detail around the first part of the book.
The side half is to be honest a huge disappointment, and is merely a list of famous namesakes from around the world. It would have been much better to forget the second part, or at least place it in an appendix and use the space to flesh out extra some detail around the first part of the book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Entertaining but Over Priced and Mistake Prone.
14 Nov 2000
Format:Hardcover
Thomson has produced an entertaining account of the Campbells and the
MacDonalds, undoubtably the most famous feuding families in Scottish
if not world history. The selection of photographs, many taken by the
author, is impressive, as is the list of historic sites by country
provided for the enterprising tourist. Unfortunately, the narrative
tends to bog down in the last section, which takes the rival families
into the broader world beyond their Scottish roots, with a seemingly
endless list of persons of some note, such as superstar model Naomi
Campbell, or even ill repute, like JFK mistress Judith Campbell, who
happened to have either surname or variation thereof. Thomson also
repeatedly misuses the term 'ethnic cleansing' in referring to the
Highland clearances. The Scottish Highlands were not cleared of
people based upon ethnicity in favor of one group and against another
but cleared to make way for the mass introduction of sheep
farming. This could be termed 'people cleansing' perhaps but not
ethnic cleansing especially since the clan chiefs removed their own
people, whose welfare they betrayed in favor of profit and
greed. Finally, the far too numerous date or factual errors reveal
very poor editorial control. For example, the Battle of Crecy was
fought in 1346 not 1369 (p. 17), King Henry VIII of England died in
January of 1547 and so was not involved with the Battle of Pinkie
fought in September of 1547 (p. 54), the Battle of Dettington was
fought in 1743 not 1742 (p. 97), the famous 'Khaki' election took
place in 1900 not 1906 (p. 146), and Frank Sinatra and his cronies
were known as the 'Rat Pack' not the 'Brat Pack' (p. 159). This book
is not without its merits and a second edition with suitable
corrections and a price reduction would be welcome.
MacDonalds, undoubtably the most famous feuding families in Scottish
if not world history. The selection of photographs, many taken by the
author, is impressive, as is the list of historic sites by country
provided for the enterprising tourist. Unfortunately, the narrative
tends to bog down in the last section, which takes the rival families
into the broader world beyond their Scottish roots, with a seemingly
endless list of persons of some note, such as superstar model Naomi
Campbell, or even ill repute, like JFK mistress Judith Campbell, who
happened to have either surname or variation thereof. Thomson also
repeatedly misuses the term 'ethnic cleansing' in referring to the
Highland clearances. The Scottish Highlands were not cleared of
people based upon ethnicity in favor of one group and against another
but cleared to make way for the mass introduction of sheep
farming. This could be termed 'people cleansing' perhaps but not
ethnic cleansing especially since the clan chiefs removed their own
people, whose welfare they betrayed in favor of profit and
greed. Finally, the far too numerous date or factual errors reveal
very poor editorial control. For example, the Battle of Crecy was
fought in 1346 not 1369 (p. 17), King Henry VIII of England died in
January of 1547 and so was not involved with the Battle of Pinkie
fought in September of 1547 (p. 54), the Battle of Dettington was
fought in 1743 not 1742 (p. 97), the famous 'Khaki' election took
place in 1900 not 1906 (p. 146), and Frank Sinatra and his cronies
were known as the 'Rat Pack' not the 'Brat Pack' (p. 159). This book
is not without its merits and a second edition with suitable
corrections and a price reduction would be welcome.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Move over Hatfields. The Campbells are Coming.
5 Oct 2002
Format:Paperback
Oliver Thomson has done a fairly good job of telling the story of what is probably the greatest feud of all time. He does a very good job of explaining why tension developed between the two great families and why they took the sides they did in various wars. The story is a little shallow at times but for the most part he tells the story well. One of the things he handles best is explaining the split between the Stewarts and the Campbells who had been long time allies, often against the MacDonalds. For some reason he keeps saying the various clans were involved in ethnic cleansing. Scots were removing Scots to make room for sheep not killing off another ethnic group. Hitler was involved in ethnic cleansing, not the Scots.
The biggest problem is that he handles the feud in the first half of the book. The second half of the book is about as interesting as watching grass grow. Thomson takes the clans into the rest of the world and for the most part just lists person after person with either surname who did anything at all. One person is even mentioned who started a candy business. For someone who is interested in the feud the second half of the book is a complete waste of time bearing no relation to the subject at all. Even for a member of the Clan Campbell like myself it was for the most part a waste of time.
In short, the first half of this book is fairly good but the second half is awful. First half - four stars. Second half - no stars. Total - 2 stars.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
History as Clan Campbell sees it
22 Jan 2009
Format:Paperback
This book is written from Clan Campbell's viewpoint. The author thanks a Campbell (but no MacDonald's) in his foreward. The bibliography shows that the author made little effort to get both sides of the feud. The author degrades the MacDonald Clan every chance he gets, while sugar-coating and making excuses for the Campbell attrocities. Both sides did wrong. I expected a balanced approach. You will not get it in this book. The adjectives describing the Campbell's are usually complimentary, while the descriptions of the MacDonald's are always negative. The author also perpetuates the stereotypes that Highlanders were backwards and had no redeeming qualities, while the Campbell Clan and Lowlanders were superior in every way. The author thinks very little of the MacDonald Clans military victories. If this were more balanced the murder of John Tannister (one of the major reasons, if not the reason, the MacDonald's hated the Campbell's) would have received more than one sentence in the book and would have given the details of how he was murdered in cold blood. Meanwhile, the act committed by a MacDougall (not a MacDonald) was given the better part of a chapter. I would recommend Feuds, Forays and Rebellions, History of the Highland Clans 1475-1625 by John L. Roberts over this white-washing of Scottish history.
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