- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; Film & TV Tie-in ed edition (25 Jan 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140292985
- ISBN-13: 978-0140292985
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 507,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Book Description
Hikers battle it out with the Laird of Glenbogle Castle in this hilarious story of life in the Scottish Highlands
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
The ancient clan spirit is not yet dead in the Scottish Highlands, with Donald MacDonald of Ben Nevis ruling the roost at wild, craggy Glenbogle castle. Woe betide those who trespass on this chieftain's kingdom...
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
INADEQUATE indeed would be the guidebook or traveller's tale that did not accord to Glenbogle a place of honour in the very forefront of Highland scenery and romance, and it is a tribute to Scottish thoroughness that no such guidebook exists. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
INADEQUATE indeed would be the guidebook or traveller's tale that did not accord to Glenbogle a place of honour in the very forefront of Highland scenery and romance, and it is a tribute to Scottish thoroughness that no such guidebook exists. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read Compton Mackenzie's books in the series in 1960 and reading Monarch of the Glen again was like meeting an old friend again after a 40 year gap! I could not put the book down and was forced to laugh out loud several times! As good as the TV series is I only wish they had stuck to the original story more.
37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A delightful, gentle comedy, from the master of the Scottish farce. This book was the inspiration for the BBC series of the same name starring Richard Briers.
The novel itself concerns the trials and tribulations of one Donald MacDonald of Ben Nevis, the 23rd clan chieftain of Glenbogle Castle, as he tries to unsuccessfully adjust to life in the 20th Century and the constraints this imposes upon him. This means for instance, that unlike his predecessors, he cannot burn his opponents in church to the piped strains of 'Mac 'ic Eachiann's Return to Glenbogle'.
Central to the plot is Donald's (or 'Ben Nevis' as he is also known) plot to try and ensnare the sister of a wealthy American financier into marrying one of his sons. Add to this the fact that the lady in question, Myrtle Royde, actually fancies a trespassing Scottish Nationalist poet called Alan Macmillan, and also that at this time, Donald is effectively in a state of war against the National Union of Hikers under the formidable leadership of Percy Buckham (the 'Little Songster' portable wireless manufacturer) and you have a recipe for hilarity.
Certain memorable and highly amusing incidents pepper the book. The American financier Chester Royde Jr's, ill-fated attempt at trying to stalk the 'Muckle Hart of Ben Glass' and his decision to wear an orange kilt so as not to offend anyone are seriously amusing. Percy Buckham's attempts to whip up his hikers into an avenging army by Churchillian speeches and his attempts to engage in guerilla warfare against Ben Nevis and his supporters are likewise hilarious.
Throughout the book Mackenzie infuses his story with a lovely Scottish Highland feel. The names of the places, Glenbogle (Donald's seat of power), Knocknacolly, Glenbristle & Drumstickit, literally ooze highland whisky and peat. Mackenzie's descriptions of the highland countryside of loch and cairn and midges, of the Glenbogle Gathering, and of secret trysts in the 'Cave of the Calf' transport you instantly to the land of bagpipes and cabers.
'You know I'm crazy about Scotland' muses Carrie Royde, the dreamy and spiritual, ancestor seeking wife of Chester Royde Jnr, as she immerses herself in all things Scottish. After reading this gem of a book you're likely to feel the same yourself.
p.s. This book is best read with a glass of whisky in hand (or jockendorrus as Ben Nevis would say) and with some Scottish bagpipe music playing quietly in the background (why not Angus MacQuat's rendition of 'Mac 'ic Eachinn's Return to Glenbogle' ?).
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
This review relates to the audio version.
David Rintoul is an excellent actor but what a find to hear him narrating this book on disc. The book is good in it's own right, of course it is, but David Rintoul brings this story to life as surely as if you were standing on the hillsides of Glenbogle, or peering out from behind the curtains at the hikers meeting place in London. You can almost see Chester Royde in his orange kilt, and the voices ... well, the voices supplied by Mr Rintoul are absolutely amazing. One second he is McDonald of Ben Nevis - all bluff and bluster, the next he is Carrie Royde, wife of Chester and Canadian with an accent to match, then he is the old Scottish retainer Toker, and then he is the Reverend. All manner of accents are here; Scottish, English (of all varieties: from Northern to Cockney and back again) all rolling off the tongue as easily as the River Bogle winds it way softly through the mountains and hillsides of the estate. The twists and turns of the story are matched in excellence with the twists and turns, accents and idiosyncracies of the voices that David Rintoul manages with ridiculous ease - to say he is the master in this field is not to do him justice, he is absolutely and without doubt superb.
If you don't buy anything else this year, you have to buy this ... wherever you can find it, it is absolutely a joy to listen to and I am sorry that it ended ... I could have listened to this for ever.
David Rintoul absolutely makes this audio version unique, and above all - magical.
David Rintoul is an excellent actor but what a find to hear him narrating this book on disc. The book is good in it's own right, of course it is, but David Rintoul brings this story to life as surely as if you were standing on the hillsides of Glenbogle, or peering out from behind the curtains at the hikers meeting place in London. You can almost see Chester Royde in his orange kilt, and the voices ... well, the voices supplied by Mr Rintoul are absolutely amazing. One second he is McDonald of Ben Nevis - all bluff and bluster, the next he is Carrie Royde, wife of Chester and Canadian with an accent to match, then he is the old Scottish retainer Toker, and then he is the Reverend. All manner of accents are here; Scottish, English (of all varieties: from Northern to Cockney and back again) all rolling off the tongue as easily as the River Bogle winds it way softly through the mountains and hillsides of the estate. The twists and turns of the story are matched in excellence with the twists and turns, accents and idiosyncracies of the voices that David Rintoul manages with ridiculous ease - to say he is the master in this field is not to do him justice, he is absolutely and without doubt superb.
If you don't buy anything else this year, you have to buy this ... wherever you can find it, it is absolutely a joy to listen to and I am sorry that it ended ... I could have listened to this for ever.
David Rintoul absolutely makes this audio version unique, and above all - magical.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Monarch of the glen
was ok, a bit silly, expected it to be like the program, but was disappointed, would not recommend just get the dvd instead
Published 9 months ago by happy hammer
The Monarch of the Glen
I bought this book because I am a fan of the tv series which I watch again and again on DVD. The book is fairly amusing (a kind of Scottish PG Wodehouse) but not at all like the... Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2006
I LOVE A SCOTTISH BROGUE
I will leave the critiquing of the book to others.
It was a good one, though at times quite
preposterous. Read more
It was a good one, though at times quite
preposterous. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2001
Superb, with great wit and charm
From America, this book is a treasure. I got hooked by seeing a few episodes via BBCAmerica on TV. As someone who has a home way up in the highlands at Dornoch reading about that... Read more
Published on 28 April 2001 by David R Lasser
More Detailed Synopsis
So when a hapless bunch of Sassenach hikers invades the glens, camping on Ben Nevis's beloved land and disturbing his prized grouse, they are in for the shock of a lifetime, as the... Read more
Published on 17 April 2000
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