The Thin Red Line: War, Empire and Visions of Scotland [Hardcover]

'There is much truth in the old saying that Scotland was born fighting... I recommend the book to anyone who seeks to understand how Scotland came to be the way it is today and especially how the military factor shaped the national story.' Professor T M Devine, University of Aberdeen '...you have produced a brilliant book.' Waterstone's Regional buyer "A first-class work of history...' Scottish Legion News

...a most timely moment for Stuart Allan and Allan Carswell to publish their study of the Scottish military tradition.

This is a first class work of history.

This is a history of the relationship between Scottish society and the growth and decline of British imperial military power. Four substantial, illustrated essays relate to illustrations of key objects from the collections. The essays and selected objects will explore the influence of war and military service in concepts of Scottish cultural identity, and the affects of changing military and strategic imperatives in Scotland and the Scottish people.

Stuart Allan is Senior Curator of Military History, National Museums Scotland. Alan Carswell, formerly Curator of Military History, National Museums Scotland is now a freelance military historian.