Highland Clansman 1689–1746 (Warrior)

I need not elaborate upon what previous reviewers have said about the pro-British stance of this text. This is a valuable book however, for the beautiful and detailed plates (perhaps the best Angus McBride I have ever seen) and the highly detailed plate commentary.

For nearly 60 years the clans of Highland Scotland proved to be an almost constant thorn in the side of a series of British monarchs. Fiercely independent, the clans comprised an agricultural peasantry dominated by a warrior aristocracy. They held most forms of authority outside of the clan in contempt and did not submit to London meekly. Their first loyalty was to the exiled house of Stuart and in a series of rebellions in 1689, 1715 and finally in 1745 the Highland clans rose against the ruling monarch. The author examines in detail the society that produced these fierce fighters and the tactics they used in battle including the feared 'Highland Charge'. The social structure of the clans, their organisation, equipment and clothing are closely examined, including an interesting section on the development of the Scottish plaid that culminated in the famous Highland kilt. Weapons and tactics are all studied at length, and a final evaluation of the Highland clansman's effectiveness is achieved by an in-depth analysis of their performance in the three major battles of Killiecrankie, Prestonpans and Culloden.As the Scottish clan system developed, their interaction with one another often led to conflict. Special attention in this book is given to the rise and fall of the Jacobite cause under `Bonny Prince Charlie' in the 1745 rebellion,great illustration by Angus McBride which gives the reader a unique insight into the life of the Highlander's.

The blurb Amazon posts for this book has the wrong year for the Battle of Culloden - it was not 1745, it was 1746. This, alas, reflects the large number of outdated wrong information about the Jacobite Risings in this and others of the author's books. Given all the new primary source material which has emerged in recent years, it is a shame that the historical inaccuracies in this book are not corrected or, if the author cannot bring himself to admit his prejudices, pulled from the market.

I rather enjoy this title, the art plates & all, but I have to ask why currently available titles are being sold for such drastically outrages prices? $140+ for this? Go to the source & get it for much cheaper!

This assault on Scottish culture and history is one of the most shameless hatchet jobs I have ever read. The spurious evidence that the author states (read: "makes up") too advance his anti-Scot and anti-Clan agenda is completely absurd, such as that Clansmen would "throw away perfectly good swords, as soon as they got their hands on rusted unserviceable firelocks" or "It is likely that all or most of the swords they (Highlanders) are credited as caring were in fact dirks." If you believed this book you would think that the Scots were less intelligent and tactful than Neanderthals. The Author of this book a clearly still fighting the Jacobite wars for the Brits. The illustrations by Angus McBride are the only good thing about this book.

Ein Buch zum verlieben! Da ich ein grosser Bewunderer des Illustrators Angus Mc Braid bin, kam auch dieses Buch sehr gelegen für mich, da er vor allem auch den schottischen National-Stolz sehr gut in seinen Bildern eingefangen hat!!!