Nigel Tranter

[celticheart]

I visited Scotland about a year ago for work. Since then I have been greatly interested in the country and it's culture and history. I've since started reading books by Nigel Tranter. I am really enjoying them so far. I've read "The Bruce Trilogy", "Wallace" and "The History of Scotland".
What do others think of Nigel Tranter? I have friends in Scotland who have not read him yet. I now see that some has written a biography about him that should be out soon.
Cheers...

[Lynette]

Hello,
Another great series you might want to look over is by Diana Gabaldon. Yes, it is a love story but the history (Jacobite...18th century) is great! It gives you a great idea of 18th century Scotland.
The first one is titles Outlander('Cross stitch' in Europe), 2nd. is 'Dragonfly in Amber', 3rd. 'Voyager' and the last one so far is 'Drums of Autumn'. Supposedly 'The Firey Cross' will be out soon! It leads into colonial America by the end of Voyager but you will really LIKE the charachter of Jamie MacKenzie Fraser. He is soooooo 'Scot'! Very typical...He is just wonderful!
I LOVE Nigel Tranter!
Happy reading! Alba Gu Brath!

[celticheart]

Thankyou. My wife has actually read Outlander and she loved it. I'm not sure she knows that it's in a series. I'll check that out. Cheers.

[elmsella]

celticheart, just to let you know that Nigel Tranter was always interested in what others wrote about Scots History :

http://www.elmsella.demon.co.uk/nigel.htm


Elmy

[celticheart]

Thanks for the link to your site elmsella! I really can't wait to read the new biography of Nigel Tranter. I'm sure it will be fascinating.

[daibhidh]

Hi celticheart, I've read a fair bit of Nigel Tranter's works and do like them. the only reservation is that in many of the novels concerned with slightly less intense times than the ones you mention, the storylines are almost identical.

What is good though, is that they are very true to fact. There is some degree of fictionalisation, but all the events happened as written. And as a student of Scottish history, these are really helpful!!!

I think Kenneth is one you should definately read, plus some of the ones prior to 1296, when they were still the Kings of Scots, and not the House of this, that or the other.

I've just finished reading Warden of the Queens March, about the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots and am desperate to read david the Prince, but I'm too busy to read it any time soon!