Main article: Highlands of Scotland David Wilkie's flattering portrait of the kilted King George IV.

The Story of the British Isles is Neil Oliver’s personal account of 100 unique places located on these islands. He begins with the Happisburgh footprints in Norfolk, which were the oldest known hominid footprints outside of Africa. A major study of the global impact of Scots upon the wider world, with stories of those who left their homeland to begin a new life in places such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US. While the Rebus novels are focused on fictional mysteries, this book is more of a guided tour around Scotland. Specifically, you’ll notice how much Rebus’s character connects to Rankin and his experiences. Plus, the author describes Edinburgh and Fife in a way that will convince you to plan a vacation to Scotland. The Hidden Ways: Scotland’s Forgotten Roads by Alistair Moffat Scottish History Society volumes cover all periods from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries and a very wide range of topics – social, economic, legal, political, constitutional, diplomatic, military and religious history, as well as farming, gardening and the joys of good housekeeping! In addition to making available sources vital to the study and writing of Scottish history, most volumes have substantial introductions by the editors. The volumes are thus not only of value to professional historians and teachers of history, but to all who take an interest in Scotland’s past.From 1554 on, Marie de Guise took over the regency and continued to advance French interests in Scotland. French cultural influence resulted in a large influx of French vocabulary into Scots. But anti-French sentiment also grew, particularly among Protestants, who saw the English as their natural allies. This led to armed conflict at the siege of Leith. Marie de Guise died in June 1560, and soon after the Auld Alliance also ended, with the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh, which provided for the removal of French and English troops from Scotland. The Scottish Reformation took place only days later when the Scottish Parliament abolished the Roman Catholic religion and outlawed the Mass. [97] Depiction of David Rizzio's murder in 1566

In the late 19th century the major debates were between fundamentalist Calvinists and theological liberals, who rejected a literal interpretation of the Bible. This resulted in a further split in the Free Church as the rigid Calvinists broke away to form the Free Presbyterian Church in 1893. [196] There were, however, also moves towards reunion, beginning with the unification of some secessionist churches into the United Secession Church in 1820, which united with the Relief Church in 1847 to form the United Presbyterian Church, which in turn joined with the Free Church in 1900 to form the United Free Church of Scotland. The removal of legislation on lay patronage would allow the majority of the Free Church to rejoin Church of Scotland in 1929. The schisms left small denominations including the Free Presbyterians and a remnant that had not merged in 1900 as the Free Church. [196] In this revised edition of a classic work, Scotland’s story is brought right up to date, examining how the Scots identity is faring since the momentous Scottish referendum of 2014, and discussing the fate of the United Kingdom. This book does not analyze the referendum only, but its aftermath as well. Find out more about what led to this political event, as well as what happened later on. Journalist Madeleine Bunting heads to Scotland’s Hebrides to capture the essence of these islands over the course of six years. During her adventures, Bunting describes the history, folklore, and religion of this diverse archipelago, tying in its importance to Scotland as well as to Britain as a whole.

The population of Scotland grew steadily in the 19th century, from 1,608,000 in the census of 1801 to 2,889,000 in 1851 and 4,472,000 in 1901. [254] Even with the development of industry there were insufficient good jobs; as a result, during the period 1841–1931, about 2 million Scots emigrated to North America and Australia, and another 750,000 Scots relocated to England. [255] Scotland lost a much higher proportion of its population than England and Wales, [256] reaching perhaps as much as 30.2 per cent of its natural increase from the 1850s onwards. [257] This not only limited Scotland's population increase, but meant that almost every family lost members due to emigration and, because more of them were young males, it skewed the sex and age ratios of the country. [256] Why is Rebus receiving these letters, and how is the murderer linked to it all? You’ll have to read to find out! This book series is so popular that ITV adapted it into a four-season British TV show, Rebus, which aired from 2000-2007. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith Please note that Corrag has two alternate titles: The Highland Witchand Witch Light. If you’re looking for a historical fiction novel that combines a strong female protagonist and the Scottish Highlands, it’s one of the best Scotland books for you. The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett Of the surviving pre-Roman accounts of Scotland, the first written reference to Scotland was the Greek Pytheas of Massalia, who may have circumnavigated the British Isles of Albion ( Britain) and Ierne (Ireland) [26] [27] sometime around 325BC. The most northerly point of Britain was called Orcas (Orkney). [28] [29] :10 By the time of Pliny the Elder, who died in AD79, Roman knowledge of the geography of Scotland had extended to the Hebudes ( The Hebrides), Dumna (probably the Outer Hebrides), the Caledonian Forest and the people of the Caledonii, from whom the Romans named the region north of their control Caledonia. [30] Ptolemy, possibly drawing on earlier sources of information as well as more contemporary accounts from the Agricolan invasion, identified 18 tribes in Scotland [31] in his Geography, but many of the names are obscure and the geography becomes less reliable in the north and west, suggesting early Roman knowledge of these areas was confined to observations from the sea. [32] Fans of Outlander, Camelot, andthe Game of Thronesseries will love The Lost Queen. Our heroine in this novel, Languoreth, is the twin sister of Lailoken, the man who inspired the legend of Merlin. Although she falls in love with a warrior, Languoreth is already promised to wed Rhydderch, the son of a Christian king.

The battle was the last one in British Isles with regular troops on each side. It was the battle that ruined the idea of the Jacobite cause. It was also the last time the Act of Union from 1707 was contested. The battle seems insignificant, but the aftermath was quite harsh.The author tells a bad and horrible story in an excellent way. The emptiness of the Highlands today was mostly caused by those sad events. The book carries extensive research and explains everything in small details. How the Scots Invented the Modern World, by Arthur Herman A wide-ranging exploration of the origins of the Clearances from the 18th century to their culmination in the crofting legislation of the 1880s. Forsyth, Katherine (2005). "Origins: Scotland to 1100". In Wormald, Jenny (ed.). Scotland: A History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199601646. Recent archaeological research keeps historians skeptical. The author tries to identify the exact location of the final battle. Plus, this was the beginning of the fall for Romans, so there is definitely something intriguing about this battle. For Freedom Alone, by Edward J. Cowan The early 18th century saw the beginnings of a fragmentation of the Church of Scotland. These fractures were prompted by issues of government and patronage, but reflected a wider division between the hard-line Evangelicals and the theologically more tolerant Moderate Party. The battle was over fears of fanaticism by the former and the promotion of Enlightenment ideas by the latter. The Patronage Act of 1712 was a major blow to the evangelicals, for it meant that local landlords could choose the minister, not the members of the congregation. [195] Schisms erupted as the evangelicals left the main body, starting in 1733 with the First Secession headed by figures including Ebenezer Erskine. The second schism in 1761 lead to the foundation of the independent Relief Church. [196] These churches gained strength in the Evangelical Revival of the later 18th century. [197] A key result was the main Presbyterian church was in the hands of the Moderate faction, which provided critical support for the Enlightenment in the cities.