Near Stirling, Scotland, stands a memorial to the warrior William Wallace, put to death at the orders of the English king Edward I in 1305. Within that memorial stands a glass case, and inside of it stands a broadsword 1.7 meters long. Legend has it that the hero himself wielded the weapon, and so "Wallace's Sword" it is.

Magnus Magnusson, a native of Iceland who has long lived in and written about Scotland, may spoil it for some readers when he writes that Wallace's Sword probably wasn't Wallace's. To use it, Wallace would have had to have stood at least 6-foot-6 in height and to have lived two centuries later. The business of the sword is just one of the "cherished conceptions" about Scottish history that Magnusson picks apart and then, corrected and improved, restores. At other turns he considers the true identity of the legendary king Macbeth (and entertains some surprising but plausible theories about the king's alter ego); reconstructs decisive battles such as Otterburn, Flodden, and Glencoe; and looks closely at the complicated negotiations (and, many would say, treacheries) that led to the union with England of 1707. Magnusson closes with an account of modern independence movements and the recent return of some measure of national autonomy, opening a "new chapter in a nation's story, which the people of Scotland are now beginning to write."

Lucid, witty, and unafraid of controversy, Magnusson's book does a fine job of condensing a complex history, stretching out for 10 millennia, into a single volume. --Gregory McNamee


From Publishers Weekly
This overly heroic history of Scotland focuses almost exclusively on royalty and warfare. Loosely patterned after Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather (1827-1829), Magnusson's (The Vikings) narrative purports to describe Scotland from the Stone Age to the present. Yet his omissions are breathtaking. What of Scotland's amazing (for its size) achievements during the European Enlightenment? Adam Smith is mentioned once, the seminal philosopher David Hume twice in passing. We're treated to a dozen pages about the Battle of Falkirk (wherein England's implacable King Edward I defeated William Wallace in 1298) and its aftermath. But Magnusson never mentions Scotland's central role in the Industrial Revolution, when Glasgow emerged as a global industrial center ("industry" isn't even listed in the index). Magnusson's narrative reads like a medieval saga, filled with swashbuckling tales of kings and battlefield heroics, leaving the reader to wonder how the average person lived. That said, he does emphasize some crucial themes in Scottish history: its constant struggle with hegemonic England, the problems of royal succession and how they led to national instability, and the bloody conflict between Church and State, especially during the reign of the Stuarts. Former chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, Magnusson deftly describes Scotland's geopolitical heritage. He also works hard to dispel some myths, taking particular aim at the film Braveheart and Shakespeare's Macbeth. Magnusson's critical problem, however, is that once he runs out of Scottish kings (circa 1745), he runs out of steam. Still, while hardly definitive, this is worthwhile for those with an interest in early Scottish history. Color & b&w illus. not seen by PW. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
The book's subtitle takes on a second meaning, as Magnusson ambitiously sets out to chronicle a nation of storytellers who hold their literary and oral traditions close to their individual and collective hearts. Magnusson's solid effort brings the reader from ancient Scotland (before there were any "Scots" in it), past semimythic figures like Macbeth and Wallace, to the modern era of union with England and revived Scottish nationalism. Magnusson understands the power of myth in nation building and adeptly infuses his history with sparkling examples of Scottish fables. Combining fine literature and scholarly study, he commences his chapters with lively excerpts from an earlier Scottish history, Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather, thus giving his work a storybook feel. Also, the modern critical scrutiny of Scott's political biases and historical blunders is enlightening. Magnusson, who has written over 20 books on his native Iceland and on Scotland, succeeds admirably in creating a pleasurable read, certainly for those with Gaelic heritage but also for any casual student of Scotland. Recommended for public and academic libraries. Gail Benjafield, St. Catharines P.L., Ont. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
The title of Magnusson's immensely edifying opus has more of an edge than might be apparent. Scotland, despite its new parliament, remains a junior partner in the United Kingdom, and this survey of Scottish history could as easily have been titled The Battle for a Nation. For better or worse, the Scots have been defined by invasion and bold defiance, in stark contrast to their imperializing southern neighbors. This conflict provides Magnusson's masterful storytelling with a compelling, coherent plot and a cast of historical characters the equal of any fictional creation. Indeed, as personages from such diverse artistic sources as Macbeth and Braveheart appear in their proper clarified contexts, the reader will find much both familiar and surprising. Although Magnusson sails through 9,000 years and a vast array of players, he never loses his grip on the story line, and each chapter builds upon the last. Lovers of history, literature, romance, or adventure will, after the first pages, be pulled irresistibly to the end. Their only regret after reaching it may be the 9,000-year wait for a sequel. Will Hickman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Kirkus Reviews hailed Magnus Magnusson's book as a "vast, superb history [that] relates Scotland's past over a dozen millennia." Drawing on a great deal of modern scholarship that has redefined the nation's story, Magnusson vividly re-creates the long and fascinating story of Scotland, offering the most up-to-date and comprehensive history available today. Magnusson, who received an honorary knighthood for his contributions to the preservation of Scotland's heritage, casts the nation's historical trajectory as a long struggle toward nationhood. He explains the roots of the original Scots and examines the extent to which Scotland was shaped by the Romans, the Picts, the Vikings, and the English. He casts a sober eye on the many historical myths that have developed over the years, assessing their credibility while giving full appreciation of their importance to the people of Scotland. In addition to this cultural history, Magnusson offers a detailed account of the political and economic forces that shaped the nation's fate. Acclaimed by The Washington Post as a "well-told traditional history," this is a comprehensive history of Scotland packed with colorful stories, bloody battles, vicious political intrigues, and a rich pageant of historical characters. Encompassing everything from the first Mesolithic settlers in 7000 b.c. to the present movements for independence, Scotland: The Story of a Nation is a history on an epic level, and essential reading for anyone interested in the past of this fascinating land.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Hailed as a "vast, superb history [that] relates Scotland's past over a dozen millennia" (Kirkus Reviews), Magnusson draws on a great deal of modern scholarship to redefine a nation's history. He charts the long struggle toward nationhood, explores the roots of the original Scots, and examines the extent to which Scotland was shaped by the Romans, the Picts, the Vikings, and the English. Encompassing everything from the first Mesolithic settlers in 7000 B.C. to the present movements for independence, Scotland: The Story of a Nation is history on an epic level, essential reading for anyone interested in the rich past of this captivating land.

FROM THE CRITICS

KLIATT