Books to Love: Once in the Highlands...
The Highlands of Scotland… Bonus points if you can tell me from where I pilfered once in the highlands, the highlands of Scotland… (Don’t know? Don’t worry, the answer’s at the bottom of the post.)
Now that the days are so much shorter and the nights seem to stretch on longer, curling up with good books is a wonderful pastime. I particularly like to read historical novels at this time of year, especially when they take place in cooler climes that usher in the desire to cozy up by a fire with a cup of hot cocoa (or something stronger for those of you not expecting a little one…). One such place for me is Scotland.
Perhaps it dates back to my first watching of Braveheart, or maybe it’s just that I think Billy Connelly is so wonderful, but whatever the reason, I’ve had an affinity for Scotland for as long as I can remember. And I really love it when I find historical fiction novels that take place there and incorporate all the elements of a good book- epic adventure, a dash of romance, and dynamic, complex, fantastic characters that come to life so fully on the page you think they really lived and breathed. So, today, I’m sharing four books that fulfill those criteria for me.
If you know anything about Scottish clan rivalries, you’re certain to know that Clan Campbell and Clan MacDonald have the fiercest one. Rivalries between the clans is nothing new to Scottish history, but what transpired between the Campbells and the MacDonalds has gone down in infamy. I won’t go into great detail about the political dealings that led to the massacre of the MacDonalds at Glencoe. If you’re curious there is copious material out there detailing both sides of the argument well. However, I’ll give you the gist. It all dates back to Bonnie Prince Charlie (FYI So much in Scotland does). The Highland lairds had sworn their allegiance to him, but when things began to go awry and the Bonnie Prince hightailed it to Ireland for safety, he left his Scottish lairds in a bit of a muddle. King William wanted their fealty and organized a time and place when he wanted said fealty sworn. The Scottish lairds appealed to Charles, asking if he thought he had another successful uprising in him. If Charlie answered to the negative, then they wanted their prince’s permission to swear fealty to King William thereby protecting their clan and their clan lands from harm. Charles’ response to his supporters was rather slow, and given that the Highlands weren’t the easiest landscapes to traverse, particularly in the dead of winter, his bevy of messages reached their destinations in staggered and delayed fashions.
Suffice it to say, the MacDonalds of Glencoe did not swear fealty in the timely manner and, given their rambunctious and thieving nature (nothing new where the Scottish clans were concerned), King William wanted to make an example of them. In that day and age, when society was largely cashless, it was the custom to barter billeting. Members of the Campbell clan billeted in the homes of many MacDonalds that early February in 1962, availing them of their hospitality in the frigidity of winter. On the night of the 6th of February, orders were carried out to kill the MacDonald clan. (I know, for you history buffs out there, that I’m grossly oversimplifying this, but bear with me, please.) At dawn’s early light, some 30 people had been murdered, many in their beds, and the rest of the clan had fled into the night with only what they had on their backs. While there are pros and cons to any military action such as this, what still smacks to this day is that the attacks were carried out by men who had accepted the hospitality of their victims.
What Jennifer Roberson does in her epic novel Lady of the Glen is peek into this complex political intrigue from both sides. Our heroine is Catriona Campbell of Clan Campbell; her fate is intertwined with that of Alastair Og MacDonald, second son of Laird MacDonald, sworn enemy of Clan Campbell. Their star-crossed love story is nuanced beautifully throughout the book, but the novel itself really delves into the impact these weighty decisions made by kings and princes have on the simple folk who carry out their bidding. What we’re left with is a very human expression of a tragedy from all sides. Roberson does write her villains, and she does have her opinions, but those lines are not so clear cut as to say- the evil Campbells and the righteous MacDonalds. Rather, she writes complex characters and develops them with panache into real people. That sort of writing makes for the best sort of reading, particularly when you’re delving into history. I love it when characters come alive in such rich color and variety. If you’re looking for an epic read that you can really sink your teeth into on a cold, autumn night, Lady of the Glen will not disappoint.
Rona Randall is one of my favorite Gothic historical novelists. While I do adore the well-known names of Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Dorothy Eden, I find that I appreciate the complexity of Randall’s characters a bit more. There’s also the fact that she doesn’t shy away from grittiness. Watchman’s Stone was the second novel that I read by her. The first I wrote about in this post here.
The plot revolves around a rather odd subject that one would think to have little appeal. Weaving tartans. However, being the historical connoisseur that Randall was, tartans and the weaving thereof actually tie into a more dynamic, adventurous plot unraveling. For certain there’s political intrigue, and I believe you’ll find it riveting how well Randall weaves tartans and politics and danger together; it was most unexpected. But, Randall doesn’t let her Gothic novel sit there. Certainly, there’s the spunky heroine we’ve come to expect from Gothic novels written during the 1970s-80s. But, Elizabeth- that would be our heroine- is not a simpering female that’s delicate and beautiful alone as so many turn out to be. Rather, she’s got a will of iron and is intelligent for days, having turned her family’s weaving mill into a vast success. She also happens to be a clairvoyant, although her prophetic premonitions seem to desert her when she’s torn between two men.
Watchman’s Stone contains a great romance as well as potent suspense and haunting thrills. I really enjoyed reading it as it fulfilled all the traditional Gothic tropes in a unique manner. But, it also weaves the history of Scotland’s tragic past during the Clearances into the narrative in such an undergirding manner that while we might be going through the present with Elizabeth and her two Scottish men, the past is never far from the forefront, haunting not only our heroine, but us as well. That, dear readers, is the best sort of Gothic novel to read. Throw in howling across a Scottish moor and the mysterious ghost of Wife #1, and you’ve got yourself a classic Gothic that will not leave you wanting more.
I’ve refrained from including a seemingly obvious choice of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander as I know most of you are familiar with that series. If not, Gabaldon’s Outlander series is readily available at any bookstore or library. And, if you don’t feel like reading it, there’s the miniseries out there that’s worth a watch. However, if you’re wanting a novel that revolves around Bonnie Prince Charlie (again) and his unending quest to take the Scottish throne, I’ll not disappoint. I happened on Journey to Enchantment by Patricia Veryan in a used bookstore in the Historical Fiction section. I had never read anything by her. Heck, I’d never even heard of her, but a quick read through on the back cover had me hooked enough to take a chance. And boy, oh boy! I’m glad I did.
As I’ve written numerous times, I’m a great fan of Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel (see post here), and what I found in Journey of Enchantment was not only one of my favorite countries as setting but also one of my favorite tropes- secret spies.
The novel revolves around the heroine, Prudence, who has two great loves: a Scotland ruled by Prince Charlies and the Scourge of Redcoats, Ligun Doone. Her family is fiercely loyal to the Bonnie Prince. That makes her father’s actions all the more shocking when he takes in a wounded Redcoat to nurse back to health. Of course, Prudence wants nothing to do with English soldier resident in her home. She suspects him of all things nefarious, particularly of being a spy who is using his wound to ferret out all sorts of intel about those loyal to Prince Charles. However, familiarity does not always breed contempt, and the longer that Prudence is thrown in this Redcoat’s company, the more she finds herself drawn to him. Is it because he’s not what she expected an Englishman to be? Or is it because there’s an irresistible air of mystery surrounding him? Not only is the future of her country at stake, but her heart is as well. This is the perfect novel to read with a good single malt Scotch in hand with your feet stretched toward a roaring fire.
It would appear that A Strange Scottish Shore is the perfect title for this novel as it is the strangest one I’m including today. It’s really a hodge podge of everything. Seriously. Everything.
When I think of this book, I recall an Instagram post from Sara Jayne Poletti, book marketer and avid reader. Here’s what she had to say about it:
“You guys, I genuinely don’t know what the hell genre these books are but I LOVE them. They’re like....historical mystery + adventure + strong female characters + time travel + friendly/snarky ghosts?! + romance with A+ sexual tension. That all sounds very odd, but seriously. I am obsessed…”
If you didn’t already know, Julianna Grey is the pseudonym that Beatriz Williams adopted when she forayed into the romance novel genre. And while she’s now currently writing under her own name, occasionally she publishes an offering under this pseudonym. A Strange Scottish Shore is her last offering, but I hope not her last as there’s got to be more theses characters. I would recommend starting with the first novel, A Most Extraordinary Pursuit. However, it’s not completely necessary as everything you need to know is covered in the second book.
If you would have told Emmeline Truelove, personal secretary to the Duke of Olympia, that she would be adventuring all over the world to unravel exotic mysteries, she would have scoffed. First of all, she’s entirely too sensible and has been for a long time. However, that’s precisely what happens in the first and second novels. Howvever, in A Strange Scottish Shore, she gets entirely more than she bargained for when her sleuthing not only takes her to exotic climes, it literally transports her to exotic times, too. What ensues is a fantastic romp that does span the gamut of a host of genres from fantasy/ sci-fi to horror to mystery to passionate romance. To try and give a synopsis that does justice to all of what this book includes is almost impossible. I’ll just say that if you’re looking for a book to completely lose yourself in, one that does not require a history degree or a science one, either, then pick this one up. It’s a really quick read. Perhaps the quickest one I’ve suggested today. And, because it’s Beatriz Williams, the writing is exceptional, too.
So, those are my favorites from Scotland. I will put a shout out there to Jane Porter, too. If you’re not into historical fiction, and want something more weighty and less interpretive, then you should give Porter’s The Scottish Chieftains a read. Excellent book full of honest and true history.
What are some books set in Scotland that you love?
*Once in the Highlands comes from the Overture to the Lerner and Loewe musical Brigadoon.
