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Non-Fiction (Fiction is Listed Below the Non-Fiction List)
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Historic Scotland: Picts, Gaels and Scots
Sally M. Foster / Published 1996 From the 5th to the 10th century AD, Scotland was home to a variety of peoples and cultures competing for land and supremacy, yet by the 11th century it had become a single, unified kingdom, known as Alba, under a stable and successful monarchy. At the heart of this mystery lies the extraordinary influence of the Picts and their neighbours, the Gaels, who were originally immigrants from Ireland. Drawing on recent archaeological evidence and historical research, this book examines the origins of the Picts and the Dal Riata (Gaels), and how they became Scots. It explores the significance of the remarkable Pictish symbols and other early sculpture, and looks at other aspects of this period of Scottish history such as the art of the war and role of kingship, religion and the impact of Christianity, and settlement, agriculture, industry and trade. |
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The Picts and Their Symbols W.A. Cummins / Published 1999 Cummings tackles the task of interpreting the symbol stones and explores their use to reconstruct history and society. Using the Irish Ogham stones, Hiberno-Saxon inscriptions and both archaeological and historical clues, he weaves many strands of Pictish and Celtic history into this linguistic detective story. |
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In Search of the Picts Elizabeth Sutherland / Published 1995 In this penetrating study of the Celtic tribes who inhabited Scotland north of the Forth-Clyde valley between AD 297 and 840, the author's enthralling account of the Picts and their way of life is enhanced by over 100 specially commissioned photographs of their extraordinary symbol stones. |
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The Picts and the Scots Lloyd Laing, Jennifer Laing / Revised edition 2001 Who were the Picts and the Scots? For a long time the Picts were known almost entirely from their mysterious symbol stones, which generations of scholars have tried to interpret and date. The discovery of the St Ninian's Isle Treasure in 1958 added a new dimension to our understanding of these accomplished people, but still many problems concerning them and their links with Scotland remain unresolved. This account presents the latest archaeological discoveries and dicusses the evidence for the relationship between these two peoples, tracing their development from raids on Roman Britain to the formation of rival Dark Age kingdoms that produced a unique artistic inheritance. |
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The Age of the Picts W.A. Cummins / Published 1998 The Pictish nation, forged in the shadow of the Roman empire, was the dominant power in northern Britain for more than 500 years. Dr Cummins places the story of the Picts in its historical context and reassesses such topics as the legend of Drust son of Erp and St Columba's mission to the Picts. There are comparisons with contemporary events in Wales and England as well as interpretations of Sueno's Stone and Pictish symbols and an explanation is offered of what happened in 843 when the Scots took over Pictland. |
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Columba: Apostle to the Picts Elizabeth Sutherland, Ruth Catherine Black / Published 1997 <== This is NOT the book cover. It is an early 20th century depiction of Columba's miracle at the gate of Bridei's fortress, described in Adomnán's Vita Columbae. Photo and text from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba |
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Earl and Mormaer : Norse-Pictish Relationships in Northern Scotland Barbara E. Crawford / Published 1995 |
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Pictish Warrior AD 297-841 by Paul Wagner (Author), Wayne Reynolds (Illustrator) / Published 2002 The origins of the Picts are an interesting and hotly debated topic. Fundamentally, they were Celts, and numerous similarities exist between Welsh, Irish and British contemporaries. Their role as an enemy of Rome and their place in Dark Age Britain is often underrated. The Pictish warrior was not "ordinary" - he was noble - and warfare was enshrined in law as the duty and privilege of the landed aristocracy only. The warrior, whether one of the king's household troop, or a member of a wandering mercenary band, was part of an identifiable and close-knit unit. In these fraternities the warriors lived, ate, slept, fought and died together. This volume shows how, despite this, group cohesion does not seem to have been a military strong point and the emphasis for the warrior was on individual skill in single combat. |
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Surviving in Symbols: A Visit to the Pictish Nation (Making of Scotland series) Martin Carver / Published 1999 This study of the Picts aims to clarify the debate over their provenance, influence and eventual disappearance as they were subsumed into the greater Scottish ethnic mix with the arrival of the Vikings. It forms part of "The Making of Scotland" series. |
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Stephen Driscoll explores a period of revolution in Scotland which established a new nation. Topics cover the royal palaces and burial sites of the kings of Strathclyde and the great inaugurations of Scone in an age of pageantry, power and ambition.
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Fiction
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The White Mare: The Dalriada Trilogy, Book One
Jules Watson / Published 2005 Australian author Watson deftly blends fact and fancy, action and romance in her splendid historical fantasy debut, set in first-century A.D. Alba (aka Scotland). On the death of Brude, king of the Epidii tribe (aka the People of the Horse), the duty falls on Brude's priestess sister, Rhiann, as the Mother of the Land, to continue the royal line. The sudden arrival during the king's funeral of Eremon, an exiled Irish prince of Dalriada who yearns to reclaim his throne, is taken as a good omen, and the Epidii offer Rhiann as a bride in exchange for help in defeating the encroaching Romans. Eremon quickly accepts, but their emotionally complicated "marriage" creates problems that are just as discouraging as the conflicts among Alba's warring tribes and with Agricola, governor of the Roman province of Britannia. In addition to an appealing love story, well-researched settings and an interesting take on goddess worship rooted in Neolithic times, Watson provides some mystical moments that confirm that "[h]istory can turn on many things. On a word. On a sword blade. On a girl, running up a mountain path, amber hair flying in the wind." Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. |
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The Dawn Stag: The Dalriada Trilogy, Book Two Jules Watson / Published 2006 The second book in the epic Dalriada trilogy, The Dawn Stag spans three centuries and spectacularly recreates Celtic Britain at the momentous time of the Roman invasion. The year is AD 81, and Agricola, the ruthless governor of Roman Britain, is intent on capturing the last unconquered territory: Alba, Scotland. Rhiann, an Alban priestess and princess, submits to a marriage of political necessity to Eremon, an exiled Irish prince. Out of duty grows a powerful and desperate love that will bind them together through conflict and betrayal. On these lovers now rests the hope of a nation. To the people of Alba, Agricola's army is a wall of steel and fire advancing across their homeland, bringing with it desolation. Rhiann searches for guidance in the spirit world, little realizing how big a part she will play in this endgame. Eremon knows only that he must risk--and sacrifice--many lives, perhaps even his own. In this rich and vivid follow-up to The White Mare, Jules Watson enchants with a fantastical novelistic imagination that makes a claim on the hundreds of thousands of readers who enjoy fantasy and historical fiction alike. |
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The Boar Stone: The Dalriada Trilogy, Book Three Jules Watson / Published 2007 The Boar Stone takes place during the Barbarian Conspiracy of 367. Strong characters, plenty of drama, lots of historical detail and a healthy dose of mysticism. Wholeheartedly recommended! (review by Kirsten Campbell) |
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Eagle of the Ninth Rosemary Sutcliff / Published 2000 One of Rosemary Sutcliff's acclaimed books set in Roman Britain. The Eagle of the Ninth tells the story of a young Roman officer who sets out to discover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion, who marched into the mists of northern Britain and never came back. Rosemary Sutcliff spent most of her life in a wheelchair, suffering from the wasting Still's disease. She wrote her first book for children, The Queen's Story, in 1950 and went on to become a highly respected name in the field of children's literature. She received an OBE in 1975 and died at the age of 72 in 1992. |
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Dawn Flight Kim Headlee / Published 1999 Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews, 6/26/99 Chieftainess Gyanhumara (Guinevere) and Urien map Dumarec must marry to form a treaty, per the Pendragon of Brydein (otherwise known as Arthur). However, when Arthur and Gyan fianlly meet sparks fly! Now Arthur tries to find a way to claim Gyan as his own. ***No sexy bed scenes in THIS novel! War with the Scotts and pure adventure only! Lots of sword fights and battle fields. Plots and clever maneuvers mixed with some treason displays this version of the Legend of Guinevere. Guinevere is as much a warrioress as Arthur is the warrior. Watching them together was breathtaking! In my opinion, this one will hit the best seller lists quickly!*** |
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