Scottish historical fiction

[mosshillmama]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member looking for some book recommendations. I've recently been watching "Monarch of the Glen" via Netflix, and I'm feeling in a Scottish sort of mood. I was hoping some of you might be able to point me towards some good novels -- historical or otherwise -- set in Scotland. By Scottish authors a plus, but not necessary. I am pretty picky about quality -- I like a good story, but the writing has to be very good, too -- no bodice rippers, please, lol. Novels I love are "Ahab's Wife" (Naslund), "The Secret Life of Bees" (Kidd -- but I wasn't thrilled by "The Mermaid Chair"), anything by Wally Lamb, "Possession" (Byatt). Love all the Brontes, am not crazy about Austen. And, I don't usually read mysteries, but I recently very much enjoyed one of the Hamish Macbeth stories by M.C.Beaton.

Thanks so much for your time,
mosshillmama

[Whifflingpin]

Walter Scott, of course; "Bride of Lammermuir" "Rob Roy" etc.

R L Stevenson; "Master of Ballantrae" "Kidnapped" "Catriona" "The Merry Men" etc.

John Buchan; "The Free Fishers" "Witch Wood" "John Burnet of Barns" etc.

[Brucelles]

While you are thinking about it it is well worth picking up a copy of 's Scott's Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe's Saxon English, not scottish, but it's such a damned good book that you will probably forgive him that.

[Tammbrey]

Historical, not story - "How Scotland created the modern world in which we live".

I always recommend Diana Gabaldon's collection. Start with "Outlander", then "Dragonfly in Amber", "Voyager" etc. Starts off in the 1950's, ends up in the 1750's. Very realistic to what life was like, and battle decriptions are very good.

[Pecksie]

As a previous poster pointed out, Scott would be perfect... I don't know whether his novels are well researched or not, but they're gripping and very well written!

For more recent Scottish fiction, I suggest Douglas Dunn - his short story collection "Boyfriends and Girlfriends" is wonderful.

[_Shannon_]

OOhh- RL Stevenson is one of my favs. Kidnapped! is so much fun to read!

[Stewart]

You can't go wrong with Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. For a book that's on the national curriculum - which would usually put people off it for life - it was voted the best Scottish book of all time. A deserved accolade. It's part of the A Scots Quair trilogy, followed by Cloud Howe and Grey Granite, but can be read on its own as a complete novel...and usually is.

It's set not long after the arrival of the 20th Century and deals with the life of a young woman, Chris Guthrie, but covers wider topics such as the industrialisation of the countryside.

[curlyqlink]

Rob Roy is a great read.

[pensieve]

Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles is an outstanding work of historical fiction. The author, Margaret George, is not Scotish, though, I don't think.

[kasie]

I know he's not Literature (with a Capital L) or even literature (with a small l) but if you enjoyed M C Beaton, you may well enjoy Ian Rankin's Rebus novels - they show a grittier side of Edinburgh (low) life. Then for light relief, you could try Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series and his Sunday Philosopher Club series - again, not literature but enjoyable reads.

[ennison]

No doubt your urge to read Scottish historical fiction has long since evaporated but as I only drop by now and again as my orbit approaches this site I'd say that "Heart of Midlothian" by Scott and "The New Road" by Munro are very good. Buchan tells a good yarn. As doTranter and Broster.

[kiki1982]

I'd have to agree on Scott. I read Ivanhoe and have decided to start on Scott after I have done with Austen as in-betweeny. He started off slowly, but got really up-tempo.

Also technically very good writer.

I have been looking for a penguin Rob Roy copy, but they don't seem to have one in my local book shop. I'l wait and wait, and then, snap :D. In the meantime I'll just finish the rest they have :D.

I'd suggest Scotland's most famous and revered poet (and they're all very proud of him): Robert "Rabbie" Burns. He wrote some real gems, but it's not fiction...

[mal4mac]

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
Lanark by Alasdair Gray
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

[ennison]

None of the above three texts is historical fiction and the first is vile Scotsgit filth

[mal4mac]

Read the OP - "historical or otherwise". The first has its vile moments, but is a very interesting novel & film.

'Welsh writes with a skill, wit and compassion that amounts to genius. He is the best thing that has happened to British writing for decades', Sunday Times .'One of the most significant writers in Britain. He writes with style, imagination, wit and force', Nick Hornby, Times Literary Supplement .'As clever as Alasdair Gray, as elegant as Jeff Torrington, as passionate as James Kelman, Welsh has got it all', Tibor Fischer, .'The voice of punk, grown up, grown wiser and grown eloquent', Sunday Times .'An unremitting powerhouse of a novel - Loud with laughter in the dark, this novel is the real McCoy', The Herald .'A novel perpetually in a starburst of verbal energy - a vernacular spectacular...the stories we hear are retched from the gullet', Scotland on Sunday .'This marvellous novel might feel like a bad day in Bedlam, but boy is it exhilarating', Jeff Torrington, .'The Scottish Celine', James Wood, Guardian

[ennison]

I've a mind of my own, a life of my own, experiences of my own. P(*&& off trying to sell me that Hibs supporting ijit

[mal4mac]

I'm not trying to sell him, just providing another view. I also have a mind of my own, but, in this case, it nods in agreement with the quoted literati. I quite admire people who support lost causes :)