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Quick answer: The best books on Scottish history cover kings and clans, the Jacobites, the Clearances and the Scottish Enlightenment. Start with The Scottish Nation by T. M. Devine, Scotland: A New History by Michael Lynch, How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman, Culloden by John Prebble and Mary Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser.
Scotland’s history is full of drama: Picts and Vikings, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, the tragic Mary Queen of Scots, the union with England in 1707, the Jacobite risings that ended at Culloden in 1746 and the Highland Clearances that emptied glens and sent thousands overseas. Scotland also produced the Scottish Enlightenment, with thinkers like Adam Smith and David Hume, and inventors and engineers who changed the world. The books below include the best general histories, classics on the Jacobites and the Clearances, biographies of famous Scots, great Scottish novels and the time-travel saga that sent millions of readers to the Highlands.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Scottish Nation | T. M. Devine | History | Modern Scotland |
| Scotland: A New History | Michael Lynch | History | The whole story |
| A History of Scotland | Neil Oliver | Popular history | TV history fans |
| Scotland: The Story of a Nation | Magnus Magnusson | Popular history | Storytelling |
| How the Scots Invented the Modern World | Arthur Herman | History of ideas | The Scottish Enlightenment |
| Culloden | John Prebble | Narrative history | The last Jacobite battle |
| The Lion in the North | John Prebble | Narrative history | A thousand years |
| The Scottish Clearances | T. M. Devine | History | The Highland Clearances |
| Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland | G. W. S. Barrow | Biography | The Wars of Independence |
| Mary Queen of Scots | Antonia Fraser | Biography | Royal drama |
| Bonnie Prince Charlie | Fitzroy Maclean | Biography | The Jacobite prince |
| Kidnapped | Robert Louis Stevenson | Classic novel | Adventure lovers |
| Waverley | Walter Scott | Classic novel | Classic fiction lovers |
| Sunset Song | Lewis Grassic Gibbon | Classic novel | Scottish literature |
| Outlander | Diana Gabaldon | Historical fiction | Romance and adventure |
1. The Scottish Nation by T. M. Devine
Devine, Scotland’s leading historian, covers the country from 1700 to the present. It’s the standard modern history, clear and authoritative.
2. Scotland: A New History by Michael Lynch
Lynch covers Scotland from its earliest peoples to modern times. It’s a reliable one-volume history for readers who want the full sweep.
3. A History of Scotland by Neil Oliver
Based on his BBC series, Oliver tells Scotland’s story with energy and passion. It’s an easy, entertaining introduction.
4. Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson
The famous broadcaster tells Scotland’s history from early times to the modern era. It’s long, readable and full of anecdotes.
5. How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman
Herman argues that Scottish thinkers and inventors shaped modern economics, science and democracy. It’s lively and provocative.
6. Culloden by John Prebble
Prebble’s classic tells the story of the 1746 battle and its brutal aftermath in the Highlands. It’s vivid and angry.
7. The Lion in the North by John Prebble
Prebble tells the story of Scotland from the Picts to the Jacobites in a single, readable book.
8. The Scottish Clearances by T. M. Devine
Devine examines the removal of people from the Highlands and Lowlands between 1600 and 1900. It’s balanced and based on new research.
9. Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland by G. W. S. Barrow
Barrow’s classic study of Robert the Bruce and the fight for Scottish independence is still the standard work. It’s scholarly and rewarding.
10. Mary Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser
Fraser’s bestselling biography tells the story of the queen who lost her throne, fled to England and was executed by Elizabeth I. It’s gripping and sympathetic.
11. Bonnie Prince Charlie by Fitzroy Maclean
Maclean tells the story of Charles Edward Stuart and the 1745 rising in a short, readable biography.
12. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
After the Jacobite rising, young David Balfour is kidnapped and escapes across the Highlands with the Jacobite Alan Breck. It’s a timeless adventure.
13. Waverley by Walter Scott
Scott’s 1814 novel about a young Englishman caught up in the 1745 rising launched the historical novel. It’s slow to start but rich.
14. Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Chris Guthrie grows up on a farm in northeast Scotland before and during World War I. It’s often voted Scotland’s favorite novel.
15. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
A nurse from 1946 is transported to 1743 Scotland, on the eve of the Jacobite rising. This bestselling series inspired the TV show. Content note: sexual content and violence.
Tips for Reading About Scottish History
- Start with Devine or Oliver. One is authoritative, the other entertaining.
- Learn the Jacobites. The risings of 1715 and 1745 explain much of Highland history.
- Read about the Clearances. They shaped Scotland and the Scottish diaspora.
- Don’t forget the Enlightenment. Herman shows Scotland’s huge influence on ideas.
- Visit the sites. Culloden, Stirling and Edinburgh Castle bring the books alive.
- Mix in novels. Kidnapped and Outlander make history an adventure.
Related: best books on the Irish Famine and best books on Medieval England.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on Scottish history?
The Scottish Nation by T. M. Devine is the best modern history, and Scotland: A New History by Michael Lynch covers the whole story.
What is the best book about the Jacobites?
Culloden by John Prebble is the classic account of the final battle and its aftermath.
What novels are set in Scottish history?
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, Waverley by Walter Scott and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon are all set around the Jacobite risings.