
The Picts
A History
Tim Clarkson(Author)
John Donald Short Run Press
Published on 30. September 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-906566-25-8 (ISBN)
Description
Pictish history is recorded only in fragments presented by writers whose lords and masters were often bitter enemies of the Picts. Here, the various fragments are drawn together to tell the story of this mysterious people from their emergence in Roman times to their eventual disappearance. The Picts were an ancient nation who ruled most of northern and eastern Scotland during the Dark Ages. Despite their importance in Scottish history they remain shrouded in an aura of myth and misconception. In the ninth century they were absorbed by the kingdom of the Scots and lost their unique identity, their language and their vibrant artistic culture. The Pictish nation seemingly vanished, leaving few traces but many unanswered questions. The most puzzling of these questions surround the great monuments that still survive in the landscape of modern Scotland: standing stones decorated with incredible skill and covered with enigmatic symbols. These stones are the vivid memorials of a powerful and gifted people who have bequeathed no chronicles to tell their story, no sagas to describe the deed of their kings and heroes.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Donald Publishers Ltd
Illustrations
16pp b&w plates, 8pp colour plates
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
343 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-906566-25-8 (9781906566258)
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Person
Tim Clarkson gained a PhD in medieval history (2003) from the University of Manchester. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a member of the editorial board of the Heroic Age online journal. He is the author many books on medieval history including Scotland's Merlin, The Picts: A History, The Makers of Scotland and Aethelflaed: Lady of the Mercians.