Independence or Union
Scotland's Past and Scotland's Present
Published on 3. March 2016
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-241-21587-6 (ISBN)
Description
'Deserves to be read by everyone interested in the future of the United Kingdom' Andrew Marr, The Sunday Times
There can be no relationship in Europe's history more creative, significant, vexed and uneasy than that between Scotland and England. From the Middle Ages onwards the island of Britain has been shaped by the unique dynamic between Edinburgh and London, exchanging inhabitants, monarchs, money and ideas, sometimes in a spirit of friendship and at others in a spirit of murderous dislike.
Tom Devine's seminal new book explores this extraordinary history in all its ambiguity, from the seventeenth century to the present. When not undermining each other with invading armies, both Scotland and England have broadly benefitted from each other's presence - indeed for long periods of time nobody questioned the union which joined them. But as Devine makes clear, it has for the most part been a relationship based on consent, not force, on mutual advantage, rather than antagonism - and it has always held the possibility of a political parting of the ways.
With the United Kingdom under a level of scrutiny unmatched since the eighteenth century Independence or Union is the essential guide.
There can be no relationship in Europe's history more creative, significant, vexed and uneasy than that between Scotland and England. From the Middle Ages onwards the island of Britain has been shaped by the unique dynamic between Edinburgh and London, exchanging inhabitants, monarchs, money and ideas, sometimes in a spirit of friendship and at others in a spirit of murderous dislike.
Tom Devine's seminal new book explores this extraordinary history in all its ambiguity, from the seventeenth century to the present. When not undermining each other with invading armies, both Scotland and England have broadly benefitted from each other's presence - indeed for long periods of time nobody questioned the union which joined them. But as Devine makes clear, it has for the most part been a relationship based on consent, not force, on mutual advantage, rather than antagonism - and it has always held the possibility of a political parting of the ways.
With the United Kingdom under a level of scrutiny unmatched since the eighteenth century Independence or Union is the essential guide.
Reviews / Votes
Deserves to be read by everyone interested in the future of the United Kingdom, and by those involved in the European referendum who would like some clues about winning and losing... this is analytical, synthetic, argumentative history at its best; it slays lazy myths and tells us the "why" of a momentous story every intelligent Briton ought to understand...cracking. -- Andrew Marr * The Sunday Times * His aim was to write a history "with a commitment to impartiality, the use of representative evidence and the due respect for conflicting opinions." This he has done brilliantly. The success of the union is well sketched. As is Scotland's role in the British Empire-for good and ill, and the making and maintaining of a Scottish identity. -- John McTernan * Prospect Magazine * Brilliant. Easily surpasses any of the glut of books surrounding our constitutional upheaval of the last five years or so. -- Kevin McKenna * The Observer * Never less than compelling ...Independence or Union is his best book to date, is required reading and a perfect example of why history matters. -- Alan Taylor * The Herald * Surefooted, balanced and reliable in analysis throughout. -- Colin Kidd * London Review of Books * This is analytical, synoptic, argumentative history at its best;it slays myths and tells us the 'why' of a momentous story every intelligent Briton should understand... a cracker -- Andrew Marr * Sunday Times * The book offers a crisp and well-paced assessment of the Union... a thoroughly reasoned assessment -- Donald MacRaild * Times Higher Education * Briskly, clearly and fairly he sketches a complex and detailed history, bringing new life and fresh perspectives to old stories... if he hadn't already been knighted for services to Scottish history, Devine would have been high on the list for preferment after this new work. -- John McTernan * Prospect Magazine * Devine brings his usual acute historical critique to the question in hand ... the analysis of the changes that worked their way into Scottish society during the last four decades of the twentieth century is convincing.The most profound point in Devine'a argument is that it was the Conservatives who unwittingly undermined the Union. -- Keith M. Brown * Times Literary Supplement * Its accessibility provides a very welcome service in opening up the flowering of history to a wider audience * Irish Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
550 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-21587-6 (9780241215876)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2016
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€9.49
Available for download
Person
T. M. Devine has written three books for Penguin: The Scottish Nation, Scotland's Empire and To the Ends of the Earth. He is Sir William Fraser Professor Emeritus of Scottish History and Palaeography at the University of Edinburgh; a Fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh; and an Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Devine is the only historian to have been awarded the Royal Medal, Scotland's supreme academic accolade, by HM The Queen. In 2014 he was knighted for services to the study of Scottish history.