Scotland

"The Scots", said a censorious English member of Parliament in 1607, "have not suffered above two kings to die in their beds these two hundred years". He may have exaggerated, but undeniably Scotland has a rough and bloodstained history. It is a complex one too, but Sir Fitzroy Maclean has disentangled the threads, and enlivened his brisk account with both wit and scholarship. Pictures from authentic contemporary sources illuminate his story - its romantic figures and bloody battles, its politics and religion - and provide a rich visual record of Scotland's art, craftsmanship and intellectual life. In this revised edition of his classic work, he brings the story of Scotland right up to date, examining how the Scots identity is faring under the twin influences of late 20th-centur-y nationalism and internationalism. Sir Fitzroy Maclean, the esteemed writer and historian, has for many years held important posts in the Diplomatic Service, the Armed Forces and the Government, and is an honorary LL D of Glasgow, Dundee and Dalhousie Universities.