Culloden and the Last Clansman

by James Hunter

In May 1752 in the Scottish Highlands, a rider is shot dead by a hidden gunman. The murdered man is Colin Campbell, a government agent heading for nearby Duror where he plans to evict Duror's farming tenants and replace them with his relatives. Colin Campbell's killer escapes. But Britain's rulers insist that this challenge to their authority must be paid for with a hanging. The sacrificial victim is James Stewart who, from his Duror home, has been organizing resistance to the murdered man's evictions. Stewart is a verteran of the Highland uprising which culminated in the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. Back in Duror he saw home after home torched by troops sent to bring the Highlanders to heel. But Stewart, refusing to knuckle under, takes on the officials?among them Colin Campbell?who are trying to impose British rule on the Highlands. Colin Campbell's killing rocked 18th-century Britain and became the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel, Kidnapped. And ever since the fatal shot was fired, people have argued about who actually pulled the trigger.

Genres: Scotland

238 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

James Hunter was brought up in North Argyll. He was educated at Duror Primary School, Oban High School and Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities.

He was the first director of the Scottish Crofters Union which he helped to establish as a highly effective pressure group with a substantial membership right across the crofting areas.

A journalist, broadcaster and writer, Hunter has published a number of books about the Highlands and Islands. He has lectured in Britain and North America on Highland history and on Scottish environmental and land use issues, as well as making many radio and television programmes.

Reviews

[Patricia Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was the most exciting history study I have read. It read like a murder mystery novel and I could not put it down. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in this period of history.

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brillaint tale, well told and brought to life. I especially like the detail about the area in whic the action takes place.