From Bannockburn to Flodden: Wallace, Bruce, and the Heroes of Medieval Scotland

Tales of a Scottish Grandfather

by Walter Scott, George Grant (Introduction)

The first portion of the classic volume written by Scott, Tales of a Grandfather, covering the history of Scotland up to Scott's time.

Genres: History, Scotland, Medieval History, Classics, Biography

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer, widely recognized as the founder and master of the historical novel. His most celebrated works, including Waverley, Rob Roy, and Ivanhoe, helped shape not only the genre of historical fiction but also modern perceptions of Scottish culture and identity.

Born in Edinburgh in 1771, Scott was the son of a solicitor and a mother with a strong interest in literature and history. At the age of two, he contracted polio, which left him with a permanent limp. He spent much of his childhood in the Scottish Borders, where he developed a deep fascination with the region's folklore, ballads, and history. He studied at Edinburgh High School and later at the University of Edinburgh, qualifying as a lawyer in 1792. Though he worked in law for some time, his literary ambitions soon took precedence.

Scott began his literary career with translations and collections of traditional ballads, notably in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. He gained early fame with narrative poems such as The Lay of the Last Minstrel and The Lady of the Lake. As the popularity of poetic storytelling declined, especially with the rise of Lord Byron, Scott turned to prose. His first novel, Waverley, published anonymously in 1814, was set during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and is considered the first true historical novel. The success of Waverley led to a long series of novels, known collectively as the Waverley Novels, which blended historical events with compelling fictional narratives.

Over the following years, Scott produced a remarkable number of novels, including Old Mortality, The Heart of Midlothian, and The Bride of Lammermoor, each contributing to the romantic image of Scotland that became popular throughout Europe. With Ivanhoe, published in 1819, he turned his attention to medieval England, broadening his appeal and confirming his status as a major literary figure. His works were not only popular in his own time but also laid the groundwork for historical fiction as a respected literary form.

Scott married Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier in 1797, and they had five children. In 1820, he was granted a baronetcy and became Sir Walter Scott. He built a grand home, Abbotsford House, near Melrose, which reflected his passion for history and the Scottish past. However, in 1825, financial disaster struck when his publishers went bankrupt. Rather than declare bankruptcy himself, Scott chose to work tirelessly to pay off the debts through his writing. He continued to produce novels and non-fiction works at a staggering pace despite declining health.

Walter Scott died in 1832, leaving behind a literary legacy that influenced generations of writers and readers. His works remain widely read and studied, and he is credited with helping to revive interest in Scottish history and culture. Abbotsford House, now a museum, stands as a monument to his life and achievements.

Reviews

[Mbilmey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!! Ok, imagine your favorite author writing the history of one of your favorite countries...so, the 5 stars is going to seem biased, but hear me out.
Are your ever confused about the feudal system? Do you ever wish for a short survey history that doesn't get complicated with too many dates and small details? Does history bore you without the right balance of story and info? Are you a writer looking for medieval inspiration or quick research? Need a rush of battle stories rebellion and intrigue? Simply just love Scott or Scotland? I recommend this book on so many levels. I don't even read nonfiction very often (wikipedia is faster), but this did such a good job and honestly was sometimes hard to put down. A+ job on distracting me from my life problems as well.
I loved learning about the kings of Scotland and how that country functioned, and especially Robert Freaking Bruce--boss of all bosses (I know war is horrible, but I want to be him so bad!). Also, being a Scottish King James sucks. 0/10 would not recommend. Only problem was that it ended with James V, and I feel robbed of Mary Queen of Scotts.
Also, this is probably one of Scott's easier reads, which can be nice, because he wrote it for a grandchild...though I'm extremely impressed with six-year-old Hugh's literacy and extremely concerted about modern education by contrast.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in Scott's series "Tales of a Scottish Grandfather," a 4 book series of the history of Scotland written for his grandson. Because it is written for a child it is accessible and easy to understand. Because it is written by an amazing novelist it is interesting for adults as well. If you're interested in the history of Scotland I would recommend these books.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be entertaining and highly readable, but as I neared the end I was overcome by the detail and the repetition of similar events. I was impressed by how brutal life was and I guess I just hit my limit of reading about that.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1828, in declining health, Walter Scott embarked on an ambitious endeavor. He began to write a history of Scotland (and England) for his grandson, John Hugh Lockhart, who was then seven years old. The author had already written nearly thirty historical novels, as well as many other literary works. He was an avid historian, and he wove the history of Scotland and England through his novels. But now he set out to write down all the history he had learned, so that his grandson would both have it to remember him by, and to be educated by it. The resulting work spanned four volumes. The first volume starts with the first king of Scotland, and traces the wars and intrigues from Macbeth to the field of Flodden.

John Hugh, whose health was never strong, died in 1831, when he was only 10 years old. Walter Scott died in 1832.

The writing is interesting and accessible. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of Scotland. In sum, life then was mean, nasty, brutish, and short.

[Joe Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir Walter Scott is the author of the book and it was written for his 10-year-old grandson. This would be a good book if you’re just learning about the history of Scotland. Names and titles can be confusing when everyone’s named Mary, Margaret, James, and Angus. If you’re looking for something, a little more in depth and written to a higher degree of education, then I would look for something else.

[Mart Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scottish history can be a tad complex. But here, Sir Walter Scott explains it to his 10-year-old grandson, which does make it a bit easier. Still, it's best to read at a slow pace with a highlighter in hand to keep track of who's on the throne, who's trying to dethrone the one on the throne, and who's ultimately going to kill the one who's trying to dethrone the one on the throne.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for children but still entertaining for modern adults.

[Debby Bartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scottish History Must!

Great reference to get a taste of Scottish history! Told just enough to give you an overview of this beautiful, turbulent country.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness, first chapter read and I am already blown away - there is so much I didn't know to this history! And Scott makes it so easy to absorb. (10/1)

This was fantastic - history and story telling by Sir Walter always are. I read so many of his stories that I needed a better overview of the history of Scotland, especially to the 16th century, and this certainly did it. He is writing it to his six year old grandson, so it is kept simple, but all the better if you are trying to quickly gain the big picture. At one point while I was reading this of an evening, I thought it was probably a little bit dry - but as I have given up television, and could tell it was a bit dry, I was enjoying it and still found it engrossing. Highly recommend.