High Kings and Vikings

by Nigel Tranter

As Christendom approached the first millennium, conflict and war prevailed throughout a troubled Scotland. Internal feuding was rife, the population remained under constant threat from bloodthirsty Viking raids, and the High Kings of Scots came and went, their brief reigns usually coming to abrupt and violent ends. Young Cormac mac Farquhar, newly succeeding his father as Thane of Glamis, was to find himself reluctantly caught up in this ensuing national chaos. But little did Cormac know that, out of this legacy of hatred, he would find unexpected happiness.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Scotland, Fiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Nigel Tranter OBE was a Scottish historian and writer. He was the author of a wide range of books on Scottish castles, particularly on themes of architecture and history. He also specialised in deeply researched historical novels that cover centuries of Scottish history.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tumultuous time in Scotland with various ri, regional kings, vying to become High King even if it meant killing the incumbent and taking his throne. There were four high kings in the course of the book. Kenneth II who was murdered by Fenella nic Connacher, widow of the thane of Mearns and daughter of Cormac of Glamis's mormaor, Constantine III who was killed in a sneak attack by Kenneth, Mormaor of Atholl reputedly to have his nephew crowned high king but once Constantine is dead he decides he'd make a better high king as Kenneth III. In the end his nephew, Malcolm kills Kenneth and becomes Malcolm II, the Destroyer and will remain so for 29 not so peaceful years. Between the political in-fighting and the Viking raids it was a good thing that this fictional Thane of Glamis had a wife that insisted on going on some of his ventures otherwise she'd rarely have seen him. It's a tough time write about when you consider how little documentation there is.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much going to and fro in this book and skirmishes here and there with a love story thrown in, but the story ends with a fizzle.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th Tranter chronologically, taking place at the turn of the first millennium. High kings are being unseated (by death) and Vikings are raiding. Following the characters on Google Maps enhances the reading experience.
Those who like Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series would enjoy this book. Uhtred even makes an appearance.

[Dave Spence · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having just bought a batch of Tranter books I was really looking forward to this. I decided to start with this one.

Have to say that this is a very poorly written book, lacking description, atmosphere and any good dialogue (most of it is along the lines of then he went to see him and he agreed it was a good idea).

The story is also poor. It is set just after Kenneth II has been murdered and follows a series of backstabbings of kings though to Malcolm the destroyer.

The story would have been much better focused on these aspect, but instead these issues are an afterthought briefly mentioned in the background. Instead we have to follow the lame love story of Cormac and Fenella, broken up by Cormac going off to fight Vikings every now any again and even that part isn't exciting.

Don't want to be too harsh, I did think it was odd that this book was so rubbish given Tranter's reputation. Having looked into it would appear that this book was written just before he died, so maybe the old spark had left him by then.

In any case, I haven't given up, start the Bruce trilogy last night and can tell by the first pages that it is gonna be way better as people are actually described and get to speak in real time dialogue.(less)

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scotland 900's. Good so far.

[William Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nigel Tranter was an extremely prolific writer of Scottish history.