The Unicorn Rampant

by Nigel Tranter

Book by Tranter, Nigel

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

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]

Mary Gray and Ludovick Stewart, Duke of Lennox's son is now a young man and he and his mother are waiting for Ludovick to arrive in Edinburgh. He's traveling with King James who is returning to Scotland for the first time in fourteen years. Needless to say, everything doesn't go smoothly. Part of it has to do with the fact that King James looks far from regal, is of a chaotic nature, and no one has seen James in fourteen years so they have no clue what he looks like. So at one point King James is arrested and is being marched off to prison when John and Ludovick come to his rescue. John winds up being knighted, becoming the king's errand courtier establishing paper mills in Scotland, getting some of the Queen's jewelry back from her by way of one of her ladies-in-waiting. He would also wind up tricked into marriage by said lady-in-waiting who swore she was pregnant but as it turned out wasn't. In the end it was his wife's affair with the king's favorite that got him sent home to Methven where he was more content anyway. His mother was happy too in that she had one of her men home.

[Steve Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unicorn Rampant, another historical novel from prolific Nigel Tranter, introduces us to 1617 Britain and the idiosyncratic, colourful and singular world of King James Stewart - King of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The story unfolds through the eyes of young John Stewart of Methven, whose assistance to the king catches the monarch's eye and pulls the lad reluctantly into royal service and away, for most part, from his beloved Scottish homeland.
It's a yarn written by a Scot about a Scot, flowing with humour, history, and charismatic and interesting characters.
The story-line contained sufficient enjoyment and magnetism to entice me to search for the author's biography, which I shall read with anticipation and relish. There will be other Tranter novels that I shall be happy to find and read.

[Marilyn Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is of its time and the Scot's language is written as it is spoke, so not an easy read for us south of the border! Having said that, a good romp.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original