What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Stewart #1-3
The Stewart Trilogy: Lords of Misrule / A Folly of Princes / The Captive Crown
This trilogy, which incorporates Lords of Misrule, A Folly of Prices and The Captive Crown, reveals how the ruling House of Stewart managed to cling to power despite being a family torn by hatred and jealousy.
1184 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 1986
3 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Tranter
175 books143 followersNigel 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 15, 2020
Anyone who was read Nigel Tranter already knows that they will be plunging into an exhaustive, atmospheric, historic saga that is thoroughly Scottish. I always come away with a slightly different attitude, an US vs. THEM frame of mind—and I’m part of the US. Tranter is amazing that way. I read this trilogy over thirty years ago and liked it enough to keep it on my bookshelf for a second reading, though at the time I had no idea who these Stewart kings were—and I didn’t recall any of it. Now, my situation is completely different. I don’t know what possessed me pick up this book again, but I was astounded to discover it covered the exact period—Henry IV’s reign in England—that I’m researching. It’s amazing what the subconscious will do for us.
At the beginning of the 15th century, King Robert III (born John, Earl of Carrick) was on the Scottish throne—or at least, he sat on the throne but did not rule the country. That job went to his unscrupulous but efficient brother, Robert Earl of Fife, Duke of Albany. Albany was the bad guy throughout the trilogy, accused of all sorts of heinous but unsolved crimes in the interest of his family and his country (or so he claimed). As if Robert wasn’t difficult enough to deal with, the king was afraid of his other brother, Alexander, Earl of Buchan, known as the Wolf of Badenoch. Alexander was a wild and unmanageable Highlander chief, with no respect for law and order except for his own. No wonder poor Robert III was timid and ineffectual. Our protagonist, Jamie Douglas, was an illegitimate member of his powerful clan. He was strong, reliable, loyal, and friends with other members of the royal family (both legitimate and illegitimate). Jamie was always in the midst of the action, and often lent his level-headed advice to those most in need of it. First there was the handsome but headstrong son and heir to the throne, David, who was a constant thorn in Albany’s side. Then (book 2) Jamie befriended young Alex, son of the late Wolf of Badenoch. That was a good thing, because Jamie, too, found himself on the wrong side of Albany and had to flee to the highlands for safety. Scotland was in constant turmoil, and its divided leadership played into the hands of the unscrupulous King of England. Or did Albany and Henry IV have some sort of private understanding between them?
These books were published in 1977-78, and I would say that to many modern readers, his style was old-fashioned. He spent an inordinate amount of time describing the topography and giving place names that are entirely unfathomable to anyone not living in Scotland. That part is hard to swallow. But having sloughed through the descriptive passages, the action is more than satisfying, the conflicts are engrossing, and the characters are clever. I trust Tranter’s history, so this is an education I can easily absorb.
At the beginning of the 15th century, King Robert III (born John, Earl of Carrick) was on the Scottish throne—or at least, he sat on the throne but did not rule the country. That job went to his unscrupulous but efficient brother, Robert Earl of Fife, Duke of Albany. Albany was the bad guy throughout the trilogy, accused of all sorts of heinous but unsolved crimes in the interest of his family and his country (or so he claimed). As if Robert wasn’t difficult enough to deal with, the king was afraid of his other brother, Alexander, Earl of Buchan, known as the Wolf of Badenoch. Alexander was a wild and unmanageable Highlander chief, with no respect for law and order except for his own. No wonder poor Robert III was timid and ineffectual. Our protagonist, Jamie Douglas, was an illegitimate member of his powerful clan. He was strong, reliable, loyal, and friends with other members of the royal family (both legitimate and illegitimate). Jamie was always in the midst of the action, and often lent his level-headed advice to those most in need of it. First there was the handsome but headstrong son and heir to the throne, David, who was a constant thorn in Albany’s side. Then (book 2) Jamie befriended young Alex, son of the late Wolf of Badenoch. That was a good thing, because Jamie, too, found himself on the wrong side of Albany and had to flee to the highlands for safety. Scotland was in constant turmoil, and its divided leadership played into the hands of the unscrupulous King of England. Or did Albany and Henry IV have some sort of private understanding between them?
These books were published in 1977-78, and I would say that to many modern readers, his style was old-fashioned. He spent an inordinate amount of time describing the topography and giving place names that are entirely unfathomable to anyone not living in Scotland. That part is hard to swallow. But having sloughed through the descriptive passages, the action is more than satisfying, the conflicts are engrossing, and the characters are clever. I trust Tranter’s history, so this is an education I can easily absorb.
December 29, 2018
This is the story of the early House of Stewart from the viewpoint of Jamie Douglas, oldest illegitimate son of James Douglas, Lord of Dalkeith. The first two Stewart kings, Robert II and Robert III were very ineffectual and Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith, 3rd son of Robert II was actually ruling Scotland and wasn't beyond murder to gather more power into his hands. Jamie would find this out when his master, the Earl of Douglas was murdered by his armorer at the end of the Battle of Otterburn. In seeking to secure his master's lands for his widow, Isabel Stewart, he met David Stewart, son of the future Robert III and became the prince's favorite. His search for justice took him into the Highlands of Scotland in search of a murderer where he became a prisoner of the sons of Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch. Circumstantial evidence led to the Earl of Menteith, but with the murderer murdered and the Wolf having hung the murderer as a rogue there were none left to tell of the plot. Jaime marries Mary Stewart, illegitimate daughter of Robert II, and lady-in-waiting to her legitimate half-sisters. Jamie became Sir James of Aberdour where he settled with his wife and family. Annabella Drummond, Robert III's influential queen died under suspicious circumstances, possibly poisoned and David Stewart, Earl of Carrick and Duke of Rothesay who continually drew Jamie into Stewart affairs and promised to make a much better king than his father and grandfather had his party ambushed on the way to St. Andrews and David was taken to Falkland where he was starved to death. Jamie and his family fled to Badenoch as he was known as David's man. He would leave the Highlands at the request of 4th Earl of Douglas to advise them on their cross-border raid. The Earl and command of the force refused to listen to Jamie which led to the debacle of Homildon Hill. Most of the nobles were captured by the English but Jamie managed to break out and lead a number men to safety. For this he was declared outlaw and father took his lands from him, settling them on his brother so Robert Stewart, now Duke of Albany couldn't get his hands on them. Jamie became lieutenant and close friend of Alexander Stewart, son of Wolf of Badenoch and would advise him in running his estates, dealing with Albany, and his interest in Isobel Douglas, Countess of Mar, whose husband Malcolm Drummond was murdered by Alexander's brother Duncan in order to discredit him. The Douglas family is highly interwoven with Royal Stewarts as the Douglas lords had visions of ascending the throne through a Douglas-Stewart descendant. Albany's descendant's would pay for leaving his nephew James I, in
English captivity for 18 years.
English captivity for 18 years.
April 28, 2008
Read the first two, which were interesting, but not exactly "don't put down" and then accidentally left in a cab. So I never got to The Captive Crown. If they'd been that good, I think I'd have found a copy of CC by now.
October 12, 2022
A real slog. Too many similar names, so I kept referring back to the lists of characters. The early years of the Stewarts from the viewpoint of Jamie Douglas. Infighting and political intrigue galore. Recommended ONLY for those interested in Scottish history.
January 31, 2011
If you're a fan of Scottish history like I am, you will enjoy all of Nigel Tranter's books. Can't wait to start the next one!
March 19, 2012
Excellent!! The portrayal of King James IV is superb!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews