Sword of State

by Nigel Tranter

The story of the loyal friendship between Alexander II, who ascended the Scottish throne in 1214 at the age of 16, and Patrick, heir to the ancient - and all but rival - line of the Cospatricks, Earls of Dunbar. The friendship was to withstand treachery and danger, rivalry and heartache.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Scotland, Fiction

394 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

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]

A history of Scotland during the reign of Alexander II from the viewpoint of the Cospatrick family who were the Celtic claimants to the throne. Young Patrick who is sent to the court of a young King Alexander to remind him of their claim to the throne, winds up becoming the young king's close friend and confident as most of the court officials are carry-overs from his father's reign, stuffy old men who only want him to sign papers. Between the two of them they enliven it by bringing young people and women to court. Patrick also earns honors helping put down uprisings in the Isles and Caithness where the clan chieftains regard themselves as kings. Tranter gives you a peak into the running of the Earldom of Dunbar and how they achieved their wealth trading with the Low Countries.
There are also numerous cautious meetings with Henry III of England as Alexander's first wife is his sister. I enjoyed it.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 10 chronologically in Tranter's Scottish historic fiction, which is a wonderful way to read the history.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh