Chris Brown (2)

Rather superficial account of Bruce's life that nevertheless makes an interesting read. Obviously aimed at the general reader who wants to know the basic details of Bruce's life and reign devoid of the Braveheart crap. it works well in this regard. Of particular merit is the author's determination to dispel popular legends about Bruce, such as being saved at Bannockburn by a mysterious force of Templars. Brown does this and does this well. Nevertheless, for the reader who is familiar with the Bruce, the lack of detail about specific events and people can be frustrating, for instance Elizabeth de Burgh and Marjorie Bruce are barely mentioned (the marriage between Marjorie and Walter Stewart, an event of singular importance for future Scots history, is not mentioned at all), many battles are glossed over in a couple of lines, and the last few years of Bruce's reign in a couple of pages. For all that, its a good solid read, and as I said, an excellent factual introduction for anyone unfamiliar with the Bruce.… (más)

My first reaction to this book was that it is a strangely balanced work.
Timeline: The vast majority of the content covers the 1330s, then skips ahead to Neville's Cross, and wraps up there. Quite what happens to the other 17 years of the war I have no idea (apart from the ransoming of King David II).
Context: While a good proportion tackles the politics, campaigning and battles of the war, there are significant efforts to explain the setting, both in terms of Scottish society and medieval warfare. However these sections are scattered throughout the book, and I feel that these would have been more useful to the reader at the beginning where that context would have informed the specific discussions about the war.
There's a good section on the effects of weather upon archery, but somehow he's omitted an explanation on how rains affects bowstrings.
His appraisal of the interplay between Edward III's campaigns in Scotland and his ambitions in France seem very badly developed.
The bibliography seems very bare, but I can't judge whether this has affected the quality.
Overall, a fair introduction for the general reader, but not recommended.… (más)