Donald MacMillan's A Short History of the Scottish People was written to fill a gap between the enormous multi volume academic treatises and the small abridged books typically used in schools. Written for the lay person it is rich in detail and history without becoming weighed down with tangents that an average reader would not find of interest.

Rather than being focused solely on military actions or political manoeuvring the book's gaze focuses more on how these events came to impact on the Scots themselves and the building of the nation. At close to 500 pages of small text it's no tiny book, it can however be comfortably read in a reasonable period of time and conveys plenty of historical knowledge to the reader.

It more of less covers Scotland from the very beginning to modern Scotland, that is the stabilisation of the Union.

The rules of King Kenneth McAlpin, King Constantin III, King Kenneth II, King Malcolm I, King Canute, Queen Margaret, King Malcolm, King William I, King Edgar, King Magnus Barefoot, King Alexander I, King David I, King Malcolm IV, King William The Lion, King Alexander II, King Edward I, King John Balliol, William Wallace, Robert Bruce, King Edward II, King Edward III, King David II, King Robert II, King Robert III, King James I, King James II, King James III, King James IV, King Henry VII, King Henry VIII, King James V, Queen Mary Stuart, Queen Elizabeth I, John Knox, King Charles I, King Charles II, Oliver Cromwell, King James VII, Queen Mary II, King William II, King George I, King George II, King James VIII and King William III are all covered, as is the Scottish War of Independence, English Civil War and the Scottish Reformation.

I found it to be a well written and concise history of Scotland. A little dry at times however that is to be expected when dealing with the language and phrasing of a book written in excess of a century ago.

Overall, I'd recommend it for those looking to learn about Scotland's history and formation of the country & its religion. ( )