A pedestrian account of the great Irish Missionary and his work in Scotland. there are a great many names and incidental historical information, but not much life. ( )

This particular book was a bit dry but then Tranter is also dealing with a time where it's hard to separate fact from myth and legend. Columba spends more of his traveling the length and breadth of Dalriada & Alba which leaves him continually short of clergy to help spread God's word. In the latter part of the book Tranter has Columba admit that he finds instructing rather tedious and he'd rather be out and about, but at the same time he can't be continually sending to Ireland for trained clergy. They will have to train their own and send them forth. ( )