Winner of the Frank Watson Book Prize for the best book published on Scottish History

Shortlisted for the Saltire Society History Book of the Year

The legendary Scottish king Mael Coluim III, also known as 'Malcolm Canmore', is often held to epitomise Scotland's 'ancient Gaelic kings'. But Mael Coluim and his dynasty were in fact newcomers, and their legitimacy and status were far from secure at the beginning of his rule. Mael Coluim's long reign from 1058 until 1093 coincided with the Norman Conquest of England, a revolutionary event that presented great opportunities and terrible dangers. Although his interventions in post-Conquest England eventually cost him his life, the book argues that they were crucial to his success as both king and dynasty-builder, creating internal stability and facilitating the takeover of Strathclyde and Lothian. As a result, Mael Coluim left to his successors a territory that stretched far to the south of the kingship's heartland north of the Forth, similar to the Scotland we know today.

The book explores the wider political and cultural world in which Mael Coluim lived, guiding the reader through the pitfalls and possibilities offered by the sources that mediate access to that world. Our reliance on so few texts means that the eleventh century poses problems that historians of later eras can avoid. Nevertheless Scotland in Mael Coluim's time generated unprecedented levels of attention abroad and more vernacular literary output than at any time prior to the Stewart era.

About the Author

Neil McGuigan is a researcher, historian and lecturer, and also works as a historical consultant. He gained degrees from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in history from the University of St Andrews, where he is a regular lecturer and tutor. His recent research has concentrated on Scotland and Northumbria in the period 800 to 1200.

Reviews

'Not just a biography but a fascinatingly detailed picture of the world in which he lived... this is a terrific book. McGuigan writes with a light touch that makes his story a lively and entertaining read.'

-- Alistair Forbes * Lance and Longbow Society *

'The depth and breadth of McGuigan's analysis are very impressive throughout. McGuigan leaves no argument uninterrogated nor avenue unexplored'

* The Medieval Review *

'a major achievement... the writing style is engaging, the maps and genealogies are helpful, and the breadth of scholarship and depth of analysis on display across so many disciplinary and temporal divides is impressive'

* Speculum *

'McGuigan has gone beyond the realms of biography to create a tangible vision of eleventh- century Scotland - and that is quite an achievement'

-- Tom Fairfax * Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies *

'This is a beautifully written book that tackles a period of profound change in Scottish history with admirable breadth and range'

* The Frank Watson Book Prize *


Awards
Winner of Frank Watson Book Prize 2023. Short-listed for Saltire Society Scottish History Book of the Year 2022.



Book Information
ISBN 9781910900192
Author Neil McGuigan
Format Hardback
Page Count 624
Imprint John Donald Short Run Press
Publisher John Donald Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 1187g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 170mm * 50mm