Birlinn New Title Catalogue Spring 2017

R. Andrew MacDonald
MAY 2017
The Kingdom of the Isles
Scotland's Western Seaboard c.1100 - 1336
R. ANDREW MCDONALD
is Professor of History at
Brock University, Canada,
where he was the founding
director of the Centre for
Medieval and Renaissance
Studies. He is the author of
many books, book chapters,
and articles on medieval
Scottish, Hebridean, and
Manx history, including
Outlaws of Medieval
Scotland: Challenges to the
Canmore Kings 1058-1266,
co-editor of The Viking Age:
A Reader and co-editor of
Alba: Celtic Scotland in the
Middle Ages.
This study explores the history of the
western seaboard of Scotland (the
Hebrides, Argyll and the Isle of Man)
in a formative but often neglected
era: the central middle ages, from the
mightly Somerled to his descendant
John MacDonald, the first Lord of the
Isles (c. 1336).
Drawing on a variety of sources, this
very readable narrative deals with
three major and closely interrelated
themes: first, the existence of the Isles
and coastal mainland as a kingdom
from c.1100 to 1266; second, the
rulers of the region, Somerled and
his descendants, the MacDougalls,
MacDonalds and MacRuaris; and
third, the often complex relations
among the Isles, Scotland, Norway
and England. A fully rounded history
emerges, which transcends national
viewpoints.
Format: 234 x 156mm R-pbk
ISBN: 9781904607793
Price: £25.00
Extent: 288pp
Illustrations: 8pp b/w plates
May 2017
Also available
OUTLAWS OF MEDIEVAL SCOTLAND
ISBN: 9781910900000
Price: £20.00 Paperback
Also available
ALBA
ISBN: 9781906566579
Price: £20.00 Paperback
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