Publisher's Synopsis
“Impressive…The strength of this book lies in the way events such as the Act of Union and the Clearances are revealed to have had global consequences.” — Gerard DeGroot, The Times
“Engaging, lively and full of insight, a vivid account of Scottish endeavours in politics, science, literature, art and economics…Pittock records the ebb and flow of Scotland’s international experience with panache and pace." — Anna Keay, The Guardian
An engaging and authoritative history of Scotland's influence in the world and the world's on Scotland, from the Thirty Years War to the present day
Scotland is one of the oldest nations in the world, yet by some it is hardly counted as a nation at all. Neither a colony of England nor a fully equal partner in the British union, Scotland's history has often been seen as simply a component part of British history. But the story of Scotland is one of innovation, exploration, resistance-and global consequence.
In this wide-ranging, deeply researched account, Murray Pittock examines the place of Scotland in the world. Pittock explores Scotland and Empire, the rise of nationalism, and the pressures on the country from an increasingly monolithic understanding of "Britishness." From the Thirty Years' War to Jacobite risings and today's ongoing independence debates, Scotland and its diaspora have undergone profound changes. This ground-breaking account reveals the diversity of Scotland's history and shows how, after the country disappeared from the map as an independent state, it continued to build a global brand.
“There is scarcely a dull page in this book, though readers may well find the wealth of detail dizzying. Yet the detail is as necessary as it is fascinating, for the key to Scottish success in Europe and the wider world is the national - clannish or familial - gift or enthusiasm for networking…A fascinating, thought-provoking book.” — Allan Massie, The Scotsman
“A monumental achievement. . . . This is a tremendous book, a really significant contribution to Scottish history. It will delight, surprise and irritate in equal measure.” — Christopher Whatley, author of The Scots and the Union
“Spectacularly panoramic and sweeping while always remaining rigorously scholarly, Scotland ranges effortlessly over four hundred years of history from Quebec to Calcutta, from Ossian to Trainspotting. As admirably frank about Scottish participation in the slave and opium trade, and the looting of half the globe, as it is about Scotland's contribution to the finance, technology and innovation that drove the steam age. A major contribution.” — William Dalrymple, author of The Anarchy
