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Archiver > GEN-TRIVIA-SCOTLAND > 1999-08 > 0933707999


From: Beth Harrison <>
Subject: Re: A Hstory of the Border Reivers
Date: Tue, 03 Aug 1999 15:19:59 -0400 (EDT)


THANKS, Howard! I have that one! (Found it at an STB office.) I love his
dry writing style. One (unverbatim) quotation I still remember, about Mary,
Queen of Scots, on the subject of Darnley's murder: "When one marries one's
husband's accused murderer, people will talk."

[Is his WWII (and other) fiction as good?]

Thank you!

Please forward all book recommendations!

Gratefully,

Beth

At 08:01 PM 8/3/99 +0100, you wrote:
>Dear Beth,
>I would suggest the book by George MacDonald Fraser "The Steel Bonnets"
>- a history of the border reivers in the 14th - 16th centuries. There is
>lots in it about the Grahams - apparently at one time they were banned
>from Scotland, moved to Ireland, but snuck back home under the name of
>Maharg! I think it is still in print - the bibliography and
>sources are very useful. Should be available on inter-library loan
>or buy from Palmers, Amazon or Barnes and Noble second-hand copies.
>Kindest regards
>Howard
> Howard Murphy
> Cellardyke Harbour
> Fife Scotland
>
> Beth Harrison <> writes
>>
>>I am in Florence, South Carolina.
>>
>>Four years ago, my husband announced we were visiting Scotland, so I decided
>>it was high time to learn a little history, and I've been reading up on
>>Scottish history ever since.
>>We have had the good fortune to visit Scotland four times, and we rent a car
>>and take off.
>>
>>My interest in Scotland is from hand-me-down family tradition that my
>>gggrandfather, a Graham, was descended from Scots. My grandmother has the
>>history back to 1770, when they came from County Down, Ireland, to Virginia.
>>I once asked her why they left Scotland, and she said, "There was a little
>>misunderstanding about some cattle thieving."
>>
>>Given the family tradition, time frame, and location of emigration, my guess
>>is my guys were border reivers, those same "malefactors of the name of
>>Graham" that King James VI ejected in the early seventeenth century. But I
>>have not been able to trace farther than the County Down connection.
>>
>>
>>But after reading Don McEwan's "Scotland on Sunday" article, I will probably
>>be quieter. I had no idea we were perceived as such clods! Clods, yes, but
>>THAT BAD????? <grin>
>
>>Mark, your histories were fabulous. Thank you so much. They answered so
>>many questions. The best part, to me, is that you give us insight into a
>>Scot's opinion on subjects we perceive --- through folksongs, Tranter,
>>Prebble, et al. --- as "holy" subjects. I particularly enjoyed your
>>comments on the Bonnie Prince, and also on the Glencoe Massacre.
>>
>>You've commented on "Braveheart" and "Rob Roy" --- is it safe to assume you
>>approve of "Chasing the Deer", and its portrayal of Charles?
>
>
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