Dominic Connolly’s A History of Scotland offers a sweeping yet accessible narrative of the nation’s past, from its early foundations to contemporary political developments. As an overview, it serves as a strong introduction to Scotland’s complex and often turbulent history, presenting a balanced blend of political, cultural, and social elements. The book is a valuable resource for both history enthusiasts and casual readers, although there are a few areas that could benefit from a bit more depth.

Strengths:
Comprehensive Yet Accessible: One of the standout features of Connolly’s A History of Scotland is its ability to present a wide-ranging account of Scotland’s history without overwhelming the reader. The book is well-structured, beginning with Scotland’s early origins—its Pictish and Celtic roots—before moving through key historical periods such as the Wars of Independence, the Jacobite Rebellions, and Scotland’s union with England. Connolly maintains a clear, concise narrative, offering just enough background and context to engage readers who may not have prior in-depth knowledge of Scottish history. His straightforward writing style ensures that the book remains accessible to a broad audience.

Engaging and Well-Researched Narrative: Connolly does an admirable job of weaving the personal stories of influential figures, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and Mary, Queen of Scots, into the larger historical events of the time. These individual narratives serve to humanize the political and social changes throughout Scottish history, providing the reader with a more vivid understanding of the people who shaped the country’s trajectory. Connolly’s research is evident throughout the book, with references to primary sources and historical scholarship that enhance the depth of the narrative without overwhelming the casual reader.

Balanced Focus on Key Events: The book does a commendable job of covering both well-known and lesser-known aspects of Scottish history. It provides substantial coverage of Scotland’s battles for independence from England, the significant religious tensions during the Reformation, and the cultural shifts brought on by the Scottish Enlightenment. Connolly gives each period its due attention, while also emphasizing the ways in which these events shaped Scotland’s unique identity, culture, and role in the world.

Clear Exploration of Scotland’s Political Struggles: Connolly is particularly strong when discussing the political dynamics of Scotland, including the ongoing tension with England, the eventual Union of the Crowns, and the formation of the United Kingdom. The author carefully examines how these political events have shaped Scotland’s national consciousness and its complex relationship with England over the centuries. This section provides valuable insights into Scotland’s historical desire for independence and the ongoing debates surrounding autonomy and self-governance.

Weaknesses:
Occasional Surface-Level Treatment of Certain Topics: While the book is a fantastic introduction, there are moments when Connolly’s coverage feels somewhat superficial. For instance, the sections on Scotland’s industrial revolution and the rise of the Labour movement in the 20th century are a bit rushed. These topics, which significantly impacted Scotland’s economy and society, could have been explored in greater detail. The Industrial Revolution, in particular, is a pivotal period in Scottish history, and a deeper dive into the socioeconomic changes and their effects on Scottish communities would have been beneficial.

Limited Coverage of Recent Political Developments: Although the book covers Scotland’s political development well into the 20th century, Connolly could have provided more insight into recent political shifts, especially the rise of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the ongoing debates surrounding independence in the 21st century. The book briefly touches on devolution and the 2014 independence referendum, but it does not fully explore the broader political landscape that has emerged since then. Given the significance of these developments in contemporary Scottish politics, a more detailed analysis of the past decade or so would have made the book feel more timely and relevant.

Lack of Varied Perspectives: While Connolly presents a thorough account of Scotland’s history, there are moments where the narrative leans a little too heavily on one perspective, particularly when discussing conflicts like the Jacobite Rebellions. Although the Jacobite cause and its supporters are clearly portrayed as passionate and determined, the narrative could have benefited from a more nuanced exploration of the broader range of opinions on the matter. Including more perspectives, especially those of ordinary Scots or opposing political groups, would have added richness and complexity to the historical picture.

Limited Exploration of Scotland's Cultural History: While the book does touch on key cultural developments, such as the Scottish Enlightenment, the arts, and literature, it does not delve deeply into Scotland’s cultural history. The role of Scotland in shaping global intellectual movements, its contributions to the arts and sciences, and the development of Scottish literature are areas that could have been expanded. While the book is focused on political and social history, a more detailed exploration of Scotland’s cultural impact would have rounded out the narrative.

Conclusion:
Dominic Connolly’s A History of Scotland is an engaging and informative introduction to the country’s rich history. The author’s clear writing, thorough research, and balanced focus on key events make it a great starting point for anyone interested in Scotland’s past. While some areas could have benefited from deeper exploration—particularly in the realms of industrial history, contemporary politics, and cultural development—the book succeeds in providing a coherent narrative that captures the complexities and struggles that have shaped Scotland. It is a strong 4-star read for those seeking a comprehensive yet accessible history of Scotland.

This book takes you on a journey through Scotland's varied and dramatic past. It's full of beautiful pictures of Scotland. Definitely one to add to the collection.

‘A History of Scotland’ offers a captivating overview of Scotland's multi-faceted history, enriched with stunning images and in-depth text. The chronological order of events allows readers to trace the development of the country from ancient to modern times, with only the occasional lack of in-depth analysis of individual figures and events. All in all a great introduction into Scottish History

A great overview of the history of Scotland with wonderful photographs. I visited Scotland for the first time last year, and I wish I had had this book as a "pre-read." I learned a lot about the history and it helped me pull together the different fragments I learned as I visited castles and historic sites there. This is a great and concise read yet comprehensive as well!

Thank you to Netgalley and Amber Books Ltd for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

A beautiful and insightful history book of Scotland with gorgeous photographs and illustrations . I wish I had read this prior to my trip to Scotland in the summer as it would have definitely helped ! Would love a copy of this one for my bookshelf !

A History of Scotland from BCE to the present day by Dominic Connolly was quite appealing with many great photos of landscapes, paints, status, and recent pictures of people and buildings! I wish the history part before the present day were more detailed.

I received a digital advance copy from Amber Books via NetGalley and have provided my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. It is perfect for history buffs and readers worldwide, providing a comprehensive overview of Scotland's history from 3000 BCE-70 CE to the present day. With an impressive collection of over 180 photos and artworks, the book is an excellent resource for both enjoyment and learning.

Scotland is becoming less mysterious to me as I learn more about it. While I am most familiar with Mary, Queen of Scots, I am beginning to differentiate between which James is which. Who knew it was called the Jacobean Era because that is the Latin form of James?

This book is made vastly better by the addition of gorgeous photographs of the Scottish countryside, including its many castles.

This visually captivating journey through Scotland’s rich and dramatic past explores key moments and influential figures from Roman times to the present day. Enjoyable and informative, the book offers a comprehensive pictorial survey of Scotland’s history, from the ancient stone circles of Orkney to the modern Scottish Parliament.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I can not wait to see some of these places in person. As I turned each pages I was presented another stunning image of Scotand. The images is only part of this book (they will suck you in and you want to keep seeing more) the other part is the history of Scotland. A very long and storied history. Many part of Scotlands history reads like a movie (okay there have been movies!)

Who is coming with me to explore this beautiful country?

Thank you NetGalley and Amber Books for an advanced copy! #AHistoryofScotland #NetGalley.

Scotland is on my bucket list to visit. Who knows when I will ever get there, but I can enjoy it vicariously through this pictorial guide by Dominic Connolly. I can learn about the culture, enjoy the art, imagine I’m traveling through the landscapes while enjoying the architecture. It is broken down by ages, so even my imagination can be captivated by the rich and layered history. The pictures are truly stunning and tell a story all on their own. The brief descriptions are helpful to provide facts, but the pictures say much more than words.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This is an interesting book, falling somewhere between a home reference type and a textbook. It has lovely images of scenery and artwork, and moves pretty quickly through Scotland's long history. I visited London twice this year and both times I wished that I had enough time to visit Scotland for the first time, so this book came along at just the right moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Scotland is just such a fascinating place. I have been once and am shortly going back for another adventure. I feel like the more I read about it the more I want to experience it. This book made me want to move there and see everything that it was talking about first hand. Such an old world and magical place. The author did a great job transporting people back and understanding the roots of this proud and ancient land and people.

Adored this! Ideal for any history reader and for those living in Scotland :)

We learn the history of Scotland all the way back to 3000 BCE-70 CE to the present day.

Filled with more than 180 photos and artworks, this is a beautiful book to read and learn from.

4.5 stars

This is a beautiful book, and one I'm looking forward to seeing in person!

I've visited Scotland several times, and the read brought back many a fond memory--as well as provided inspo for future trips. A lot of history was covered, so naturally I enjoyed some sections more than others, but it was cool to see everything compiled in one place. Very enjoyable read.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

An overview of Scottish history from prehistoric through to modern times, with great photography and illustrations. A beautiful book.

Great illustrations and informative text
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved this book! It was very well researched and it covered so much history and it was very interesting to read. And the pictures were great!

5 stars

This book is a fantastic and comprehensive history of Scotland. The photographs are absolutely gorgeous. It is easily accessible to all readers. It is written linearly from the dark ages through the present. It discusses all of the major names, battles and struggles of the Scots peoples.

I can’t get over what a beautiful country Scotland is. I would love to go and visit.

I want to thank NetGalley and Amber Books, Ltd. / Amber Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review.

***Unfortunately, this book is not yet available to review on GoodReads, BookBub or Amazon.

Really informative book with lovely photographs. A great introduction to Scottish history, and I would definitely gift this to someone who was a history buff.