The Makers of Scotland cover art

The Makers of Scotland

Picts, Romans, Gaels and Vikings

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The Makers of Scotland

By: Tim Clarkson
Narrated by: David Vickery
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About this listen

During the first millennium AD the most northerly part of Britain evolved into the country known today as Scotland. The transition was a long process of social and political change driven by the ambitions of powerful warlords. At first these men were tribal chiefs, Roman generals, or rulers of small kingdoms. Later, after the Romans departed, the initiative was seized by dynamic warrior-kings who campaigned far beyond their own borders. Armies of Picts, Scots, Vikings, Britons, and Anglo-Saxons fought each other for supremacy.

From Lothian to Orkney, from Fife to the Isle of Skye, fierce battles were won and lost. By AD 1000 the political situation had changed for ever. Led by a dynasty of Gaelic-speaking kings, the Picts and Scots began to forge a single, unified nation which transcended past enmities. In this book, the remarkable story of how ancient North Britain became the medieval kingdom of Scotland is told.

©2011, 2013 Tim Clarkson (P)2022 Tantor Europe Great Britain Medieval Scotland Royalty England King Viking

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All stars
Most relevant  
Some very poor pronunciation from the narrator made this a frustrating listen.
I think I’d have much preferred reading this book myself.

Disappointing

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Apart from the occasional narrative repetition (the audio editing needs revising) I found the incessant mispronunciation of ‘Bernicia’ and ‘Gaelic’ to be intensely infuriating. For ‘Bernicia’, the ‘c’ should be soft; and why use the Irish pronunciation of the word ‘Gaelic’, instead of the Scottish (and English) pronunciation, which lies between ‘Gallic’ and ‘Garlic’?
These distractions seriously impaired my understanding of the historical narrative.

A good history, marred by narrator’s annoying mispronunciations

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The first millennium in Scottish history is so shrouded in mythos that it's hard to find an accurate telling. I found this book informative, even with the occasional mispronounced place names.

Can't wait to go out and explore a bit more of my local history now I know.

illuminating

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The books most common words were, maybe, possibly, perhaps etc. It was light on facts and heavy in conjecture. Despite just enjoying another of his book I wouldn't recommend this one.

Vague and disappointing

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This is an audiobook that can’t be rushed , it’s well structured and really is full on nuggets .
There is so much information I’d recommend an hour at a time , and then you realise what you have took in.

Worth a go

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Clarkson manages the near impossible in this well researched, well read and well written audible book. Given the lack of reliable source material for the period and their inherent difficulty in interpretation the author against all odds somehow manages to produce a chronological, easily readable, narrative history which manages to make the period come alive to the listener. The difficult nature of the Irish Annals, the Pictish King Lists, Hagiographies and dare I say it, The Venerable Bede is like putty in his hands. I would thoroughly recommend this audible book as a starting point for anyone interested in the early medieval past of the North of Britain.

A complex history made accessible to the amateur history enthusiast!

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