Book description
In 1568, the defeat of Mary, Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside,
and her subsequent flight to England left Scotland a troubled nation.
Mary's infant son was crowned James VI, with her illegitimate
half-brother, the earl of Moray, as Regent. The population remained
bitterly divided as Moray and the Protestant Lords began to wreak their
terrible vengeance on supporters of the losing side. Having fought for
the Queen at the battle, the Carmichaels of Lanarkshire were in a
precarious position to say the least. Poor nineteen-year-old John
Carmichael, Younger of that Ilk, whose sole ambitions were
land-improvement, organising fishing and raising a family, was to become
deeply entangled in the murky world of Scots regency government,
eventually finding himself in great danger. 'Through his imaginative
dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes'
Scotland on Sunday
'He treats history with respect'
One of Scotland's best-loved authors, Nigel Tranter
wrote over ninety novels on Scottish history. He died at the age of
ninety on 9 January 2000.
