Kindle Price: $9.99

Save $8.00 (44%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

eBook features:
  • Highlight, take notes, and search in the book
  • In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Scotland: An Autobiography 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by Rosemary Goring (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 78 ratings
See all formats and editions
“A spirited collection of witnessing from all the periods of Scottish history”—in the words of Cromwell to Conan Doyle, poets to nurses to warriors (The New York Review of Books).

This is a vivid, wide-ranging account of Scotland’s history, composed of numerous stories and observations by those who experienced it firsthand through the centuries.

Contributors range from Tacitus, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Oliver Cromwell to Adam Smith, David Livingstone, and Billy Connolly. These include not only historic moments—from Bannockburn to the opening of the new Parliament in 1999—but also testimonies like that of the eight-year-old factory worker who was dangled by his ear out of a third-floor window for making a mistake; the survivors of the 1746 Battle of Culloden, who wished perhaps that they had died on the field; John Logie Baird, inventor of television; and great writers including Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and the editor of Encyclopedia Britannica. From the battlefield to the sports field, this is living, accessible history told by criminals, servants, housewives, poets, journalists, nurses, prisoners, comedians, and many more.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. ISBN-13
    978-1590202913
  2. Edition
    1st
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    ABRAMS Press
  5. Publication date
    December 29, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    2212 KB
  8. See all details
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Scotland: The Autobiography
"A spirited collection of witnessing from all the periods of Scottish history...the choices [Goring] makes are quite exquisite and collectively the book fulfills the very needful function of telling the Scottish story itself."- The New York Review of Books

"A fascinating and very valuable book."-The Scotsman

About the Author

Rosemary Goring studied economic and social history at St. Andrews University before starting her career in publishing. She has since edited and written for many reference books, among them the Larousse Dictionary of Writers and Dictionary of Literary Characters. First Literary Editor of Scotland on Sunday, she became Literary Editor of The Herald.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07P9HSKD2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ABRAMS Press; 1st edition (December 29, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 29, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2212 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 483 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 78 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
78 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Leilani Chapman
5.0 out of 5 stars Love
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great book for my collection
Helpful
 Report
Scott Ranch
5.0 out of 5 stars Kids and teacher can't get enough of it!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
A must-have for anyone with even a glimmer of interest in Scottish history. Every page is fascinating! An ideal gift that will surely become a prize in the recipient's home library. I have read selections to my intellectually and behaviorally challenged elementary school learners, and they are so enthralled, they won't leave when it is time to change classes before the story ends. Their detailed recollection of these stories is remarkable, which is a skill and precision uncharacteristic for most of them. I love the excitement they exude when (accurately!) retelling the historical accounts to others! Pieces are brief and digestible, never a dull moment. History is especially cool when told from the pens that were there to witness it! No revisionist whitewashing here. This book travels with me, and is ideal brain-candy for waiting rooms and between classes.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
SUZICOOKS
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting reading
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is taken from letters and other documents from people alive at the times in history represented in the book. While some of the writing style seems stilted, consider it in its' context. The world we live in now is so vastly removed from the world at the times of these writings. It gives a feeling not only for these peoples' feelings about Scotland, but about their existence in general. A fascinating look back in time.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Cindy B
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Good read. Great price.highly recommend seller
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Bargain Seeker
3.0 out of 5 stars This is easy to read, but very inclusive of many events in Scotland's history
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am Scot,, but live in America. I wanted to know about several events in the history of Scotland/England and their love/hate relationship over the centuries. This gives many 'written by those there at the time, so it is from the people involved in the event/battle, etc and not what 'Historians' want you to know. Very good!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
A.Pagano
5.0 out of 5 stars They have taken old writings from Scotland's actual history and ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2017
Verified Purchase
They have taken old writings from Scotland's actual history and pieced them together in a time line. It was a little hard to read the old english stuff but otherwise very educational and interesting.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Placeholder
5.0 out of 5 stars A great source of history on Scotland and its Enlightenment
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
Fascinating book for someone interested in Scottish history (wife is a Scot) and understanding the Scottish Enlightenment that has had such a major effect on the founding of the U.S. and the evolution of its political system. Reading the book was an exciting and illuminating experience.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Nancy Boyens
5.0 out of 5 stars I love all the ancient writings and little poems about what ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
I love all the ancient writings and little poems about what freedom meant to early Scots. This, to me, has been one of the most enjoyable books about Scottish history that I've ever read.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

DannyMcG
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
Great book - lots of information.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Jean Pettigrew
5.0 out of 5 stars Another edition to my Scottish Collection
Reviewed in Canada on November 26, 2012
Verified Purchase
I bought this for my husband for his Birthday and he is presently reading it and appears to be enjoying it.
Report
Elva Long
4.0 out of 5 stars I was disappointed with the quality
Reviewed in Canada on December 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
Scotland: The Autobiography: 2,000 Years of Scottish History by Those Who Saw It Happen Hardcover – 1791
by Rosemary Goring (Author)

I was relieved to receive this book today as it was late arriving. However, I was disappointed with the quality. Although it cost more than the several books I ordered from Indigo it was of equal quality - by far!
Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report