The recent revival of interest in Scottish history has produced two classes of works: first, large productions, extending to three or four volumes, chiefly meant for men of ample leisure; second, small volumes, written in a simple and popular style, and intended mainly for schools. No work based on recent research has, so far, appeared to fill the gap between these two classes. The present volume is an attempt to supply this desideratum. The ever-growing number of intelligent readers who have neither the time nor the inclination to peruse the large histories, and whose minds are too matured to be satisfied with mere schoolbooks, has been kept steadily in view by the author. He has striven to record every fact of importance, and yet not to overload his narrative with too many distracting details.
As the title indicates, it is the History of the People that he has endeavoured to portray. Special attention accordingly has been devoted to their struggles to secure those free institutions through which in the end they were able to express their will. The social conditions that prevailed at different times, by which the life of the people is chiefly illustrated, are dealt with in successive chapters with fullness and in detail.
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(3.5)
Wikipedia in English
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Rather than being focused solely on military actions or political manoeuvring the book's gaze focuses more on how these events came to impact on the Scots themselves and the building of the nation. At close to 500 pages of small text it's no tiny book, it can however be comfortably read in a reasonable period of time and conveys plenty of historical knowledge to the reader.
It more of less covers Scotland from the very beginning to modern Scotland, that is the stabilisation of the Union.
The rules of King Kenneth McAlpin, King Constantin III, King Kenneth II, King Malcolm I, King Canute, Queen Margaret, King Malcolm, King William I, King Edgar, King Magnus Barefoot, King Alexander I, King David I, King Malcolm IV, King William The Lion, King Alexander II, King Edward I, King John Balliol, William Wallace, Robert Bruce, King Edward II, King Edward III, King David II, King Robert II, King Robert III, King James I, King James II, King James III, King James IV, King Henry VII, King Henry VIII, King James V, Queen Mary Stuart, Queen Elizabeth I, John Knox, King Charles I, King Charles II, Oliver Cromwell, King James VII, Queen Mary II, King William II, King George I, King George II, King James VIII and King William III are all covered, as is the Scottish War of Independence, English Civil War and the Scottish Reformation.
I found it to be a well written and concise history of Scotland. A little dry at times however that is to be expected when dealing with the language and phrasing of a book written in excess of a century ago.
Overall, I'd recommend it for those looking to learn about Scotland's history and formation of the country & its religion. (