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William Wallace

William Wallace

  • Brave Heart

Sir William Wallace of Ellerslie is one of history's greatest heroes, but also one of its greatest enigmas - a shadowy figure whose edges have been blurred by myth and legend. Even the date and place of his birth have been mis-stated - until now. James Mackay uses all his skills as a historical detective to produce this definitive biography, telling the incredible story of a man who, without wealth or noble birth, rose to become Guardian of Scotland. William Wallace, with superb generalship and tactical genius, led a country with no previous warlike tradition to triumph gloriously over the much larger, better-armed and better-trained English forces. Seven hundred years later, the heroism and betrayal, the valiant deeds and the dark atrocities, and the struggle of a small nation against a brutal and powerful empire, still create a compelling tale.

Reviews

  • Dramatic . . . a serious attempt to set Wallace's life in its historical context

    The Herald

  • Mackay's research and prose are meticulous . . . but just below the surface breathes a great sympathy for Wallace

    Mail on Sunday

  • This serious biography will provide entertaining and instructive reading for anyone who wishes to know about the career of an outstanding patriot

    North Star

  • Rich in detail and background . . . this is a fascinating study, ideal for anyone interested in either medieval history or the life of a brave, charismatic and noble Scot

    Review 22

More from this Author

About the Author

James Mackay

Dr James Mackay was an award-winning author and historian, and was widely regarded as the world's greatest authority on the life and works of Robert Burns. As well as his definitive biography, Burns, winner of the Saltire Award for Scottish Book of the Year, he published accounts of the lives of the great Scottish patriot William Wallace and the Irish statesman Michael Collins. He was also the author of biographies of the celebrated detective Allan Pinkerton (The Eye Who Never Slept), the poet Robert Service (Vagabond of Verse) and Alexander Graham Bell (Sounds Out of Silence).

James Mackay

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