Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence 1296–1357 (Hardback)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

An absorbing read about some of the women who changed the course of Scottish and English history.

The struggle between the Edwards (I, II & III) of England and the Scottish after the death of Alexander III of Scotland has been told time and time again. From Edward I, the 'Hammer of the Scots' to William Wallace and Robert I (aka 'the Bruce'), these figures loom large in history. But what about the women who lived during those turbulent times? Often forgotten and overlooked, Beth Reid has tried to address that imbalance and bring to the forefront some of the characters who took part.

>From people such as Isabella MacDuff who crowned Robert the Bruce, to Robert's daughter Marjorie, from whom all the later Kings of Scotland - and after 1603 England - are descended, to Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar and March who defended her home against a siege from the English, this book celebrates these heroic women and restores them to their rightful places, front and centre of Scottish history.

Lesser known figures however are also explored, looking at the fate and lives of Robert's sisters, and of other women who were forced into war, who had to endure sieges and protect their loved ones, sometimes at unimaginable costs.

Without the contributions of these women, it is hard to imagine Scotland surviving in the 1300's as an independent state - Isabella's actions for example were crucial to legitimize Robert. It is a great tragedy that so many historical records have been lost from this time, but this very readable account goes some way to showing their lives and fates. Entertaining, horrific and sympathetic in equal measures, this book is well worth a read if you have any interest in the period, or just want to challenge the tired assumption that women did nothing but bear children in those days.

NetGalley, Sarah Aspden