Watching the TV series “Outlander” has prompted me to revisit my Folio Society set of John Prebble’s histories of Glencoe and Culloden, starting with
which details the history of deception, deceit, age-old clan rivalry, betrayal, Royal prevarication, and “Murder under trust”
We learn of the mutual disloyalty of neighbours, their leaders prepared, in their own personal interest, to change allegiance according to which King of England seemed worthy of their support, depending on the way the wind blew. Clansmen were accordingly prepared to don the Redcoats uniforms and fight against their own kind.
This, however, was not a fight. It was the slaughter of unarmed men, their wives, and their children, dragged from their beds by soldiers armed with muskets and bayonets.
King William ignored what was to happen, and King James II prevaricated through indecision. The Lairds who were responsible for the decision passed this down the line and ultimately denied responsibility. The action for which the troops were gathering was kept from them until the last minute.
Fundamentally this could also be seen as a day of reckoning between the Campbells and the MacDonalds. It also fuelled the fire for the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.
Prebble’s research is thorough; his detailed prose readable, with an ability to convey the life, the, action, and the atmosphere of the time. We feel the horror, and the anger at how it has come about.
Helpful appendices, including Principle Characters and Chronologies help us keep track, especially as I, for example, couldn’t hope to retain all the names, in their various versions, as in the earlier histories.
The author’s own introduction puts all in perspective.
Harry Brockway’s engravings capture the essential characteristics of the various personnel.
The frontispiece features Alasdair Og and John MacDonald, sons of MacIain.
Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon is next;
then Sir John Dalrymple, Master of Stair;
Archibald Campbell, 10th Earl, 1st Duke of Argyll;
Captain John Hill, Governor of Fort William;
Sir John Campbell, 11th Laird of Glenorchy, 1st Earl of Breadalbane;
James II;
Alasdair MacDonald, 12th Chief of Glencoe;
William III.
Bean Nighe, a supernatural washerwoman, who foretold death, was seen on the eve.
Duncan Rankin was the first man killed, swimming to escape.
Murdoch Matheson, after listening to the action, wrote a well remembered lament.
A two year old boy who survived with the loss of a little finger, grew to lead members of his clan at Culloden.