Name: The Thistle and the Rose
ISBN: 9780719565960

Allan Massie

This inspiring narrative covers the complex interplay of rivalry, collusion, affection and hostility that has been central to the relationship between Scotland and England since the first attempt at dynastic wooing during the 'Rough Wooings' through the Treaty of Union in 1707 to the present devolved situation.

Six Centuries of Love and Hate Between the Scots and the English

The Thistle and the Rose

Gavin

Light history via biographies of the obvious (Mary Queen, Scott, Livingstone, Buchan) and nearly unknown (Waugh’s granddad, a soldier called Henry Dundas). Charles Churchill on Scots:

  Into our places, states and beds they creep;
They've got sense to get what we want sense to keep.


Weighted towards mongrel literary figures and quashing polarisations; Anglo-Scots and pro-Stuart Englishmen feature heavily. (Disproportionately.) He’s soft on empire and Thatcher, is unjudgmental in general. Welcome scepticism about some organising myths – the idea of a race called the ‘Celts’, the idea that Scotland is or has ‘always’ been more Left (when e.g. half the votes in 1955 were Tory).

The Thistle and the Rose Six Centuries of Love and Hate Between the Scots and the English

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