gulex

Hi everyone,

I am writing a - sizeable - paper for high school on the subject 'The Scottish wars of independence and its potrayal in Braveheart by Mel Gibson'.
I'll be focusing on the First scottish war of independence, and would like some recommendations on good books about it and William Wallace in general. I was hoping you could help me I'm looking for something on an academic level - ofcourse - but wouldn't mind if it was relatively palatable in the way of, say, Adrian Goldsworthy or authors like him, who manages to make history quite interesting.
I would also like recommendations on good poems/speeches concerning the subject.

Thanks for helping, it's much appreciated.
- A last year high school student

Ri Fhionngaill

Something along the lines of 'Mel Gibson's portrayal was absolute pseudo-historical bull' ought to do it. Seriously. There's nothing of merit in that film. The best you can do is use the historical sources: Lanercost, for example. Infer what you need from them and compare it to what is said the film. It's a fairly cheap way of doing it, though, I have to admit.

Have you seen the mark scheme for this paper? It would be a whole lot easier to point you in the right direction if you have.

gulex

I guess its my own fault for not clearifying. I am not in any way suggesting that Braveheart is remotely acurate. What i am saying, however, is i'll use it in my paper and compare its potrayal of the conflict with the real historical data

The mark scheme: Information enough to last 10 minutes of monologue in an examination plus extra 10 minutes for a discussion with the examinators. The paper will include a overall question to be elaborated and answered by a number (2-5) of sub-questions. Lastly there'll be a conclusion, summing up the results from the sub-questions and a source for literature.
Hope that was understandable. English isn't my native language, so my terminology is likely wrong.

Salah

A pretty solid biography of Sir Wallace:

Chookie

Agreed, Fisher did a decent job, there is also "On the Trail of William Wallace" by David R. Rioss. For a poetical version, Blind Harry's "Wallace" is the only source (this was at one time the most popular book in Scotland).

A fictionalised but much more (face it, anything would be more accurate than Braveheart) accurate rendition of the story (The Wallace) was written by Nigel Tranter.

Nemowork

I'm going to admit to being biased here but if you want to trust Blind Harry and his accolyte Randall Wallace as an authorative source you might as well believe Arkans history of the Balkan wars, it has the same kind of mood for forgetting the rape and pillage.

Apart from the cheap historical amusement of William wallace as a paedophile (Isabelle was 11 years old at the point in the movie Wallace supposedly seduced and impregnated her) and the complete lack of an actual bridge in the battle of stirling bridge or the fact Wallace fled and left his men to be slaughtered at the battle of Falkirk http://www.historum.com/medieval-byzantine-history/24270-battle-falkirk-1298-a.html(sorry, thats quoting me )

Oh and short kilts. And woad.

Did i mention i tend to fall over laughing when i have to watch this movie?

Kevinmeath

Read and enjoyed the book, not sure how accurate historically but seemed reasonable , (compared to Braveheart!!)

Kraken

Braveheart was about as accurate as the Patriot.

... Sorry for not adding anything more substantial to the thread.

gulex

Will be looking into the Wallace biography by Fisher. I would also like something more general on the subject, so i can place Wallace in a, um, correct perspective. Have been considering 'The Wars of Scotland' by Michael Brown and 'Under The Hammer' By Fiona Watson. Anybody've who knows if they are any good?

Chookie

Haven't yet read "The Wars of Scotland", "Under the Hammer" is on my TBR list, bt I have read a few others by Fiona Watson and she seems to do a pretty fair job of considering all sides.