Manyebook

The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers

"If Jesus Christ were amongst them, they would deceive him," it was said of the plunders, raiders, and outlaws who terrorized the Anglo-Scottish Border for over 300 years. Theirs is an almost forgotten chapter of British history, preserved largely in folktales and ballads. It is the story of the notorious raiding families — Armstrongs, Elliots, Grahams, Johnstones, Maxwells, Scotts, Kerrs, Nixons, and others — of the outlaw bands and broken men, and the fierce battles of English and Scottish armies across the Marches. The Steel Bonnets tells their true story in its historical context — how the reivers ran their raids and operated their system of blackmail and terrorism, and how the March Wardens, enforcing the unique Border law, fought the great lawless community. A superb work of scholarship and a spellbinding narrative. George MacDonald Fraser is the celebrated author of the Flashman novels, The Candlemass Road, The Pyrates, and the Private McAuslan stories.

  • Format
  • paperback
  • Pages
  • 416
  • Language
  • english
  • ISBN
  • 9780002727464
  • Characters
  • Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch, William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus
  • Settings
  • The Borders, Scotland
  • Genres
  • history, scotland, historical, crime, medieval
  • Release date
  • 1998