William Forbes Skene

Reprint of the original, first published in 1867.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1867.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

The historian William Forbes Skene (1809–92), encouraged to learn Gaelic by Sir Walter Scott, a friend of his father, combined a career as a lawyer in his family's firm with a deep interest in the history of the Celts, which was strengthened by a period of philological study in Germany. This three-volume history of Celtic Scotland (or Alban, to give it the name used by Skene in his subtitle), regarded as his most important work, was published between 1876 and 1880. Skene's intention was 'to ascertain the true facts of the early civic history' of Scotland, given that the later works of medieval Scots historians could not be relied upon for a factual narrative. The three volumes are organised by topic. After an introductory chapter, Volume 1 considers the history and ethnology of early Britain; Volume 2 the Celtic church and culture; and Volume 3 the land and people.

The historian William Forbes Skene (1809–92), encouraged to learn Gaelic by Sir Walter Scott, a friend of his father, combined a career as a lawyer in his family's firm with a deep interest in the history of the Celts, which was strengthened by a period of philological study in Germany. This three-volume history of Celtic Scotland (or Alban, to give it the name used in the subtitle), regarded as his most important work, was published between 1876 and 1880. Skene's intention was 'to ascertain the true facts of the early civic history' of Scotland, given that the works of medieval Scots historians could not be relied upon for a factual narrative. The three volumes are organised by topic. Volume 3 discusses 'land and people', from the legendary origins of settlement, though the tribes of Scotland and Ireland to the pattern of land tenure in the fifteenth century.

The historian William Forbes Skene (1809–92), encouraged to learn Gaelic by Sir Walter Scott, a friend of his father, combined a career as a lawyer in his family's firm with a deep interest in the history of the Celts, which was strengthened by a period of philological study in Germany. This three-volume history of Celtic Scotland (or Alban, to give it the name used in the subtitle), regarded as his most important work, was published between 1876 and 1880. Skene's intention was 'to ascertain the true facts of the early civic history' of Scotland, given that the works of medieval Scots historians could not be relied upon for a factual narrative. The three volumes are organised by topic. After an introductory chapter, Volume 1 considers the history and ethnology of early Britain, the advance of the Romans northward, and the four early Scottish kingdoms, ending in the thirteenth century.

The historian William Forbes Skene (1809–92), encouraged to learn Gaelic by Sir Walter Scott, a friend of his father, combined a career as a lawyer in his family's firm with a deep interest in the history of the Celts, which was strengthened by a period of philological study in Germany. This three-volume history of Celtic Scotland (or Alban, to give it the name used in the subtitle), regarded as his most important work, was published between 1876 and 1880. Skene's intention was 'to ascertain the true facts of the early civic history' of Scotland, given that the works of medieval Scots historians could not be relied upon for a factual narrative. The three volumes are organised by topic. Volume 2 deals with 'church and culture', including the Celtic churches of Scotland, Ireland and Cumbria, particularly the great centre of Iona, and the tradition of learning associated with Celtic monasticism.