1 March 2007

New series of History books released

As events to mark the 300th anniversary of the Union continue, Dundee University Press has published the history of Scotland in the years before the Union.

In five volumes, leading historians have contributed essays on their area of expertise from the years 1100 to the eve of Union in 1707. The work has been edited by a team led by the University of Dundee’s Dr Alan MacDonald.

The first two volumes contain the specially-commissioned essays, covering a range of political, social, religious and cultural history written by leading historians from across globe including Margo Todd from The University of Pennsylvania and Jenny Womald, a former fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford.

Volumes three and four contain republished seminal articles, nominated by the contributors to provide deeper and broader coverage for anyone who is studying the history of medieval and early modern Scotland.

Volume five is a collection of original documents. As well as covering the more traditional topics of politics and religion, this book includes fascinating first-hand descriptions of towns as well as documents on architecture, art, music and literature - there is even material on archaeological finds.

Dr Alan MacDonald says, "The series started out as a set of textbooks for our distance learning courses in Scottish History, but it has become so much more. This collection will be a fascinating read for anyone who has an interest in the history of Scotland: to understand the Union of 1707, it's essential to know what came before. The first four volumes are packed with fascinating essays, while volume five is the first compilation of medieval and early modern Scottish sources to be published in over 30 years."

The books, published by Dundee University Press, cost £16.99 each and are available from http://www.dup.dundee.ac.uk/.

For interviews with Dr Alan MacDonald, please contact:

For media enquiries contact:

Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk