The Invention of Scotland

Description

The fantasy of Scotland's history: In The Invention of Scotland: Myth and History, the late historian tells how, in futile competition, with its mighty English neighbour, Scotland's official story, it's history, and even national literature (they claimed Ossian was an ancient Scottish Homer for example) is based on fiction: neither the Kilt (the 'Kjalta' was in fact worn by the Germanic Vikings, cousins of the English, and not Celts) - or the Bagpipes are Scottish. Hugh Trevor-Roper wrote: In Scotland, it seems to me, myth has played a far more important part in history than it has in England. Indeed... the whole history of Scotland has been coloured by myth; and that myth, in Scotland, is never driven out by reality, or by reason, but lingers on until another myth has been discovered, or elaborated, to replace it. ...Three consecutive myths have successively filled the 400 years of Scottish history from the 16th century to the 20th. The political myth, the literary myth and the sartorial myth, which is with us still. These myths, though they may explode on contact with the evidence, are nevertheless historically important. It became a part of the national honour to maintain them - at least until a new myth should be imported to drive them out.

Description

"This book argues that while Anglo-Saxon culture has given rise to virtually no myths at all, myth has played a central role in the historical development of Scottish identity. Trevor-Roper explores three myths across 400 years of Scottish history: the political myth of the 'ancient constitution' of Scotland; the literary myth, including Walter Scott as well as Ossian and ancient poetry; and the sartorial myth of tartan and the kilt, invented - ironically by Englishmen - in quite modern times." "Trevor-Roper reveals myth as an often deliberate cultural construction used to enshrine a people's identity. While his treatment of Scottish myth is highly critical, indeed debunking, he shows how the ritualisation and domestication of Scotland's myths as local colour diverted the Scottish intelligentsia from the path that led German intellectuals to a dangerous myth of racial supremacy. This compelling script was left unpublished on Trevor-Roper's death in 2003 and is now made available for the first time."--Jacket.

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