Bygone Scotland: Historical and Social

"Bygone Scotland: Historical and Social" by David Maxwell is a captivating historical exploration of Scotland's journey from its tribal origins to becoming a distinct nation. It explores the key moments and forces that molded Scottish history, such as the Roman presence, the beginnings of the Scottish nation, and the conflicts with England. Concentrating on how Scottish society and culture changed through the ages, the book sheds light on the individuals and happenings that helped define Scotland’s unique identity. The book starts by setting the scene of Scotland's early history and looking at Britain's original settlers and their way of life before and during the Roman invasion. Maxwell points out how society moved from a less organized state to a more ordered one because of Roman influence, showing how different tribes engaged with the Romans and with themselves. Maxwell recounts the heroic resistance of figures such as Caractacus and Boadicea, and clarifies that the book isn’t a timeline but rather a collection of themed explorations that reveal the combined history of Scotland and England.