Rebel King, Book Two, The Har’ships
By Charles Randolph Bruce and Carolyn Hale Bruce
Reviewed by Frank R. Shaw, FSA Scot, Atlanta, GA, USA.

One thing is for sure – from a personal perspective, you and I will never know the hardships that Robert the Bruce endured over the years fighting to free his beloved Scotland. However, you can thank the authors of this book for bringing that message as close to home as possible.  Charles and Carolyn Bruce continue their rich and exciting tradition of the oft-told story of Robert the Bruce in Rebel King, Book Two, The Har’ships.

If you liked their first book, Rebel King, Book One, Hammer of the Scots, you will love The Har’ships, a book of sheer enjoyment. This husband and wife team should feel proud of their second volume. It does not miss a beat, and the story actually picks up a month from where the first left off.  It is a fascinating story of adventure and high drama. In literature, books like this are called historical fiction. In baseball lingo, they are called home runs! On top-ten book lists, they are called best sellers. This is one of those books!

When I think of historical fiction, I naturally think of the father of the historical novel – Sir Walter Scott, the greatest writer of his century. Nigel Tranter, who wrote approximately 129 books during his lifetime, was a worthy successor to Scott. The Bruces have not earned that comparison…yet…but when they are through with all four of their books on Robert the Bruce, maybe the subject should be revisited.  However, in my opinion, their first two books do rival the wonderful trilogy on Robert the Bruce written by Nigel Tranter in 1969, 1970, and 1971 respectively.

Once again, this talented couple has done the Scottish community a great favor. Their current book is just as readable as the first one and just as enjoyable. If you find yourself pulling for the underdog (and who doesn’t?), you will love this book. It is the fascinating story of a small, out-manned, under-armed group of courageous men who willingly give life and limb to win back their freedom and their Scottish kingdom, both stolen by Edward I, the dreaded King of England who dubbed himself “The Hammer of the Scots”. What is rightfully theirs cannot be denied. This book sizzles with excitement, and you will too!

An important feature of the book is the inclusion of the many character illustrations – 42 in all. The drawings are exceptional and add a greater dimension to the book. Check out the list of models in the front of the book, and you may find a name familiar to you.  I did!  My buddy Mel Gay is listed. The “Mel man” never looked so good! And on another personal note, my good friend, Tom Burns is listed in the credits as one whose expertise helped make the book a better one. Tom succeeded!

The Fall Highland Games are about to begin. (In our Atlanta area, the Stone Mountain Highland Games, one of the world’s finest, are just a few weeks away.) The booksellers hopefully will have this book for sale at their tables. Look around and you may even spot Randy or Carolyn available to autograph your book. For those who are unable to attend the Games, the ISBN numbers are 0-9721674-2-0 (Hardback, $28.95) and 0-9721674-3-9 (Paperback, $19.95). If you purchase from the www.RebelKing.com website, you will receive free shipping and handling. The same is true if you order from their toll free number 1-800-247-6553.  Stay tuned to this column for a future review of Rebel King, Book Three, Bannock Burn! (FRS: 9-9-04)

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