Review: Trials and Triumphs
Anne L. Forbes on the Gordons of Huntly in Sixteenth-Century Scotland
OAP Hall, Huntly
[Map]
Drawing on her book, Anne gave a lively and fascinating account of some of the major
events and characters in the story of the waxing and waning in Gordon fortunes in
the 16th century.
It was fascinating to see old prints of towns and to marvel at how small they were
in those days. The portraits of people notable in the narrative added insight to
their characters and dispositions. Even allowing for the stylisation and no doubt
flattery of the artist, one could still discern character traits in the faces —
haughty and proud, weak and fearful, cunning and devious, all adding further depth
to Anne's accounts of their (usually) dastardly deeds.
Listening to her story, I found myself wondering if these people ever felt secure
and content. Their lives seemed to be a constant round of intriguing, vying for
position and influence and sometimes outright warring. Anne is immensely knowledgeable
about this period and her fluent commentary made it come to vivid life, sending
me home feeling thankful to be a 21st century commoner rather than a 16th century
nobleman!
Review by Richard Hammock
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