The Reivers

The Story of the Border Reivers

Nonfiction, History, British
Cover of the book The Reivers by Alistair Moffat, Birlinn
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alistair Moffat ISBN: 9780857901156
Publisher: Birlinn Publication: July 1, 2011
Imprint: Birlinn Language: English
Author: Alistair Moffat
ISBN: 9780857901156
Publisher: Birlinn
Publication: July 1, 2011
Imprint: Birlinn
Language: English

Only one period in history is immediately, indelibly and uniquely linked to the whole area of the Scottish and English Border country, and that is the time of the Reivers. Whenever anyone mentions 'Reiver', no-one hesitates to add 'Border'. It is an inextricable association, and rightly so. Nowhere else in Britain in the modern era, or indeed in Europe, did civil order break down over such a wide area, or for such a long time. For more than a century the hoof-beats of countless raiding parties drummed over the border. From Dumfriesshire to the high wastes of East Cumbria, from Roxburghshire to Redesdale, from the lonely valley of Liddesdale to the fortress city of Carlisle, swords and spears spoke while the law remained silent. Fierce family loyalty counted for everything while the rules of nationality counted for nothing.The whole range of the Cheviot Hills, its watershed ridges and the river valleys which flowed out of them became the landscape of larceny while Maxwells, Grahams, Fenwicks, Carletons, Armstrongs and Elliots rode hard and often for plunder. These were the Riding Times and in modern European history, they have no parallel. This book tells the remarkable story of the Reivers and how they made the Borders.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Only one period in history is immediately, indelibly and uniquely linked to the whole area of the Scottish and English Border country, and that is the time of the Reivers. Whenever anyone mentions 'Reiver', no-one hesitates to add 'Border'. It is an inextricable association, and rightly so. Nowhere else in Britain in the modern era, or indeed in Europe, did civil order break down over such a wide area, or for such a long time. For more than a century the hoof-beats of countless raiding parties drummed over the border. From Dumfriesshire to the high wastes of East Cumbria, from Roxburghshire to Redesdale, from the lonely valley of Liddesdale to the fortress city of Carlisle, swords and spears spoke while the law remained silent. Fierce family loyalty counted for everything while the rules of nationality counted for nothing.The whole range of the Cheviot Hills, its watershed ridges and the river valleys which flowed out of them became the landscape of larceny while Maxwells, Grahams, Fenwicks, Carletons, Armstrongs and Elliots rode hard and often for plunder. These were the Riding Times and in modern European history, they have no parallel. This book tells the remarkable story of the Reivers and how they made the Borders.

More books from Birlinn

Cover of the book When I Heard the Bell by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book Jewel in the Glen by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book After the Dance by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book The Final Curtsey: A Royal Memoir by the Queen's Cousin by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book The Sky's Dark Labyrinth by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book Malcolm – Soldier, Diplomat, Ideologue of British India by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book Leila by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book The Flying Scotsman by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book Va Va Froome by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book The Colour of Black and White by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book Boyracers by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book 101 Gins To Try Before You Die by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book Behind The Lions by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book World War II: Scottish Tales of Adventure by Alistair Moffat
Cover of the book The Drowned and the Saved by Alistair Moffat
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy