The Black Douglas

First Published in 1974, The Black Douglas is both exciting and informative, is based on fourteenth century chronicles and documents, and is the first full account of Douglas’s eventful and dangerous career up to his celebrated death carrying Bruce''s heart into battle against the Moors. James of Douglas, Robert Bruce''s friend and lieutenant, was known variously to the English as Black Douglas (after the colour of his hair) and to the Scots as Good Douglas, for his mighty success against the English invader.

A baron’s heir but, due to the war, orphaned and beggared in boyhood, Douglas joined Bruce with the object of recovering his heritage. The author shows how he achieved this goal within two years, after a grim period of hunted outlawry, and in doing so found that the trade adopted from necessity had become his calling in life. This volume reveals that he was not only a great fighting man- probably the most professional soldier of his day- but a shrewd and realistic commander whose talents contributed greatly to the eventual triumph of the Scots in the Scottish War of Independence. This is an interesting reference work for students and general readers interested in the history of Scotland.