Highness in Hiding

By Nigel Tranter

Book Overview

The quashing of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 saw an end to the ambitions of the exiled house of Stuart. But somehow the young pretender, Prince Charles Edward, otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, manage to avoid arrest. For six extraordinary months the handsome young prince, often starving, sometimes barefoot and in rags, ranged the Western Highlands and the Outer and Inner Hebrides, hiding, lurking, fleeing. Despite dire threats of punishment to all who might aid and abet him, the royal fugitive was hidden by brave and trusty supporters, each of whom could have betrayed him for the massive ?30,000 reward offered by the English. This story stands as a tribute to the loyalty and staunch courage of the Highland clansfolk. 'Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes' Scotland on Sunday

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0340625864
• ISBN13: 9780340625866
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Coronet
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 0.9" x 4.4"

Customer Reviews

A hard lesson in Pride and Honor

In the aftermath of Culloden, we follow "Bonnie Prince Charlie" through the highlands as a refugee. Nigel Tranter has presented a 20/20 hindsight review in Highness in Hiding. The story of Prince Charles and what he saw and felt as the highlanders continued to support and aid him through the Western Highlands, by boat across the Inner and Outer Hebrides and back. Then to the mainland, across the Great Glen to Badenoch where he is finally led to waiting French ships to carry him back to France to prepare for another rising which in the end never occurs. During his trek he is continuously being hunted by English troops, Scots militia and British Frigates along with a 30,000 pound bounty on his head. The suffering and savagery of the Highlands by the Hanovarian government led by the Duke of Cumberland and his troops is sad and relentlous on the simple Highlanders. Charles saw the pain yet ultimate honor as the Macdonalds, Campbells, Macleods, Mackinnons and Macphersons and other clans all aided as best they could his flight from capture. We also meet the infamous Flora Macdonald and her plus Cluny Macpherson and other. Each person touches Charles as he matures and learns the meaning of pride and honor as his dynasty ends with him and his dreams. This is not a jump out of your seat Tranter Novel with excitement and battle. We see much of the country of Highland Scotland and Nigel Tranter uses his magic to bring it all to life so you smell the heather, peat fires and hear the crash of the ocean on the rocky Scottish shores. A nice book to enjoy on a quiet evening as you reflect on what might have been.