This is a comprehensive and detailed history of Scotland. It took me several months to read it, and I finally finished it while in Scotland. The author covers in detail the eras of Scottish history including the following that was not so familiar to me-  Roman presence, the kingdoms of the Picts, thin influence of Norway and the Vikings. Moffat also covers eras with which we are more familiar but in detail that explains the context from William Wallace to Robert the Bruce and the period of Scottish independence, from the Jameses of Scotland to the attempt at peace with the Tudors that led to James VI becoming James I to the Reformation and the contest with England ending in Culloden with the defeat of the Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie and the beginning of mostly peaceful unity with England after 100s of years of fighting. One of the most interesting elements of Scottish history is the Reformation- driven imperative for education of all classes so common people could read the Bible- this led to the emergence of Scottish Enlightenment figures such as Hume and Smith industrial development, and a boom in literary achievements (Robert Burns was the son of a farmer). This book provides a narrative but also the stories behind the narrative. An excellent and comprehensive history- i read a more recent version than any listed here