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A dynasty of high ability and great charm, the Stuarts exerted a compelling fascination over their supporters and enemies alike. With the passage of time, their fascination has grown: for many, these rulers have achieved the legendary heroic status of King Arthur or Fionn MacCumhail. The Invention of investigates the truth behind the flamboyant tartan figures adorning whisky bottles and biscuit tins, and assesses the influence of the Stuart mystique on the political and cultural identity of Scotland today. Considering the Stuart myth in the light of other British monarchial myths, such as that of Arthur, Murray Pittock outlines the method by which the Stuarts from Charles I to Bonnie Prince Charlie developed strategies to consolidate their heroic status, and discusses both pro- and anti-Union propaganda. He provides an insight into the radicalism of Scottish Jacobitism, contrasting this Jacobitism of the Left with the sentimental image constructed by the Victorians. In tracing the Stuart influence to the present day, he suggests that the Stuart mystique gave unity to a nation struggling to retain its identity and analyzes modern conceptions of the myth. This book should be of interest to students and lecturers in Scottish history and literature.
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