As the subtitle states, Priests and Warriors is a history of the Scottish Maclean clan from 1300-1570. In just 160 pages, the author gleans what he can from the Medieval records and pieces together what we know about this family.
I read this only because my grandmother was a Maclean, and I was interested in learning more about my heritage after visiting the ancestral stomping grounds (predominantly the Isle of Mull in the Highlands, as seen here and here). Unfortunately, Priests and Warriors doesn't fit the bill. Though (to his credit) the author does a good job scouring and referencing the Medieval sources, the presentation is poor and account hard to follow. I'll summarize: the Macleans had several 'branches,' most of which were located throughout the Inner Hebrides. They served the Lords of the Isles and fought amongst themselves (and with other clans) for land and status, just like everyone else in the Middle Ages.
A good deal of contextual history is left out, and this reader didn't have the Scottish historical understanding to fill in the gaps. Much of the account goes over land records, tracing which faction of the clan held which areas in the Inner Hebrides at what time. Good to have for reference; bad if you want a compelling read. A few stories of interesting personalities and events make the work more bearable, but overall, this is one to avoid (or keep as reference, if family history is your thing).
Rating: C
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