Freedom's sword - Peter Traquair

Freedom's Sword is a vivid, popular history of the longest period of conflict between Scotland and England-the wars that established Scotland as an independent nation.

Beginning with the true story of William Wallace and his rebellion (subject of the Mel Gibson movie Braveheart), it goes on to cover the spectacular career of Robert the Bruce, arguably Scotland's most capable military leader of all time.

Peter Traquair reveals how Wallace outwitted the English army at Stirling Bridge and how Bruce achieved his incredible victory at Bannockburn.

But it's not just military history: Traquair paints a dramatic picture of the three Edwards: the sinister Edward I, his doomed homosexual son Edward II and the precocious Edward III who seizes power in a coup d'etat against his mother and her lover Roger Mortimer.