Subject
Orkney (Scotland) -- History Books
Best books
Anonymous
The Orkneyinga Saga
"The Orkneyinga Saga" by Anonymous is a historical narrative written in Old Norse during the late twelfth century. This chronicle traces the jarls who ruled the Orkney and Shetland islands from the ninth to thirteenth centuries, exploring their complex relationships with Norway and Scotland. Beginning with mythical ancestry tales and Norse conquest, the saga weaves together family feuds, political intrigue, and Viking raids across the Northern and Hebridean islands. Blending historical fact with praise poetry and oral legend, it offers unique insight into medieval Orkney's tumultuous past.
Unknown
Oppressions of the Sixteenth Century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland From Original Documents
"Oppressions of the Sixteenth Century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland" is a historical account likely written in the mid-19th century. The work presents a detailed examination of the oppressive conditions faced by the inhabitants of Orkney and Zetland during the 1500s, particularly focusing on the actions of Lord Robert Stewart and other officials. The author draws upon original documents to illustrate the systemic injustices and exploitation that characterized life in these islands, effectively shedding light on a rarely discussed aspect of Scottish history. The opening of the book introduces the context and significance of Orkney and Zetland within Scottish history, particularly following their cession from Norway to Scotland. It outlines the political and economic struggles endured by the Islanders due to various Scottish rulers and bishops who imposed heavy burdens, illustrating a history marked by exploitation and disregard for local customs and rights. The author emphasizes the struggles of the Odallers, the native landowners, against a backdrop of feudal domination and legal manipulation, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive exploration of the social upheaval and resistance against such oppression.
Unknown
The Orkney book : $b Readings for young Orcadians
The Orkney book : Readings for young Orcadians by John Gunn is a regional educational anthology written in the early 20th century. Aimed at school readers, it blends local history, geography, natural history, and legend to root learning in the islands themselves, drawing on Orcadian experts and illustrated extracts. Its core focus is Orkney’s story from prehistory through the Norse earldom, alongside portraits of the landscape, wildlife, crafts, and lore that shape island identity. The opening of the collection sets a proud, homesick tone with a poem to the “Sons of the Isles,” then a preface stating its purpose: to begin knowledge at home, offer suggestive readings rather than exhaustive study, and acknowledge the many local contributors and patrons. A detailed contents map leads into brisk chapters on prehistoric Orkney—flint tools, chambered cairns like Maeshowe, brochs, and standing stones—followed by early glimpses in classical and church sources, Culdee traces in place-names, and the likelihood that Norse settlers met few inhabitants. It then explains the Viking world and the Sagas as key sources, and narrates the early earldom: Harald Fairhair’s reach west, Sigurd the Mighty and Torf-Einar, a violent “dark century,” Olaf Tryggvason’s forced conversion, and the battle of Clontarf. The section proceeds to Thorfinn the Mighty, the martyrdom of Earl Magnus at Egilsay, and Rognvald Kali’s vow to raise St. Magnus Cathedral as he moves to reclaim the isles, ending mid-plot with the clever beacon ruse.
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