Novels by Nigel Tranter

Nigel Tranter wrote over 100 books. He is best known his Scottish historical novels and his five-volume work The Fortified House in Scotland, but he also produced many other novels, particularly early on in his career.

This article discusses his contemporary stories, 'period pieces' and adventure novels.

For information on his historical novels see:

Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set before 1286; Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set between 1286 and 1603 or Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set after 1603.

For his other books see Children's books or Non-fiction books. For books published under his pseudonym Nye Tredgold, see Westerns.

'Period pieces'

Nigel Tranter identified some of his works as 'period pieces': fictional plots and characters fitting firmly within their historical context. This differs from 'costume dramas' (where the setting impinges little on the plotting or characterisation within the story) and 'serious historical fiction' in which the writer interprets real people and events (such as Tranter's own historical fiction).[1]

These period pieces are identified below.

List of novels

A 'period piece' set during the Highland Clearances
Contemporary novel
Contemporary novel
contemporary adventure
A 'period piece': adventure set in the Scottish Highlands in 1704.
first published in 1952 by Hodder & Stoughton. Paperback edition published in 1992 by B&W Publishing. Film version released in 1959. A contemporary story.
An adventure story, transferring the Border Reiver tradition to a contemporary setting, incorporating the Borderers'Common Riding and the historic Hornshole Raid.
Inspired by a real-life dispute over wildfowl shooting rights in Aberlady Bay.
Modern adventure story, incorporating some of the ideas Tranter used in his Westerns, but set in Scotland.
Inspired by explorer Colonel Fawcett, who disappeared in the Amazon in 1925.
Inspired by the Fawcett stories.
The third book to be inspired by the stories of explorer Fawcett.
A 'period piece', set after the Battle of Flodden, 1513.
Contemporary novel featuring the characters from Freebooters, who discover the "true" Stone of Scone and try to hide it from English archeololgists.
'Period piece set in Scotland during the Highland Clearances
The novel arose from a dispute in Berwick at the time of writing regarding salmon fishing rights. English and Scots fishing laws differed and, moreover, while the Tweed Act of 1857 prohibited fishing within ten miles of the river mouth, under territorial law, foreign boats were allowed within three. Tranter, as chairman of the East Lothian and Berwickshire Liberal Association, was involved in the dispute, and used his book to raise awareness. In the novel, local fishermen resort to rather unorthodox measures to force a conclusion.

References

  1. ↑ Bradfield, Ray, Nigel Tranter: Scotland's Storyteller, B&W Publishing 1999