Scotland, with its stereotypes of the kilted warrior and the industrial ‘hard man’ has long been characterised in masculine terms, but there has been little historical exploration of what masculinity actually means for men (and women) in a Scottish context. This interdisciplinary collection explores a diverse range of the multiple and changing forms of masculinities from the late eleventh to the late twentieth century, examining the ways in which Scottish society through the ages defined expectations for men and their behaviour. How men reacted to those expectations is examined through sources such as documentary materials, medieval seals, romance, poetry, begging letters, police reports and court records, charity records, oral histories and personal correspondence. Focusing upon the wide range of activities and roles undertaken by men ‒ work, fatherhood and play, violence and war, sex and commerce ‒ the book also illustrates the range of masculinities which affected or were internalised by men. Together, they illustrate some of the ways Scotland’s gender expectations have changed over the centuries and how more generally masculinities have informed the path of Scottish history.

Lynn Abrams is Professor of Modern History and Head of the School of Humanities at the University of Glasgow. She has published widely on Scottish gender history and was convenor of Women’s History Scotland 2008-13. Her many publications include Oral History Theory (2010), Myth and Materiality in a Woman’s World: Shetland 1800-2000 (2005) and Gender in Scottish History Since 1700 (2006). Elizabeth Ewan is a Professor of Scottish Studies and History at the University of Guelph.