Scots and Catalans

J. H. Elliott is Regius Professor Emeritus of Modern History at Oxford University. He was knighted for his services to history and has been honored by the Spanish government. He won the Balzan Prize for his publications on European history and the Francis Parkman Prize for Empires of the Atlantic World.

“An Illuminating account.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Books of the Year 2018”“For a greater understanding of Scotland and Catalonia within a wider crisis of mainstream politics, this thought-provoking book is an ideal place to start.”—Donald MacRaild, THES“A pioneering and scrupulously even-handed comparative history.”—The Economist“Nobody writing in English knows more about early modern Spain than Elliott. . . . I rejoice at the depth of context this book brings to two highly unpredictable political situations.”—Jerry White, Irish Times“Scots and Catalans is a stimulating history book, but most of all it is a political polemic. It aims to show how the two independence movements are based on false interpretations of history.”—Michael Eaude, Catalonia Today“John Elliott has written a book that is both topical and timeless.”—Luis Fernández-Galiano, Arquitectura Viva“Lucid and well-reasoned book.”—David Gilmour, Literary Review“Elliot’s elegant prose and clear observations bring life to this remarkable book.”—Stephen Jacobson, English Historical ReviewFinalist in the 2019 Los Angeles Times Prizes, History category“J. H. Elliott is a superb guide through the complexities of Catalan and Scottish history. With a deft touch and lucid prose he fully demonstrates the great value of historical comparison for understanding present conditions in both societies.”—Professor Emeritus Sir Tom Devine, University of Edinburgh“Rarely has a work of comparative history been so timely and newsworthy. J. H. Elliott’s learned comparative study of the long-term trajectories of Scotland and Catalonia is a reliable guide to the current travails of the nation-state in Western Europe. Elliott cogently explains the background to the phoenix-like revival of long-submerged historic nations within both the UK and Spain.”—Colin Kidd, author of Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland, 1500–2000 and British Identities before Nationalism: Ethnicity and Nationhood in the British Atlantic World, 1600–800“An excellent, detailed, properly comparative study that foregrounds the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding in modern constitutionalism.”—Murray Pittock, University of Glasgow“J. H. Elliott’s new book offers a deeply considered and timely perspective on the attempts of the Scottish and Catalan nationalist movements to secure independence. Written with all his customary elegance and incisiveness, it is authoritative in its historical assessments and notably fair-minded in its examination of controversial issues. Scots and Catalans provides the essential starting point for anyone who wishes to understand the problems currently besetting both London and Madrid on their northern periphery.”—Professor Hamish Scott, FBA, All Souls College, Oxford“The similarities and contrasts between Scotland and Catalonia throw many fundamental aspects of Scottish history into sharp relief. The result is not only a masterful exercise in comparative history. It is also a compelling account of British history from a Scottish perspective, and a superb introduction to Scottish history itself.”—Dauvit Brown