In September 2014, the people of Scotland will decide whether—after 407 years of British rule—they want to be an independent country. Chris Bambery, a leading figure in the Scottish Independence campaign, seizes the opportunity to delve into the real and oft-forgotten history of Scotland.<br><br>A People's History of Scotland is a corrective to the usual history of kings and queens, victorious battles and bloody defeats. Rather it tells the story that matters today—the story of freedom fighters, suffragettes, the workers of Red Clydesdale who fought for their rights, and the contemporary struggle for independence. It looks at the struggles for nationhood as well as for a socialist future, while also charting the lives of Scots who changed the world: from the real Macbeth, to the father of modern capitalism, Adam Smith, as well as campaigner Mary Brooksbank. This is a passionate cry for more than just independence but also for a nation that has socialist roots.