At the end of the 13th century, Scotland was a blood-torn country suffering under the harsh domination of a tyrant usurper, the hated Plantagenet, Edward Longshanks.

During the appalling violence of those unsettled days, one man rose to become leader of the Scots. That man was William Wallace.

Motivated at first by revenge for the slaughter of his father, Wallace vowed to cleanse his country of the English and set the rightful king, Robert the Bruce, upon the Scottish throne.

Though Wallace was a heroic figure, he was but a man - and his chosen path was to lead him through grievous danger and personal tragedy before the final outcome . . .

Praise for Nigel Tranter:

''One of Scotland''s most prolific and respected writers'' Times

''Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland''s heroes'' Scotland on Sunday