Exploring the previously hidden lives of the women who raised families and made ends meet in Scotland's crowded urban tenements, this book draws on memories of the first half of the 20th century that evoke living conditions unimaginable today. It is an eloquent tribute to stamina, management skills, and moral strength in the face of poor housing and relentless poverty. This book contains material not previously published on taboo subjects such as sexual awareness and domestic violence, and it explains the social context that regulated women's behavior.

Paul Murton traces the changes that have taken place since the birth of Scottish tourism.

第一集：最后的自由
苏格兰的形成；以及之后苏格兰人在“布鲁南伯尔战役”（BattleofBrunanburh）中的历史作用，威塞克斯王朝的阿特尔斯坦（Athelstan）在此役中击败以苏格兰王康斯坦丁二世（ConstantineIIofScotland）为首的联军，之后自称“不列颠大王”，从而奠定了不列颠的雏形。
第二集：苏格兰之锤
苏格兰历史上两位杰出人物亚历山大二世（AlexanderII）与威廉·华莱士（WilliamWallace），锤炼了苏格兰的民族意识，将盖尔人的古国塑造成了苏格兰。
第三集：主教成就国王
苏格兰国王罗伯特一世（RoberttheBruce，1306-1329在位）为苏格兰独立而奋斗，苏格兰的教会也在国内外展开宣传攻势。最终1320年的《阿布罗斯宣言》（DeclarationofArbroath）促使教皇承认了苏格兰作为独立国家的地位。
第四集：语言就是力量
盖尔人和盖尔语曾经是苏格兰人民族认同的核心，但是一场家族争斗造成了众所周知的“高地”与“低地”的区分。15世纪斯图尔特家族（Stewartroyalfamily）的政策使盖尔人被视作外来人和叛乱者。
第五集：不列颠计划
斯图亚特（Stuart）王朝两位君主的野心是使曾经的宿敌合而为一并走向现代不列颠的决定性力量。苏格兰玛丽女王还只是阴谋夺取伊丽莎白一世的王权，她的儿子詹姆士则有着更为激进的梦想。

Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against English rule.