Serious Crime in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland

Allan D Kennedy author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Edinburgh University Press

Published:28th Feb '25

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Serious Crime in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland cover

This book explores serious criminality in Scotland between 1660 and c.1700. Through in-depth analysis of the records of the Justiciary Court, Scotland’s central criminal jurisdiction, it reconstructs the meaning of ‘crime’ as understood by seventeenth-century Scots, before moving on to assess patterns of prosecution, the causes of crime, the performance of criminality, and wider response to illegal behaviour, all with a view to reconstructing the social meaning of crime. The result is an unprecedentedly detailed and systematic account of criminal behaviour which adds a completely new perspective to our understanding of early modern Scotland.

This books offers the first substantial intervention in the history of crime in seventeenth-century Scotland. It provides an important account of how Scots conceptualised, prosecuted, and punished criminal behaviour. It is a must read for historians of Scottish social, economic and criminal life. -- Katie Barclay, Macquarie University, Sydney
The records of crime and prosecution presented here provide a nuanced examination of society and the state in early modern Scotland. Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty. -- J.J. Butt * CHOICE Connect *
In this groundbreaking work, Allan Kennedy uncovers the dark underbelly of late seventeenth-century Scotland, shedding light on the complex world of crime during a pivotal period in history. Drawing from a wealth of original sources and rigorous research, this book offers a thorough exploration of a topic previously overlooked in historical studies. For historians and those with an interest in crime history, this compelling study opens up new avenues for understanding both the social fabric of early modern Scotland and the forces that shaped its criminal landscape. A must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the past. -- Anne-Marie Kilday, University of Northampton

ISBN: 9781399533164

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

256 pages