On the Trail of the Real Macbeth

CAMERON TAYLOR graduated from Aberdeen University in 1979 with a degree in History. He had a career in the Civil Service before returning to his native Orkney to become CEO of Orkney Tourist Board. He established Seabridge Consultants in 2000 and has pursued a variety of cultural heritage and tourism interests since then. He now lives in Moray where Macbeth’s ghost still haunts the past. His first book, Rooted in Scotland, was published by the Luath Press in 2007.ALISTAIR MURRAY established Atlantic Marketing in 2004 after a varied career spanning three continents, ranging from oil exploration to leading manufacturing and media companies. He now pursues a number of interests in the creative industries and undertakes strategic consultancy. He currently lives in Caithness, where the surging tides of the Atlantic wash the jagged edge of Europe.

• ContentsMaps 6Foreword by Professor Graeme Morton 13Shakespeare and Macbeth: Fact versus Fiction 15Preface and Acknowledgements 17Introduction 21Chapter 1 Early Life 25Chapter 2 The Winning of Moray and Gruoch 39Chapter 3 Everything Depends On This 53Chapter 4 King of Alba 69Chapter 5 The Kingdom of Heaven 85Chapter 6 The End of Many Things 109Chapter 7 The Beginning of Countless Tales 123On the Trail of the Real Macbeth 135Appendix A Notes 137Appendix B People 144Appendix C Chronology 151Appendix D Selected Further Reading 156Appendix E King Macbeth Touring Itinerary 158

This is a clearly written, informative account of a man and his times which probably gets as close to the truth as is possible after 1,000 years. – SCOTS MAGAZINEThis book is for anyone who has been intrigued enough by the Scottish Play to wonder about the true story of King MacBethad mac Findlaech. – THE HERALD MAGAZINE