The Blind Fiddler

The Blind Fiddler is a fictional tale inter-weaved with real events in history. It is set during the 1700s mainly in the North-West Highlands of Scotland and is about the history of the Jacobites.

We follow a family of MacMillans who live by Loch Arkaig just north of Fort William. They are tenants of Cameron of Lochiel and follow that clan chief in attempts to replace the British monarchy with a Jacobite who they describe as Scotlands rightful king.

Our main character Ross MacMillan follows his father Duncans example by fighting with fellow Highland clansmen for this cause. We join him in a number of battles and campaigns ending with that of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Bonny Prince Charlie who in 1745 travels from France to raise the clans in his fathers cause. After major successes this comes to an end with the tragedy of the battle of Culloden.

Ross goes into hiding from the Government troops seeking vengeance against Charlies supporters who they see as both traitors and savages. He becomes blind which encourages him to continue learning to play a fiddle which Cameron of Lochiel had presented to him. It belonged to Sir John Cope who was in charge of the Government troops, who were soundly defeated at Prestonpans, the first major success for Charlies army. Ross becomes a very skilled fiddler.

Towards the end of his life we join Ross and his son Colin who encourages him to look back over his time supporting the Jacobites and think about what might have been.

The inspiration for the book is explained in the dedication. Ian has researched the fascinating history of the Jacobites and visited most of the battlefields and locations mentioned in The Blind Fiddler.