The Last Mackenzie of Redcastle: With Commentary

Was he really a murderer sentenced to death, or was he a hero? Was he a brave patriot, or a wretched scoundrel? Discover the life and times of the notorious Captain Kenneth Mackenzie, Eighth of Redcastle, as written by his granddaughter, Rosa Mackenzie Kettle in 1888. It is a fascinating study of how a single man can be equally wonderful and good, but in other cases extraordinarily bad. Writing her history in the style of a romantic novel, Kettle changes the real names of the leading actors, while at the same time stating that the “circumstances affecting the principal characters” are essentially true. Names and dates have been purposefully altered to “prevent annoyance and misconstruction”. This book includes a Commentary showing that the wonderful young Mackenzie of Redcastle comes through rather differently in Kettle’s account than in the history books of that era. The reader must decide whether Rosa is correct in her characterization of her beloved grandfather, or whether her novel is an attempt to whitewash the truth to protect the honourable name of the Mackenzies of Redcastle. The Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland & the UK together with the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada have cooperated to produce this reprint of a previously rare volume.