William Wallace is not only one of Scotland’s best loved national heroes, he’s also one of the most internationally well-known. His role as a leader in Scotland’s medieval wars of independence against the English made him famous, but the poetry of an obscure minstrel named Blind Harry made him a legend. Blind Harry’s epic poem, “The Wallace”, would double as Wallace’s official biography for centuries, and would inform the script of the 1995 film Braveheart. But, how many of Harry’s tall-tales sync up with the verifiable facts of Wallace’s life? Listen and find out how fishing pole fencing, the King of England’s butt, a booby-trapped bridge, and a whole lot of missing limbs play a role in the story!

Works Cited

Fisher, Andrew. William Wallace. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2010. Print.

Hary, Blind, and William Hamilton. Blind Harry’s Wallace. Edinburgh: Luath, 1998. Print.

Mackay, James. William Wallace: Brave Heart. Edinburgh: Mainstream, 2007. Print.

McIver, Brian. “Time for Scots to Re-evaluate True Role of William Wallace in Scotland’s History, Says Expert.” Dailyrecord. 24 Mar. 2013. Web. 17 Aug. 2017.

Ross, David R. On the Trail of William Wallace. Edinburgh: Luath, 2002. Print.

“The Wallace: Introduction.” Robbins Library Digital Projects. Web. 17 Aug. 2017.

Watson, Fiona J. Under the Hammer: Edward I and Scotland, 1286-1306. Edinburgh: John Donald, 2005. Print.