Stephen Challiis

Cruel is the Snow Stephen Challiis

This book is the fulfilment of a promise I made to myself over 30 years ago, from visiting Glencoe in the Highlands. There, I spoke to many residents, and for the first time learned the story of one of the most barbaric episodes in British History. The massacre of 38 members of the MacDonald Clan in the early hours of February 21st 1692, and the resulting death of up to 100 more that fled the village in a Blizzard from British Troops. My Scottish ancestry left me with a determination to uncover the heroes and villains of this Matter. The story is told through the eyes of a fictional resident, Annella McDonald. Though she is the only fictional character in the story, all events described are based on eye witness accounts, court transcripts, and official records. The events described actually happed, and the perpetrators were guilty of the most serious crime to the people of Scotland. Cruel is the Snow, is by necessity, a violent and shocking novel which makes portions of it disquieting to read, but I believe it is a history that should never be forgotten.