Professor
Dr. R. Andrew McDonald (B.A. Trent, M.A. McMaster, Ph.D. Guelph) is an historian of the medieval British Isles, with particular interests in medieval Scotland and the Isle of Man, as well as Late Norse maritime empires of the British Isles. His current research delves into the fascinating and neglected topic of the medieval Norse sea kings of the Isle of Man between 1079 and 1265, and his book The Sea Kings: The Late Norse Kingdoms of Man and the Isles, 1066-1275 was published in June 2019 by John Donald (Edinburgh). Further work on the topic is in progress, with a particular focus on gender, power and historical writing in the Kingdoms of Man and the Isles.
Dr. McDonald was the recipient of the Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity in 2022.
https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2022/06/video-helps-award-winning-prof-to-share-work-worldwide/
Dr. McDonald was the holder of a Brock University Chancellor’s Chair for Research Excellence, 2004-2007 and was the recipient of the Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007.
Scotland’s National Book Awards – Shortlist
Professor McDonald’s book The Sea Kings: The Late Norse Kingdoms of Man and the Isles, c. 1066-1275 (John Donald, 2019) was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s History Book of the Year Award for 2019.
The rise and fall of the Kingdom of Man – Ted ED Animations
Watch Professor McDonald’s TED Lesson on the Kingdom of Man and the Isles. The rise and fall of the Kingdom of Man – Andrew McDonald | TED-Ed
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.
He has contributed chapters to many publications, including Castles and Galleys: A reassessment of the historic galley-castles of the Norse-Gaelic seaways ed. P. Martin (Laxay, Isle of Lewis: Islands Book Trust 2017); Maritime Societies of the Viking and Medieval World, ed. J.H. Barrett and S.J. Gibson (Leeds: Maney, 2015); The New History of the Isle of Man Volume 3: The Medieval Period, ed. S. Duffy and H. Mytum (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press 2015); Studies in the Medieval Atlantic ed. B. Hudson (New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2012); The World of the Galloglass ed. S Duffy (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007); The British Isles 900-1300, ed. B. Smith (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999); Women in Scotland 1100-1700, ed. E. Ewan and M. Meikle (East Linton: Tuckwell Press, 1999) as well as to the Journal of Medieval History, Studies in Medieval and Renaissance History, Scottish Historical Review, and Albion.
Books
A Visitor’s Guide to the Medieval Kingdoms of Man and the Isles, 1055-1275
With contributions by Angus A. Somerville and Benjamin T. Hudson
(Manx National Heritage, 2023)
The Sea Kings: The Late Norse Kingdoms of Man and the Isles c.1066-1275
(Edinburgh: John Donald, 2019)
Manx Kingship in its Irish Sea Setting, 1187-1229
(Dublin: Four Courts Press 2007)
Outlaws of Medieval Scotland: Challenges to the Canmore Kings, 1058 to 1266
(East Linton: Tuckwell Press, 2003)
The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland’s Western Seaboard c.1100-c.1336
(East Linton: Tuckwell Press, 1997, repr. 1998 and 2002)
The Viking Age: A Reader – 2nd edition
Co-authored with Angus A. Somerville
(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2010)
The Vikings and their Age
Co-authored with Angus A. Somerville
(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2013)
Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages
Co-authored with Edward J. Cowan
(East Linton: Tuckwell Press, 2000; repr. by Birlinn, 2005)
History, Literature and Music in Scotland 700-1560
(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002)