Flower o' the Heather: A Story of the Killing Times

In the early days of the Restoration, a restless Oxford scholar named Walter de Brydde finds himself caught between the solemn walls of Balliol College and the wild, untamed landscape of Scotland. Fueled by a night of reckless revelry, daring songs, and a misplaced beer‑pot, his impulsive act lands him before the university’s stern disciplinary board. The resulting humiliation and a year‑long rustication set the stage for an unexpected journey far from the cloistered quad.

Transported to the rugged banks of the River Nith, Walter confronts a world where ancient feuds and political turmoil loom large. As he navigates the stark contrast between academic life and the harsh realities of the Scottish Borders, his youthful bravado is tested by the stark beauty and danger of the “Killing Times.” The story captures his struggle to reconcile a love of freedom with the weight of responsibility in a time of unrest.