This biography deals with the history of William Wallace and his time. According to legend, born and brought up in Elderslie, Wallace's courage and heroism during Scotland's darkest days were instrumental in creating a sense of national identity. From the early killing of the Sheriff of Lanark, Sir William Haslerigg, through his crowning triumph at Stirling Bridge to his terrible end, Wallace was unswerving in his devotion to the cause of Scottish freedom. The second section of the book studies the impact of the man and the myth on later generations. The author concludes that Wallace's martyrdom was a greater legacy to the Scots than even the achievements of his lifetime.