"The famous clans of Campbell and MacDonald began their feud after 1296, when the Campbell chief was brutally killed. Though the two families stood together at Bannockburn they soon clashed again and became sworn and deadly enemies for 450 years. There were numerous cullings and clashes inflicted by both sides, in both Scotland and Northern Ireland." "Yet despite the mutual antipathy both families continued to grow, to scatter over the world and to produce a number of talented, energetic descendants including two British prime ministers (Campbell Bannerman and Ramsay Macdonald) and the first Canadian prime minister." "The second half of the book charts this more peaceful period after 1746 when members of both clans spread rapidly around the world: transported as criminals, evicted in clearances, or simply seeking their fortune in peace or war. We follow the families in the American and Napoleonic wars, to India, the West Indies and Australasia. We meet politicians, poets, terrorists, sportsmen and women, entrepreneurs, world speed record holders and a mistress introduced to Kennedy by Sinatra." "The Great Feud, with its mix of historical fact and legendary high-jinx, will appeal to Campbells and MacDonalds the world over, and to anyone interested in history's most infamous 'neighbours from hell'."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [193]-197) and index.