(Newswire.net — November 19, 2014) Thomson, Illinois — Moviegoers know William Wallace as a kilt-wearing, face-painted ruthless warrior motivated by one word: freedom!
Wallace certainly was inspired by freedom, but so much of what appeared on screen in Braveheart was simply untrue, says historian and producer Bill Heid, whose latest children’s audio theater project, In Freedom’s Cause, sets the record straight about the real William Wallace.
As Heid points out in a new blog post, “4 Surprising Things You Probably Didn’t Know About William Wallace,” one area of Wallace’s life that is often overlooked, is his faith.
“He grew up in a prominent Christian family, and he learned early to develop strong convictions toward prayer and the importance of seeking God’s will,” Heid wrote. “Prior to submitting to the call to the battle, Wallace desired sincerely to become a Benedictine monk. Having been educated by his uncles who were Augustinian priests, Wallace likely held a great deal of biblical knowledge. As a boy he was given a Psalter – and when tried for treason, he asked that that very Psalter be held in front of his face until he died.”
Another little known fact, despite what Braveheart portrayed, is that Wallace also did not wear a kilt.
“Tartan, often worn as a kilt and cape by Celtic nations such as Scotland, did not reach popularity until about the 16th century,” Heid wrote. “Although there are records of tartans predating this era, they were earth-toned and basic, far from the elaborate color patterns we associate with Scottish clans today. Surprisingly, Scotland’s greatest warrior, guardian and diplomat never wore a kilt.’
To read the rest of the blog and find out what else you may not know, click here.
In Freedom’s Cause is based on a book by G.A. Henty and has received high marks, including from homeschooling and curriculum expert Cathy Duffy. The project is the second one by Heirloom Audio Productions, which also released Under Drake’s Flag last year. Each 2-CD set is accompanied with a study guide and discussion starter.
“While other publishers have created outstanding audio recordings, both abridged and unabridged, the new presentations from Heirloom Audio are really something special,” Duffy wrote. “The script writers, the sound engineer, the actors, the creator of the musical score, and others involved in making these productions have been involved in major, critically-acclaimed productions, and their expertise shows! These are really top-notch, audio theater experiences as well as an entertaining way to learn some history.”
In Freedom’s Cause features Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates of Downton Abbey), Billy Boyd (Pippin of The Lord Of The Rings), Skandar Keynes (Edmund of The Chronicles of Narnia series) and James Cosmo (Campbell, Father Christmas of Braveheart and The Chronicles of Narnia, respectively), as well as a score by composer John Campbell (Lamplighter Theatre, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, Adventures in Odyssey).
For more information, visit InFreedomsCause.com.