Editing James II of Scotland (section)

== Fictional portrayals ==
James II has been depicted in plays, historical novels and short stories. They include:<ref name="Nield">Nield (1968), p. 52</ref>

* ''The Captain of the Guard'' (1862), by [[James Grant (1822–1887)|James Grant]]. The novel covers events from 1440 to 1452. Mostly covering the conflict of James II with the [[earls of Douglas]]. Part of the action takes place far from Scotland, at the court of [[Arnold, Duke of Guelders]], father-in-law to the King.<ref name="Nield"/>
* ''Two Penniless Princesses'' (1891), by [[Charlotte Mary Yonge]]. James II is a secondary character. The main characters are his sisters [[Eleanor of Scotland|Eleanor]], [[Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan|Mary]] and [[Joan Stewart, Countess of Morton|Joan ("Jean")]]. The novel covers their travels to foreign courts, including those of young [[Henry VI of England]] and [[René of Anjou]].<ref name="Nield"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1450625 |title="Project Gutenberg's Two Penniless Princesses, by Charlotte M. Yonge"}}</ref>
* ''The Black Douglas'' (1899), by [[Samuel Rutherford Crockett]] and its sequel ''Maid Margaret'' (1905). The two novels cover events from 1439 to 1460, including most of the reign of James II. His conflict with the [[earls of Douglas]] is prominently featured. Including James II stabbing [[William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas]] to death (1452) and James's own death due to a bursting cannon at the siege of [[Roxburgh]] (1460). Among the other historical figures depicted are [[William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas]] and his brother David (mostly their violent deaths in 1440), [[Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway]] (protagonist of the second novel), Sir [[Alexander Livingston of Callendar]], [[William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton]], [[Charles VII of France]] and his Dauphin ([[Louis XI]] and [[Agnès Sorel]]. The events take place primarily in Scotland, secondary in France. There is mention of the early phases of the [[Wars of the Roses]] (1455–1485) but English events are only "slightly touched".<ref name="Nield"/>
* ''James II: Day of The Innocents'' (2014), by [[Rona Munro]]. A co-production between the [[National Theatre of Scotland]], [[Edinburgh International Festival]] and the [[National Theatre of Great Britain]]. The James Plays — ''James I'', ''James II'' and ''James III'' — are a trio of history plays by Rona Munro. Each play stands alone as a vision of a country tussling with its past and future. This play focuses on the early life of James II, the developing relationships with the Douglas family and the eventual death of Lord Douglas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eif.co.uk/2014/james2#.VDrOv1eK2-0 |title="Edinburgh International Festival 2014" |access-date=12 October 2014 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820221246/https://www.eif.co.uk/2014/james2#.VDrOv1eK2-0 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''The Lion's Whelp'' (1997), by [[Nigel Tranter]]. Set during 1437–1460, during the reign of James II of Scotland, the book describes the boy-king's time under regents Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, Lord Crichton and Sir Alexander Livingston, and the plot to kill William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas at the "Black Dinner", seen through the eyes of Alexander Lyon, Master and then 2nd Lord of Glamis. The book ends with the death of James.
* ''Black Douglas'' (1968), by Nigel Tranter, covers events up to the killing of the 8th Earl of Douglas, is sympathetic to the earl and unsympathetic to James II.
* ''Niccolò Rising'' (1986), by [[Dorothy Dunnett]], mentions his intrigues and wars as part of the international milieu of the time, especially as they impact Flanders, the scene of the novel.
* Appears as a background character in the children's fantasy novel ''In the Keep of Time'' (1977) by Margaret J. Anderson. His nickname and the birthmark which inspired it are both described, and one of the main characters witnesses the Battle of Roxburgh Castle and the explosion of "the Lion" that kills him.