Sir Walter Scott

Ivanhoe, ambientada a l’Anglaterra del segle XII, quan el príncep Joan conspirava per desposseir del tron el seu germà Ricard Cor de Lleó, mentre era a Terra Santa en la Tercera Croada, narra les ave

"Harp of the North! that mouldering long hast hungOn the witch-elm that shades Saint Fillans springAnd down the fitful breeze thy numbers flung,Till envious ivy did around thee cling,Muffling with verdant ringlet every string,O Minstrel Harp, still must thine accents sleep?Mid rustling leaves and fountains murmuring,Still must thy sweeter sounds their silence keep,Nor bid a warrior smile, nor teach a maid to weep?"

THE ABBOT by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) in 1820, a sequel to The Monastery. The history is concerned with that period of the life of Mary Queen of Scots which she spent in imprisonment at Lochleven Castle, her escape, the rally of her supporters and their defeat at the battle of Langside. With these historical events is woven the romantic story of Roland Avenel, over whose parentage hangs a certain mystery. He is sent by the Regent Murray to act as page to Mary Stuart in her imprisonment, with directions to watch and report any attempt at escape. Instead, he becomes an active agent in devising the queens flight. The Introductory Epistle to the First Edition informs the reader that the narrative is the continuation of the Benedictine manuscript from which Scott purported to have drawn his preceding novel The Monastery.

One of Sir Walter Scotts most celebrated and accessible works, The Lay of the Last Minstrel was a huge publishing phenomenon when it first appeared in 1802, with six editions appearing in three years years and sales of 27,000 in a decade. Its impact on Border tourism was vast, as countless people, moved by Scotts evocative description of the moonlit Melrose Abbey, flocked to the area. Painters too were inspired by the scene, and such was its fame that even prime minister William Pit recited sections from it in front of dinner guests. Told by an ageing minstrel to Ann, Duchess of Buccleuch in return for hospitality at Newark Castle, The Lay of the Last Minstrel is a powerful and dramatic tale concerning love, murder and kidnapping. A strong supernatural element lies at its heart, making it one of the most significant gothic tales ever written. This edition features an introduction by the Duke of Buccleuch.

The plans of Edgar, Master of Ravenswood to regain his ancient family estate from the corrupt Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland are frustrated by the complexities of the legal and political situations following the 1707 Act of Union, and by his passion for his enemy''s beautiful daughter Lucy. First published in 1819, this intricate and searching romantic tragedy offers challenging insights into emotional and sexual politics, and demonstrates the shrewd way in which Scott presented his work as historical document, entertainment, and work of art. Published in 1819 and 1824, respectively, these titles are typical of Scott''s historical soap operas involving revenge, kidnapping, love, political turmoil, and what have you. To help readers understand the Scottish dialect in Scott''s writing, these include glossaries as well as scholarly introductions. Both books are based on Scott''s original texts. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. The Edinburgh Edition respects Scott the artist by ''restoring'' versions of the novels that are not quite what his first readers saw. Indeed, it returns to manuscripts that the printers never handled, as Scott''s fiction before 1827 was transcribed before it reached the printshop. Each volume of the Edinburgh edition presents an uncluttered text of one work, followed by an Essay on the Text by the editor of the work, a list of the emendations that have been made to the first edition, explanatory notes and a glossary ! The editorial essays are histories of the respective texts. Some of them are almost 100 pages long; when they are put together they constitute a fascinating and lucid account of Scott''s methods of compostion and his financial manoeuvres. This edition is for anyone who takes Scott seriously. Times Literary Supplement The Edinburgh Edition respects Scott the artist by ''restoring'' versions of the novels that are not quite what his first readers saw. Indeed, it returns to manuscripts that the printers never handled, as Scott''s fiction before 1827 was transcribed before it reached the printshop. Each volume of the Edinburgh edition presents an uncluttered text of one work, followed by an Essay on the Text by the editor of the work, a list of the emendations that have been made to the first edition, explanatory notes and a glossary ! The edi

Rob Roy MacGregor was a historical figurean outlaw who "owed his fame in a great measure to his residing on the very verge of the Highlands, and playing such pranks in the beginning of the eighteenth century as are usually ascribed to Robin Hood in the Middle Ages,and that within forty miles of Glasgow." He was implicated in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 which is the period of this storybut from motives of self-interest.Francis Osbaldistone, the ostensible narrator of this tale, is a young Londoner whose father is a successful merchant and naturally wishes his son to succeed him in the business. But Francis has other ideas, and a quarrel results, in which his father sets him adrift in the world to make his own way, and threatens to disinherit him in favor of Rashleigh Osbaldistone, a Scottish cousin. Francis rides northward on a visit to Rashleighs father, Sir Hildebrand of Osbaldistone Hall. On his way thither he falls in with a nervous traveller named Morris, who afterwards accuses him wrongly of the theft of his bag; but is cleared on the intervention of a supposed cattle-dealer, Campbell ...

The period of "Ivanhoe" is a few months subsequent to "The Talisman." Richard I has abandoned his Crusade, and, after an incarceration in an Austrian prison returns to his English throne to find plots against him headed by his brother John, and also a general state of unrest. Normans and Saxons still quarrel, and the story as a whole gives an admirable picture of feudal times.Ivanhoe is the only son of Cedric the Saxon, and has been disinherited by his father on account of his love for Cedrics ward, the Lady Rowena. lie thereupon goes with King Richard to Palestine and wins renown in the Crusade. He returns to England disguised as a Palmer. Meanwhile his father maintains the ancient Saxon state at his manor of Rotherwood, at odds with the Norman "interlopers." Cedric therefore accords but grudging hospitality to a Norman knight, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, when the latter seeks shelter from a storm, being guided thereto by a pilgrim. During the evening repast, Lady Rowena inquires news of the Crusade and is informed that Ivanhoe has gained fame and the favor of the King. Bois-Guilbert thereupon boasts that he himself would like to meet him at a pending tournament; at which the pilgrim takes up the gage forthe knight ...

"The Betrothed" is a picture of the troublous times at home, while English knights were away upon the Crusades. The scene is laid upon the borderland of Wales, during the reign of Henry II, and the action clusters around the person of a young Norman heiress beset by Welsh and English alike.The venerable Archbishop of Canterbury makes it his chief business to preach the Third Crusade; and to this end he exhorts Normans, settled in England and Wales, to lay aside all private feuds with their neighbors. Moved by his teaching, Gwenwyn, a Welsh chieftain, and Sir Raymond Berenger, a Norman knight, exchange friendly courtesies; and Gwenwyn even goes so far as to make plans to divorce his wife in order that he may wed the Normans daughter Eveline. When he makes this proposal, however, an answer is returned that the lady is already betrothed to Sir Hugo de Lacy, an accomplished soldier, but a man of mature years. The fiery Welsh consider this in the light of an affront, and make war upon Sir Raymond in his stronghold of Garde Doloureuse ...

Although France is the scene of this romance, the hero and several other characters are members of the Scottish guard to the French King. The period is that when chivalry and feudalism are passing away, and the governments becoming centralized, Louis XI of France is, in fact, warring against his most powerful vassal, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.Quentin Durward, a Scotch youth, comes to Tours, where his uncle is a member of the celebrated Scottish bodyguard, and seeks military service. First, however, he meets the pretended merchant, Maitre Pierre, who is actually King Louis himself; and next the young adventurer narrowly escapes hanging for interfering with a public execution. He is enrolled among the guards and finds favor in Louiss eyes by aiding him against the attack of a frenzied boar, in a hunt.On the same day of the hunt, the Count de Crevecoeur, on behalf of his master, openly renounces allegiance to Louis, and also demands the surrender of Isabelle de Croye, the Dukes ward, who has fled from Burgundy to escape a political marriage ...

Although the period of this tragedy of Lammermoor is placed within the reign of William and Mary, the story (unlike most of the others) has little historical connection. It tells, instead, of the feud of two Scotch families, whichas in "Romeo and Julietbrings woe to two lovers who have dared plight their troth despite the ancestral hatred. Scott states that it is based closely upon fact.Edgar of Ravenswood is the last of a noble house which has formerly been rich and powerful; but his father, having been involved in the Jacobite cause, is ousted from the family estates by Sir William Ashton. After the old lords death, nothing remains to Edgar save the dilapidated Tower of Wolfs Crag, and the fidelity of two ancient servants Mysie and Caleb. Shortly after his fathers funeral, the young man rescues Sir William and his daughter Lucy from the charge of an infuriated bull, and thus wins the respect of his ancient enemy and a warmer interest on the part of the maiden ...

"Waverley" is noteworthy not only in being the authors first novel, but also because it gives a fine panorama of an important historic period. The story is written around the Jacobite insurrection of 1745, led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart in the endeavor to place his exiled father upon the English throne. It deals closely with Scotch people and customs. Edward Waverley, the hero, is a young English gentleman, prospective heir to his uncles large estate. As a means of completing his education, he is sent with a captains commission to join the regiment of Colonel Gardiner, stationed in Scotland. Affairs in camp not being of warlike nature at this time, he obtains an extended leave of absence, to visit his uncles friend, Bradwardine, baron of an estate at Tully-Veolan. Several weeks are spent with the worthy old Scotch veteran and his pretty daughter, Rose. At this juncture the barons cattle are driven off by Donald Bean Leans band of freebooters, and a "go-between" visits the baron to obtain "blackmail" for their return ...

(Note: Vols. I & II of Tales Of The Crusaders)

I den fagra trakt av gamla England, som vattnas av floden Don, utbredde sig i forna tider en stor skog. Den betackte storre delen av de vackra kullar och dalar, som ligga mellan Sheffield och den trevna staden Doncaster, och litet av den finns annu kvar vid de sttliga herresatena Wentworth och Warncliff Park samt kring Rotherham. Har hade fordom den i sagorna omtalade Wantleydraken sitt tillhll; har utkampades under Rosornas krig mnga av de haftigaste drabbningarna, och har huserade forr dessa skaror av ridderliga och tappra stigman, vilkas bragder blivit forevigade i engelsk sagen och sng.Denna nejd ar den egentliga skdeplatsen for vr berattelse, och tiden ar slutet av Rickard I:s regering, d denne konungs terkomst frn den lnga fngenskapen var ngot, som hans fortvivlade och under tiden p alla satt fortryckta understar mera langtade efter an vgade hoppas p. Adeln, som under Stefans regering tillvallat sig en otillborlig makt och genom Henrik II:s forsiktiga styrelse knappast terforts till ngon namnvard grad av underkastelse under konungamakten, var nu sjalvsvldigare an ngonsin. Foraktande den engelska regeringens kraftlosa tgarder, befaste adelsmannen sina slott, okade antalet av sina underlydande och lade hela sin omgivning under sin lanshoghet, och var och en sokte med alla till buds stende medel satta sig i spetsen for en sdan vapenmakt, att han kunde bliva en faktor att rakna med i de inre omvalvningar, som tycktes forest.

Sir Walter Scotts "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" were his contribution to a series of books, published by John Murray, which appeared between the years 1829 and 1847, and formed a collection of eighty volumes known as "Murrays Family Library." In these "Letters upon Demonology and Witchcraft," addressed to his son-in-law, written under the first grasp of death, the old kindliness and good sense, joined to the old charm in story-telling, stand firm yet against every assault; and even in the decay that followed, when the powers were broken of the mind that had breathed, and is still breathing, its own health into the minds of tens of thousands of his countrymen, nothing could break the fine spirit of love and honour that was in him. When the end was very near, and the son-in-law to whom these Letters were addressed found him one morning entirely himself, though in the last extreme of feebleness: his eye was clear and calmevery trace of the wild fire of delirium was extinguished: "Lockhart," he said, "I may have but a minute to speak to you. My dear, be a good manbe virtuous, be religiousbe a good man. Nothing else will give you any comfort when you come to lie here."