Sir Walter Scott

 

Sir Walter Scott was a renowned Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright, and historian. His works are iconic in both English-language literature and Scottish literature. Scott is considered the greatest historical novelist in the English language.

As Scott conceived it, the historical novel was an attempt to recapture the glory of past events through imagination. He published a three-volume set of collected Scottish ballads, "The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," in 1802. In 1806, Scott wrote his second major work, "Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field." Scott's first novel, "Waverly," was published in 1814. Notable works in the series include:

1. "Guy Mannering" (1815)

2. "Old Mortality" (1816)

3. "Rob Roy" (1818)

These novels have Scotland as their backdrop. However, in "Ivanhoe," Scott chose an English subject for the first time. "Kenilworth" and "Ivanhoe" are popular English novels, set against the English landscape.

The main feature of Scott's work as a historical novelist is his genius for vitalizing the past. He was a born storyteller, fascinated by the scenic beauty of the countryside. In his hands, history transforms from a record of dry facts to a stage where living men and women play their parts. He can be called a master of the diffused drama of history.

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