Best Selling Books by Walter Scott

Walter Scott, the ninth of a family of twelve children, was born at Edinburgh in August, 1771. His first consciousness of existence dated from the time when he was sent, a lame, delicate child, to Sandyknowe, the residence of his paternal grandfather. Here he "was often carried out and laid down beside the old shepherd among the crags or rocks round which he fed his sheep." If Scott''s genius was late in flowering, who can say that the budding did not begin in that early, close companionship with the Highland country which he was to reproduce so vividly in his verse and fiction? With strength increased by open-air life, although still slightly lame, we find him later a sturdy, active, not over-studious boy at school at Edinburgh and Kelso, and at fifteen beginning in his father''s office the legal studies which he continued at the university.

Set in the 16th century when Elizabeth I ruled England, and her cousin, Mary, ruled Scotland, The Monastery depicts the religious tension and restlessness that existed along Scotland’s border. While Elizabeth ruled with her Anglican beliefs, Mary was a Catholic, and with much of their culture intermixing, this sowed unrest. While this feud between the Catholic church and the Anglican heretical church rages on, two families, the Glendenning''s and the Avanel’s, mourn the loss of their patriarch. The Avanel widow and her daughter, Mary, move to the Tower of Glendeareg, a property of the Kennaquhair monastery. After the death of the Avanel widow, a mysterious black book containing heretic hymns and writings is found with her possessions. Scandalized and angered by the difference in religious views, the monks confiscate the book. Yet, despite their adamance, the book mysteriously finds its way back to the Tower of Glendeareg. As a state of lawlessness and religious intolerance prevailed over the region, Sir Walter Scott depicts two families as they experience grief, rivalry, love, and supernatural encounters. With a mix of romance, conflicted theology, humor, and supernatural events, The Monastery by Sir Walter Scott is unique and fascinating. First published two hundred years ago in 1820, The Monastery is one of the many additions to Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly series, and though is among the lessen known of Scott’s novels, is praised for its evocative setting and relatable characters. Centered around a fictious representation of the famed Melrose Abbey, a convent destroyed by English troops in 1385, The Monastery provides a detailed and intimate representation of the turmoil the differences in religion caused, especially along the ill-policed border of Scotland. This edition of The Monastery by Sir Walter Scott now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Monastery crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Sir Walter Scott’s literature.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1905 Edition.

Waverley is an 1814 historical novel by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Published anonymously in 1814 as Scott''s first venture into prose fiction, it is often regarded as the first historical novel in the western tradition. It became so popular that Scott''s later novels were advertised as being "by the author of Waverley". His series of works on similar themes written during the same period have become collectively known as the "Waverley Novels".

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1861.

Waverley; or, ''Tis Sixty Years Since is a historical novel by Walter Scott. Scott was already famous as a poet, and chose to publish it anonymously in 1814 as his first venture into prose fiction. It is often regarded as one of the first historical novels in the Western tradition

"I have all my life regretted that I did not keep a regular (journal). I have myself lost recollection of much that was interesting and I have deprived my family and the public of some curious information by not carrying this resolution into effect." Sunday 20 November, 1825 With these words Scott began what many regard as his greatest work, a diary which was to turn into an extraordinary day-to-day account of the last six years of his life, years of financial ruin, bereavement, and increasing ill health. As he laboured to pay off debts of over £120,000, Scott emerges, not simply as a great writer, but as an almost heroic figure whose generosity and even temper shine through at all times. This edition presents a complete edited text and notes drawing on a wealth of other material including correspondence, reminiscences and the memoirs of Scott''s contemporaries. It remains one of the standards by which Scott scholarship is judged.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Ivanhoe (1819) was the first of Scott''s novels to adopt a purely English subject and was also his first attempt to combine history and romance, which later influenced Victorian medievalism. Set at the time of the Norman Conquest, Ivanhoe returns from the Crusades to claim his inheritance and the love of Rowena and becomes involved in the struggle between Richard Coeur de Lion and his Norman brother John. The gripping narrative is structured by a series of conflicts: Saxon versus Norman, Christian versus Jew, men versus women, played out against Scott''s unflinching moral realism. About Walter Scott : Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. Sir Walter Scott books was born on August 15, 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Scott created and popularized historical novels in a series called the Waverley Novels. In his novels Scott arranged the plots and characters so the reader enters into the lives of both great and ordinary people caught up in violent, dramatic changes in history. Scott''s work shows the influence of the 18th century enlightenment. He believed every human was basically decent regardless of class, religion, politics, or ancestry. Tolerance is a major theme in his historical works. The Waverley Novels express his belief in the need for social progress that does not reject the traditions of the past. He was the first novelist to portray peasant characters sympathetically and realistically, and was equally just to merchants, soldiers, and even kings. Central themes of many of Scott''s novels are about conflicts between opposing cultures. Ivanhoe (1819) is about war between Normans and Saxons. The Talisman (1825) is about conflict between Christians and Muslims. His novels about Scottish history deal with clashes between the new English culture and the old Scottish. Scott''s other great novels include ,iu003eOld Mortality (1816), The Heart of Midlothian (1819), and St Ronan''s Well (1824). His Waverley series includes Rob Roy (1817), A Legend of Montrose (1819), and Quentin Durward (1823). " I believe Ivanhoe book just misses being a great novel for two reasons. First of all, its characters, although not without subtlety, lack depth. (The exception to the rule is the "Jewess" Rebecca). Secondly, Scott''s style-at least as demonstrated here-suffers from a wordiness that continually dissipates the novel''s power. It is nevertheless an impressive achievement, original in conception, rich in themes, formidable in architecture, and powerful in its effects. " " I love(d) this book and was torn between 4 and 5 stars. Can we call it 4.5? Heck, let''s just say 5! I read it first long ago and it holds up well over the years (its and yours). A classic for a reason. You''ll find synopsis after synopsis here and elsewhere. But if you like adventure, heroism, romance, loyalty, betrayal...any or all of the above you won''t go wrong here. King Richard the Lion Heart...Robin Hood (Locksley)...Knights Templar...Saxons vs. Normans...Gentiles vs. Jews....Knights from the Crusades....Tournaments...jousts...melees...treachery...single combat...love...loss...reconciliation...heroics! This thing has more to offer than The Princess Bride! Well, no one gets murdered by pirates...and it is a "kissing book", but it''s still a great read, and it''s a classic so you get extra points! "

Sir Walter Scott''s "Waverley Novels" take their name from "Waverley" (1814), the first in the series, because Scott did not publicly acknowledge authorship until 1827.

Francis Osbaldistine, the son of an English merchant, had always been different than the rest of his family. With an opposing temperament and religion than his father and younger brother, Francis dreams of writing poetry, despite his father’s desire for him to go into the family business. When Francis refuses to work for his father, he is sent away to live with his uncle, on the condition that his cousin, Rashleigh, switches places with Francis in the family business. While Francis is initially happy with this arrangement, Rashleigh has a reputation for his unruliness, which he lives up to shortly after joining the business. Soon Rashleigh gets into trouble he cannot overcome on his own. Concerned for the implications this would have on the family, Francis has no choice but to travel to Scotland to clean up Rashleigh’s mess, leading to misadventures, odd strangers, and even the chance of romance. While Francis appreciates the beauty and the exciting culture of Scotland, he meets the astonishingly eccentric Rob Roy MacGregor, who has garnered quite the reputation, leading to even more hilarity and chaos. First published over two-hundred years ago in 1817, Rob Roy is among the most comical historical novels in Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly series. Set in the 18th century, during the year of the first Jacobite uprising, Rob Roy provides modern readers with invaluable insight on the social, cultural, and economical background of Scotland and England, through its excellent representation of the two nations and their citizens during a time of tension. With compelling, unforgettable characters, Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott is as entertaining as it is fascinating. This edition of Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of Rob Roy crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery of Sir Walter Scott’s literature.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1905 Edition.