Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Walter Scott was born in the family of a lawyer in Edinburgh. His parents were of an ancient Scottish origin, a matter of which Scott was proud.

He first became known as a poet. But real fame was won byhim after publishing historical novels, the first of which made its appearance in 1814 anonymously ("Waverley"). The bookwas a success. Since then every year Scott published a new historical novel. In 1827 their authorship was disclosed.

Scott wrote more than 25 novels apart from numerous stories, poems, articles. Here are some of them:

"Waverley", "Old Morality", "Rob Roy", "Ivanhoe", "The Heart of Midlothian", "The Abbot", "The Castle Dangerous".

At the end of his life fortune turned its back on him. The pub­lishing firm of which he was a partner went bankrupt. Scott's debts were 117,000 pounds. He worked hard to clear them off— The exertion told sadly upon his health and he died of nostalgia in his estate at Abbotsford.

Works

Scott is a creator and a great master of the historical novels He knew well that the historical process was full of conflicts Observing reality, he came to understand the inevitability of the decay of the old and the victory of the new social forms.

The central heroes of Scott's novels are young men of valour. They are usually of noble birth. However they appear in the books as common men, poor, persecuted. Very often they are thrown into comradety with common folk and make close friends with them. ("Ivanhoe" and others). In the end his heroes acquire their titles and return to the prosperous life of their class. His main heroes on the whole are father superficial. Belinsky said that these characters serve the aim of holding together numerous adventures, actions and events that make up the plot of the story. i Common people in Scott's novels have best features of na­tional character: courage, cleverness, humour. Scott upholds the traditions of folk songs and ballads. His sympathies are with peasants ("Old Morality"). It is impossible to deny the praise of courage to a few hundred peasants, who, without leaders, with­out money, without magazines, without any fixed plan of action and almost without arms, borne out only by... a detestation of the oppression of their rulers, ventured to declare war against an established government, supported by a regular army and the whole force of three kingdoms.

Scott's strong point lies in a vivid description of the beliefs, customs, manners, costumes, language of the epoch plus the energy and movement which his story displays.

Questions and tasks

1. What do you know about Walter Scott's family?

2. When did real fame come to Scott?

3. What kind of books did Scott write?

4. Speak about Walter Scott's life at the end.

5- Why were his historical novels a great success?

6. What are the central heroes of Walter Scott's novels?

7. What do common people in his novels have?

8. What is Walter Scott's strong point?

9. Why did Belinsky appreciate his novels so greatly?

10. When and where does the action of the novel "Ivanhoe" take place?

11. What can you say about the main characters of the novel?