Walter Scott and the Historical Imagination

by David Brown

Overview

First published in 1979. This study explores the main critical issues that arise out of a modern reading of Scott’s work, and treats the major novels in detail. It tackles the questions of Scott’s place in literary history and his problems in pioneering the historical novel. As well as examining the greater novels of the Scottish series, the author also deals with the relation between historical fiction and reality, with reference to the Waverley Novels, and Scott’s own attitude to history. Also discussed are some of the possible reasons for Scott’s failure to depict conflicts in his contemporary society. This book would be of interest to students of literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138649156
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/12/2017
Series:	Routledge Library Editions: The Nineteenth-Century Novel
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Brown

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments; Author’s note; Chronology of the Waverley Novels; Introduction; 1 Waverley 2 Guy Mannering 3 The Antiquary 4 Old Mortality 5 Rob Roy 6 The Heart of Midlothian 7 The Bride of Lammermoor 8 Redgauntlet; 9 Historical authenticity in the Waverley Novels; Scott’s Dedicatory Epistle to Ivanhoe ‘Manners’ and historical authenticity Characterisation in the Waverley Novels; 10 Scott’s outlook on history; Scott’s ‘historicism’ The failure to depict contemporary society; Notes; Bibliography; Index