Group Presentation: Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott

COMPOSITION:

General - Scott was introduced to writing through his Aunt Jenny teaching him how to read. He began writing during high school and continued through college where he formed a Poetry Society and joined a Literary Society. Though he was called to bar and was following in his father's footsteps, Scott's calling shows in his writings. He indulged in his love of ballads and would make yearly ballad-collecting trips to Liddesdale. It was through his collecting that pre-Romantic German poets and dramatists, who had gone unnoticed during their time, were discovered. It was through the discovery of these works that he was inspired and began to produce translations of them.

PUBLISHING

The Lay of the Last Minstrel was published in 1805 by James Ballantyne. It was originally intended to be a third edition of 'The Minstrelsy", however, because of its length it was made into its own story.

The Partner:

RECEPTION

The Lay of the Last Minstrel was an outrageous success and had six editions in three years. Sales rose up to 27,000 copies in ten years, a feat not easily reached.

The Lay received rave reviews from the public and the critics.

Francis Jeffery (Edinburgh Review) found many of the passages were "in the very rank of poetical excellence"

The Critical Review "praised the skill with which Scott had refined the 'rich but unspoiled ore' of ballad poetry.'"

The Annual Review said it was "elegant, spirited, and stroking" and was a breath of fresh air from stiff classical poetics.

However, The Lay was not without its own negative critiques. It typically centered around how Scott brought in the fantastical (like the Goblin Page) into something that felt like it was supposedly more historical and about the land of Scotland.

The Literary Journal and Monthly Review though the plot was "obscure and far-fetched".

His works inspired many paintings of the Melrose Abby

Biography/Interesting

Early Years -

• Was the ninth child, but only the fourth to survive
• Was struck with polio at 18 months that left him lame in his right leg the rest of his life
• Was sent to live with his grandparents to be healed

Middle Years -

• He entered High School of Edinburgh in 1779
• While attending he made friends with James Ballantyne, his future business partner and printer of his major works
• Apprencitied to his father as a writer to the signet
• 1792 he was called to the bar

Romance - He fell in love with Williamina Belsches and began courting her when she was fourteen. He had a enough money to marry her but not enough to support a woman of her social standing. He wrote her a letter, declaring his love and intention and was answered favorably. However, in 1769 he went on a trip to the North to visit her parents. She had met William Forbes, heir of a banking family, and their engagement was announced. Scott was heartbroken and humiliated. It is rumored that this heartbreak peeks in some of his writing.

In 1797 he met Charlotte Charpenter, a woman of French descent, and three weeks later they were married. Though his parents disproved because of her lineage, they eventually approved. They were married and had five children together.

Later Years -

• 1825-1826 the Ballantyne Printing business crashed due to economic times and Scott went into serious debt
• Took a grand tour of Eurpoe being welcomed and celebrated wherever he went
• Died in 1832 at his home
• After his deaths his novels continued to sell and his debts were eventually paid off

After Death

Sir Walter Scott was acclaimed as the innovator of the modern historical novel genre. He had a large influence on Scottish culture and tourism in Scotland.

His works were read at dinner by the Prime Minster

And a monument stands in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh. It is the largest monument to a writer in the world.

Citation

http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/index.html