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Waverley
by
Walter Scott,
Andrew Hook (Goodreads Author)
Set during the Jacobite rising in Scotland in 1745, this novel springs from Scott's childhood recollections and his desire to preserve in writing the features of life in the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. Waverley was first published anonymously in 1814 and was Scott's first
novel.
novel.
Paperback, 608 pages
Published
1985
by Penguin Classics
(first published 1814)
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From the get-go I wasn't a fan of the titular character. I found him to be quite insufferable and Scott to be a bit of a git when it comes to narration. He loves to hear himself talk (or narrate, as it were) and it it painfully obvious that this is so. The novel seemed to drag on and on, with such a seemingly abrupt neat-and-tidy ending that it's almost out of left-field. It may be one of the earliest Buildung-roman and historical novels, but I don't fancy I shall ever be able to hear the wor...more
"Waverly" is the first of Sir Walter Scott's novels and tells the story of young Edward Waverly. Waverly is born into a landed family and is not particularly close to his father. His comforts are largely provided by an uncle, and Waverly grows and educates himself with the countless romantic volumes of the time. He is a dreamer, and his personal adventure begins when a commission is purchased for him and he enters the military life.
Waverly and his company are posted to Scotla...more
Waverly and his company are posted to Scotla...more
I particularly like Scott's introduction to the 1829 edition in which he gives "some account of the incidents on which the Novel of Waverley is founded. . . the mutual protection afforded by Waverley and Talbot to each other." The real life counterparts are Alexander Steward of Invernahyle and Colonel Whitefoord, an Ayrshire gentleman. p.286-7
"I will not slip my dog before the game's a-foot." (Now I understand; Sherlock was using hunting terminology.) p. 132
...more
"I will not slip my dog before the game's a-foot." (Now I understand; Sherlock was using hunting terminology.) p. 132
...more
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Wily Walter may have been engaged on his first prose narrative, but he knew what he was doing: "I must remind my reader of the progress of a stone rolled down a hill by an idle truant boy (a pastime at which I was myself expert in my more juvenile years:) it moveth at first slowly, avoiding, by inflection, every obstacle of the least importance; but when it has attained its full impulse, and draws near the conclusion of its career, it smokes and thunders down, taking a rood at every spring,...more
the writing style is difficult for sure, especially if you aren't someone who regularly reads 18th or 19th century English fiction. but for all that, this book is a truly fascinating cultural document. can be read in so many different ways, shedding light on so many different aspects of British society: imperialism, feminism, politics, travel, education, class... the list is too long to detail in full. highly recommended for anyone who has an interest in the development of fiction - this book is...more
This book is commonly thought of as the first historical novel, and people have followed Scott's pattern ever since. It was also a best-seller of the first order. Published in 1814, it sold out the first printing (several thousand copies) within a month and had to have a second printing right away. The setting is Scotland during Bonnie Prince Charlie's rising of 1745; the main character, Edward Waverley, falls hard for the Scottish Cause, and has many adventures but ends up on the winning (Engli...more
Well, it's actually the Edinburgh edition that I've read.
This is Scott's first novel, and one of the best of his I've read. I won't add much with this review to a book that's been exhaustively discussed for almost two hundred years. Scott was a sort of romantic rationalist -- he admired the Scottish traditions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but knew that the future of his country lay in the modern and "English" ways that were established by the early nineteent...more
This is Scott's first novel, and one of the best of his I've read. I won't add much with this review to a book that's been exhaustively discussed for almost two hundred years. Scott was a sort of romantic rationalist -- he admired the Scottish traditions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but knew that the future of his country lay in the modern and "English" ways that were established by the early nineteent...more
Tragically under-paced relevant to a modern audience: if not for this, I think Sir Walter Scott would still be one of the most popular authors today. The depth of access Scott's cultural presentation provides enriches the novel while the characters and storyline compel your entry. I'd read it again but I'd rather read another one (and it is a tad bit long). There are nuggets of thoughts and beautifully portrayed moments that will long remain with me, however; I was impressed.
Scott's first novel, came out around 1812 I think, the first of the Waverley Novels. Caused a sensation at the time, young girls fainting, everybody grabbing the next instalment, author's identity concealed, etc etc. Can't imagine it happening now over a book. Gripping story, drenched in historical atmosphere. Better spend a few hours with Scott than waste them on some rubbish like Avatar. My 3D glasses kept sliding off, but fortunately the seats were comfortable so I could get a kip.
This book took me forever to get into--mostly because of the style. I never realized people were making fun of Scott when they talked about "our hero," but if he said that once more in reference to Waverly, I would probably have gone insane.
Once they got to the rebellion itself and Waverly's part in that, the pace seemed to pick up. All of the wandering around gathering local Scottish color bogged me down (read: the first 300 pages).
By the last few chapters outl...more
Once they got to the rebellion itself and Waverly's part in that, the pace seemed to pick up. All of the wandering around gathering local Scottish color bogged me down (read: the first 300 pages).
By the last few chapters outl...more
This book is often credited with being the reason for the popularity of the novel in the 19th century. Written in the mid 1800s, this paints a picture of the world "60 years since", with the civil unrest in Scotland and the Stewart dynasty. This is a fascinating, historically accurate, literarily excellent novel that is certainly worth your while. Meet the Highland chiefs in a romanticized adventure and such unique, witty, and well-rounded characters. It is partly a mystery story which...more
The book started extremely slow and the Gaelic was a difficult to understand at times. Waverly's character was not terribly likable however, he seemed to gain in complexity as the novel progressed. The book gave me good insight into the Highland/Scottish cultures (260 years since) and was immensely entertaining once the insurrections began.
Those first seven chapters, though. Took a lot of persuasion to battle through them, but so glad when I did.
The equivocation of Scott about the outcome of the 1745 Rebellion, the Unification of Scotland with England, and the consequent down grading of Scotland - all recorded here.
The equivocation of Scott about the outcome of the 1745 Rebellion, the Unification of Scotland with England, and the consequent down grading of Scotland - all recorded here.
I learned a lot about the culture of the Scottish Highlands. More than I had ever known before. I found some of it hard to follow and I was annoyed with it for that reason. Once I got past that I did enjoy the story and it was well written, some spots better than others.
Scott himself admits that the first chapters of this book are very boring, which is true. If you can get through those first chapters, this is a very good read especially if you have Scottish heritage. I definitely recommend Waverley if you enjoy historical novels.
I had to read this for my magister thesis, I think it is an interessting book, though a bit difficult to read, there are so many details, though they give a good image of Sir Walter Scotts time and quite a good about the time he is writing too.
Interesting novel, but honestly, the main character Waverly kind of annoyed me. He just seemed so dumb sometimes. What I did like was the insight it gave into 18th Century Scotland, which I didn't know much about.
Read for a Gaelic project in which I discussed the accuracy of Sir Walter Scott's portrayal of the Highland Culture. It was a pretty good book. Might want to read it again sometime.
Really, really slow through the first volume. Put up with it. My professor called it an extremely slow, fast read. Once you get about half way into the book, the action picks up.
Anne
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Recommends it for:
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got it from library
I have read this before, but not for ages. I am enjoying reading it again, to rediscover the story and the way it's written. Currently about one third of the way through.
Huzzah! The first book from the ISU class that was (slightly) enjoyable. I guess I know more about Scottish history than I thought.
I have read a lot of Scott and I love Scotland so there's always enjoyment at that level. But this book is so slow that it's annoying.
It's very unevenly paced, and there's a lot of authorial intrusion of a sort no other author I've read indulges in. The hero is an idiot and gets away with it, but somehow I didn't mind by the end. I spent the first half of the book wondering why I'd bothered, and the second half wondering which Scott I'd read next, so it can't have been all bad. If you've got any long train journeys coming up, give it a go!
only this isn't the free edition i got. i got a google books ISBN-13: 2940001246275 which isn't listed!
The first half was really slow, but it picked up and I really liked the second half.
one of the most boring books I've ever had to read!
I read this aloud to my brother over the course of four months or so (as we drove hither and yon to rehearsals etc.) It's certainly a slow starter; the story really picks up a few hundred pages in, though you do need the preliminary information. Not as concise as it could be, certainly, but it's Sir Walter Scott and I actually enjoyed seeing the story unfold slowly over a long period of time. Perhaps this kind of book lends itself more to a read-aloud. I found the historical context and info...more
After much concentration, with my fingers in three different locations in the book every time I read, trying to understand what I was reading, I am finally finished with Waverly. Was it worth it? I would have to say yes! I feel like I have truly accomplished a great achievement, and that is worth it. The story was good. I very much enjoyed Scott's writing style and interations with the reader. The story line was good as well, but it's definately a book you have to dig deep into to really ap...more
This book was just so hard to get through. It felt like it would have been interesting had it not been full of seemingly pointless description.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sir Walter Scott 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 ...more
More about Walter Scott...
Sir Walter Scott 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 ...more
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“Once upon a time there lived an old woman, called Janet Gellatley, who was suspected to be a witch, on the infallible grounds that she was very old, very ugly, very poor, and had two sons, one of whom was a poet, and the other a fool, which visitation, all the neighbourhood agreed, had come upon her for the sin of witchcraft.”
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