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Chronicles of the Canongate #1
Chronicles of the Canongate
Set within a framing narrative told by Chrystal Croftangry, these three stories are set in the years following the Jacobite defeat and all feature characters who are leaving Scotland to seek their fortunes elsewhere. In The Highland Widow and The Two Drovers, two young men find themselves torn between traditional Scottish loyalties and the opportunities offered by England. And The Surgeon's Daughter follows three young Scots to India during the first phase years of the British Empire.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1827
8 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Walter Scott
8,352 books2,081 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer, widely recognized as the founder and master of the historical novel. His most celebrated works, including Waverley, Rob Roy, and Ivanhoe, helped shape not only the genre of historical fiction but also modern perceptions of Scottish culture and identity.
Born in Edinburgh in 1771, Scott was the son of a solicitor and a mother with a strong interest in literature and history. At the age of two, he contracted polio, which left him with a permanent limp. He spent much of his childhood in the Scottish Borders, where he developed a deep fascination with the region's folklore, ballads, and history. He studied at Edinburgh High School and later at the University of Edinburgh, qualifying as a lawyer in 1792. Though he worked in law for some time, his literary ambitions soon took precedence.
Scott began his literary career with translations and collections of traditional ballads, notably in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. He gained early fame with narrative poems such as The Lay of the Last Minstrel and The Lady of the Lake. As the popularity of poetic storytelling declined, especially with the rise of Lord Byron, Scott turned to prose. His first novel, Waverley, published anonymously in 1814, was set during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and is considered the first true historical novel. The success of Waverley led to a long series of novels, known collectively as the Waverley Novels, which blended historical events with compelling fictional narratives.
Over the following years, Scott produced a remarkable number of novels, including Old Mortality, The Heart of Midlothian, and The Bride of Lammermoor, each contributing to the romantic image of Scotland that became popular throughout Europe. With Ivanhoe, published in 1819, he turned his attention to medieval England, broadening his appeal and confirming his status as a major literary figure. His works were not only popular in his own time but also laid the groundwork for historical fiction as a respected literary form.
Scott married Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier in 1797, and they had five children. In 1820, he was granted a baronetcy and became Sir Walter Scott. He built a grand home, Abbotsford House, near Melrose, which reflected his passion for history and the Scottish past. However, in 1825, financial disaster struck when his publishers went bankrupt. Rather than declare bankruptcy himself, Scott chose to work tirelessly to pay off the debts through his writing. He continued to produce novels and non-fiction works at a staggering pace despite declining health.
Walter Scott died in 1832, leaving behind a literary legacy that influenced generations of writers and readers. His works remain widely read and studied, and he is credited with helping to revive interest in Scottish history and culture. Abbotsford House, now a museum, stands as a monument to his life and achievements.
Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and biographer, widely recognized as the founder and master of the historical novel. His most celebrated works, including Waverley, Rob Roy, and Ivanhoe, helped shape not only the genre of historical fiction but also modern perceptions of Scottish culture and identity.
Born in Edinburgh in 1771, Scott was the son of a solicitor and a mother with a strong interest in literature and history. At the age of two, he contracted polio, which left him with a permanent limp. He spent much of his childhood in the Scottish Borders, where he developed a deep fascination with the region's folklore, ballads, and history. He studied at Edinburgh High School and later at the University of Edinburgh, qualifying as a lawyer in 1792. Though he worked in law for some time, his literary ambitions soon took precedence.
Scott began his literary career with translations and collections of traditional ballads, notably in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. He gained early fame with narrative poems such as The Lay of the Last Minstrel and The Lady of the Lake. As the popularity of poetic storytelling declined, especially with the rise of Lord Byron, Scott turned to prose. His first novel, Waverley, published anonymously in 1814, was set during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and is considered the first true historical novel. The success of Waverley led to a long series of novels, known collectively as the Waverley Novels, which blended historical events with compelling fictional narratives.
Over the following years, Scott produced a remarkable number of novels, including Old Mortality, The Heart of Midlothian, and The Bride of Lammermoor, each contributing to the romantic image of Scotland that became popular throughout Europe. With Ivanhoe, published in 1819, he turned his attention to medieval England, broadening his appeal and confirming his status as a major literary figure. His works were not only popular in his own time but also laid the groundwork for historical fiction as a respected literary form.
Scott married Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier in 1797, and they had five children. In 1820, he was granted a baronetcy and became Sir Walter Scott. He built a grand home, Abbotsford House, near Melrose, which reflected his passion for history and the Scottish past. However, in 1825, financial disaster struck when his publishers went bankrupt. Rather than declare bankruptcy himself, Scott chose to work tirelessly to pay off the debts through his writing. He continued to produce novels and non-fiction works at a staggering pace despite declining health.
Walter Scott died in 1832, leaving behind a literary legacy that influenced generations of writers and readers. His works remain widely read and studied, and he is credited with helping to revive interest in Scottish history and culture. Abbotsford House, now a museum, stands as a monument to his life and achievements.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 12, 2022
I liked the parts that focussed on Chrystal Croftangry and his life. While maybe a bit trivial, the style and charactarisation was marvelous. It had some aspects that seemed modern and relatable in a 19th century way.
The stories within the story didn't work that much for me, though. They were closer to what I expected Scott's more epic novels to be, but they felt more like fairy tales or other old tellings since they felt very detached and surface level to me. If you like this old campfire-like style of telling a tale, it's probably very atmospheric, but I prefer a more "modern" approach with a narration closer to the characters.
The stories within the story didn't work that much for me, though. They were closer to what I expected Scott's more epic novels to be, but they felt more like fairy tales or other old tellings since they felt very detached and surface level to me. If you like this old campfire-like style of telling a tale, it's probably very atmospheric, but I prefer a more "modern" approach with a narration closer to the characters.
July 14, 2022
Despite being a Scott aficionado for many years, I had somehow missed these tales until now. I’m glad I read them, although I would hardly say my life would have been incomplete without them. The two tales here are curious and quite dark and atmospheric, but – a characteristic Scott touch – they are wrapped up in so many introductions and footnotes that the tales themselves form only a minority of the pages. I rather like this kind of thing, although I can understand how many find it maddening.
The real interest is not so much the tales as the portrayal of the fogeyish young Edinburgh lawyer and purported compiler of them, the absurdly named Chrystal Croftangry. This is surely a self portrait of Scott himself, fondly recollecting the camaraderie of the Scottish legal profession and the happy days he spent in Edinburgh when he was young and carefree - for alas, he was neither when he sat down to pen this.
The real interest is not so much the tales as the portrayal of the fogeyish young Edinburgh lawyer and purported compiler of them, the absurdly named Chrystal Croftangry. This is surely a self portrait of Scott himself, fondly recollecting the camaraderie of the Scottish legal profession and the happy days he spent in Edinburgh when he was young and carefree - for alas, he was neither when he sat down to pen this.
November 22, 2015
There are many aspects to this work. The actual stories take up less space than the introductions, the explanatory notes and the framing device, a method of storytelling which Scott returned to time and time again. There is also a long verbatim report of speeches at an Edinburgh dinner of the great and the good literati and others of the time. All these elements, taken together, go a long way to explaining the character of the modern Scots and the continuing rumbles about independence. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 26, 2025
Rather an odd duck, this one. Some legal jibber-jabber in the frontpiece seems to indicate that this book was not intended to be sold in the US, yet I bought it at the UCLA bookstore. Hmm. Anyway.
First, let me digress. I grew up in a small town with a small library, and there really was no other source of books for me other than that, and my Mom’s Book-of-the-Month Club, when she could afford it. So imagine my thrill, when I started attending the local community college. College of the Desert was only a few years old at the time, and so to kick off its library, several local citizens had donated their own libraries to add to the collection. But these folks were of an age when one would have a collection of a (typically British) author’s works, and whether or not they were actually read was immaterial. They were basically decorative. You can still see sets like this at places such as the Huntington Gardens and Library (library room). But I adored this shit, and was totally ready to read every one, no matter who the author was. Actual college life intervened, but it was still a lovely dream.
Well, one of such series was the Waverly Novels, by Walter Scott. One of which (Ivanhoe) ended up being enormously popular but the entire series consisted of 48 volumes. This book is a minor addition to that series, not being actually a novel. Instead, it is supposedly the memoirs of Chrystal Croftangry. The narrator, after years abroad, has returned, wealthier than when he left, to his previous neighborhood in Edinburgh, the Canongate, near Holyrood House, once inhabited by Mary Queen of Scots. Reuniting with an elderly servant of the family, she tells him some tales, the three short stories that are the heart of this volume. Suffice it to say, no good ever comes of having too much pride.
So apparently Scott wrote this for some quick cash as he was concurrently working on one of the Waverly novels, so it suffers somewhat from being not much more than an outer shell constructed around a trio of stories. But of course in those days, word count was the important thing, and Scott already had enough of a reputation that he could afford to glide every now and then. And it’s always fun to give my Scot’s reading skills a workout. Must continue this journey. Lady of the Lake looks promising.
First, let me digress. I grew up in a small town with a small library, and there really was no other source of books for me other than that, and my Mom’s Book-of-the-Month Club, when she could afford it. So imagine my thrill, when I started attending the local community college. College of the Desert was only a few years old at the time, and so to kick off its library, several local citizens had donated their own libraries to add to the collection. But these folks were of an age when one would have a collection of a (typically British) author’s works, and whether or not they were actually read was immaterial. They were basically decorative. You can still see sets like this at places such as the Huntington Gardens and Library (library room). But I adored this shit, and was totally ready to read every one, no matter who the author was. Actual college life intervened, but it was still a lovely dream.
Well, one of such series was the Waverly Novels, by Walter Scott. One of which (Ivanhoe) ended up being enormously popular but the entire series consisted of 48 volumes. This book is a minor addition to that series, not being actually a novel. Instead, it is supposedly the memoirs of Chrystal Croftangry. The narrator, after years abroad, has returned, wealthier than when he left, to his previous neighborhood in Edinburgh, the Canongate, near Holyrood House, once inhabited by Mary Queen of Scots. Reuniting with an elderly servant of the family, she tells him some tales, the three short stories that are the heart of this volume. Suffice it to say, no good ever comes of having too much pride.
So apparently Scott wrote this for some quick cash as he was concurrently working on one of the Waverly novels, so it suffers somewhat from being not much more than an outer shell constructed around a trio of stories. But of course in those days, word count was the important thing, and Scott already had enough of a reputation that he could afford to glide every now and then. And it’s always fun to give my Scot’s reading skills a workout. Must continue this journey. Lady of the Lake looks promising.
July 5, 2023
3 1/2 stars. I read this for the "Work by Sir Walter Scott" for a reading challenge because I didn't feel like tackling one of Scott's full-length Waverly novels. The introduction was very interesting in that it detailed the circumstances around which Scott had to disclose that he was the secret author of the Waverly novels and how that came about. Once you get used to Scott's writing, it is very enjoyable. This was supposed to contain three short stories, but the digital version I got only contained the lead-up to the short stories, but that was still interesting and a good introduction to Scott. It made me want to read more.
February 26, 2023
Leído con el título "Nuevas crónicas de Canongate", con una traducción que no le hace justicia. No lo he disfrutado.
June 29, 2023
Three tales told by Mr Croftangry,plus his own history, make a fairly entertaining collection, full (maybe too full) of local color from 18th century Scotland and India.
September 11, 2025
Is anyone else of the notion that The Surgeon’s Daughter is Scott’s fanfiction of Ivanhoe and The Talisman
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November 13, 2008This is an amazing book! It's mid 18th century so the pace is slower but the content more than makes up for it! This is a book about culture clash, and those stuck in the middle. (Something I am very interested in) I would especialy recommend the short story 'The Highland Widow', and 'The Two Drovers'. Little gems of story.
September 3, 2011
A collection of stories with ironic twists. A great way to read Scott in small doses.
September 4, 2012
Read for college Scotland into the Modern World literature class
May 16, 2013
There's a point in the 80-page introduction in which the narrator suggests skipping the next few pages if you, the reader, are feeling sleepy. Worthwhile advice.
January 8, 2015
Didn't particularly enjoy the style of writing however will probably read Rob Roy to see whether it is Walter Scott's style that doesn't suit me or this particular work.
October 5, 2020
En rigtig god kilde ifb. med et semesterfag på engelskstudiet.
- Brugt på universitetet (engelsk)
- Brugt på universitetet (engelsk)
March 27, 2017
Classic tales at its best
May 2, 2017
Chronicles of the Canongate, first published in 1827, is a collection of three stories framed by an extensive narrative. The first two short stories are superb tragedies in a Scottish setting, whilst the third story is a novella set mainly in India, unusually for Scott. This edition has several forewords/introductions and loads of supporting notes at the end of the book which, between them, make up around a third of the book. Scott does tend to use three words where one would normally suffice, but in spite of this his work makes amazing reading.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews