Tracey’s Comments (group member since Jul 17, 2016)

Tracey’s comments from the Sir Walter Scott Appreciation group.

November choice lead by Rosemarie

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the books by Chateaubriand and have posted a review after Volume 2. He wrote this book after the horrible times of the French Revolution. One could call him a staunch, idealistic de..."

Do you know if there is an English translation of the book? Sounds like it would be an interesting read.

This has been chosen for our second book to read in the Sir Walter Scott challenge. We will begin in November.

Lori wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I think that Helen is a very fierce woman, moreso than her husband. In the afterward to the novel, written by Scott, he tells the story of Rob Roy's sons. They were also more viol..."

Good point. He obviously has a high regard for females and often portrayed a female as being stronger morally than the men (I am thinking of Rebecca in Ivanhoe and Diana in Rob Roy)

Rosemarie wrote: "Here is a suggested reading schedule. It can altered if we read the play quicker. It is not that long.
Week 1: The prologues to the end of the scenes in Faust's study
Week 2: Auerbach's Cellar to t..."

That looks good. I have the Penguin Classic version translated by Philip Wayne

Dianne wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "Tracey, I have only read his works in French (I was a French and German major in university), so it is important to get a readable translation. When I read Fathers ..."

Dianne, I find some books that cross over in other groups so I read one book but follow along in two discussions. Also other group nominations give me ideas for books in this one. You don't have to follow all the discussions in this group, just in the year have completed 10 of your choice to complete the challenge.

Discussion to be lead by Rosemarie.

Rosemarie wrote: "I thought thay the Viscount was added in the book as an explanation for Diana Vernon's mysterious behaviour. He was not fleshed out as a character and the conditions he imposed on his daughter were..."

I agree that his character was not developed and his 'hold' over his daughter was more authoritarian than loving paternal. Maybe he was shown to contrast with Franks' father who in the end asked only reasonable obedience rather than absolute.

Rosemarie wrote: "My daughter got a degree in Celtic studies and I read some of her books, especially the poetry from Ireland. I learned just how bad it was for the Irish in the 19th century, as well as before and a..."

Ireland was the centre of education in the 8th and 9th century and a lot of manuscripts from that time show the degree of culture and eloquence that was flowing from Ireland to the rest of Europe.

In Chapter 35, Rob Roy says.
"what I have been and what I have been forced to become..."
seems to indicate that he was aware that he was once a more honorable man and that he was anything but happy about what he was having to do in defence of his family and way of life.

Chapter 36 Franks states, "many traits of mercy, and even generosity are recorded of this remarkable man...

After finishing the book would your view of Rob Roy be similar or different? A Robin Hood of Scotland?

What did you think of Sir Frederick Vernon or his Excellency Viscount Beauchamp?

In conclusion what are you thoughts about the story?

Rosemarie wrote: "I think that Helen is a very fierce woman, moreso than her husband. In the afterward to the novel, written by Scott, he tells the story of Rob Roy's sons. They were also more violent than their fat..."

I understand that a mother's despair can send one over the usual boundaries, almost like a madness. This could what had happened to Helen; emotionally she had been broken.

Rosemarie wrote: "Tracey, her statement really sums up the situation of many of the Scots."

Not just the Scots but the Irish and the Welsh also (I am of English and Welsh descent and know Welsh history quite well). Thankfully it was a few that had this attitude towards 'native' peoples, there was a degree of compassion amongst the average person on the street, such as is shown by Frank. Those few in power, both political and military, had a genocidal attitude towards peoples in lands they wanted as their own. This is a timeless tune told in many lands...when we do not learn from history we are doomed to keep repeating it.

In chapter 31 Helen Campbell, Rob Roy's wife, is called
an amazon
a virago
And in chapter 30 described by Frank; 'I have seldom seen a finer or more commanding form than this woman."

Do you think these are truthful descriptions of her?

In chapter 32, after witnessing what happened to Morris, Frank says:
"a single deed of violence and cruelty affects our nerves more than when these are exercised on a more extended scale."

Do you agree?

Who and what are the disputes about in the country?

Rosemarie wrote: "I have gotten used to the dialogue, which I think is necessary to the book. Frank would have the same issues as we do with the language, and since he is the central character we see things from his..."

I agree about the language. I am actually starting to understand most of it and like the flow and rhythm of the words.

Rob Roy's wife's says to the British Captain Thornton, " Ye have left me neither name...Ye have left me and mine neither house nor hold, blanket or bedding, cattle to fed us nor flocks to clothe us, ye have taken from us all...and now ye come for our lives."

Comments and questions on these chapters and final summary/review.

Rosemarie wrote: "Now that Frank has reached the Highlands he has a more favourable view of the landscape. I am in chapter 30 and will probably finish the book in the next few days. I really want to know what is goi..."

1. Scott used a lot of Scottish dialect in the story. How easy do you find it to understand what is being said? Do you think it adds to or detracts from the story?

2. In the story, Scott points out the conditions of the Highland Scots. What are they?

3. What did Rob Roy MacGregor aka Robin/Rob Campbell do for a livelihood and what caused him to change? What did he become?

4. Who is the Monarch at the time of the story and what is the rival faction?

5. How did previous monarchs deal with the problems in the Highlands of Scotland after the Union and what is happening at the time of the story to cause discontent and unrest?

6. How does Rashleigh stealing the financial bills from Osbaldistone and Tresham effect the possibility of a rising in the Highlands?

7. Do you view Rob Roy as a hero or a tyrant?

Haaze wrote: "Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for the 1840s.... :)
I have read books by her sisters, but not by her!"

I am reading that right now.

What happens as the story moves to Scotland?

These chapters reveal quite a lot but also leaves questions:
1. Frank discovers that he is in love with Diana. Is she in love with him? Who is she meeting with at night in the library? Who is her dwarf confidant?
2. Diana has 2 choices, to enter a convent or marry one of her cousins. How does she feel about this?
3. Rashleigh is a rascal of the highest degree. He has taken possession of the finances of Frank's father. Frank knows the effect this will have on his father's 'spirit and health' and if 'declared insolvent would sink into the grave, oppressed by a sense of grief, remorse and despair, like that of a soldier convicted of cowardice or a man of honour who had lost his rank and character in society.'

This declaration struck me as honourable behaviour like this is rare in today's world.
Rob Roy was written in 1817 but in 1820 Scott became a partner in a printing business and his partner was involved in bankruptcy leaving Scott with the debts of 130,000 English pounds, Scott worker prodigiously to pay this debt and it affected his health. He died in 1832 and his debts were honourably discharged in full from the proceeds of his writing.
Scott wrote what he believed and lived what he professed.
4. The description of Glasgow back then was well described and the cathedral deserves a mention in this thread. Hope you enjoy the link below
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk...

Rosemarie wrote: "Tracey, I have only read his works in French (I was a French and German major in university), so it is important to get a readable translation. When I read Fathers and Sons I two versions of the no..."

Good to know. I understand about things being lost in translation. I can't read other languages other than English but what I do understand is the Yorkshire dialect, and I have read what other's think is being said in say Wuthering Heights, and it is not exactly what is being said. There are slight differences that make a lot of difference in overall meaning.