Theme: walter scott is the founder of historical novels content

Lifting the Pseudonym

In contrast to the poetry with which he had come to prominence until then, prose at that time was considered second-rate, if not dubious. Although it gradually became an open secret who the ‘Wizard of the North‘, as the unknown bestselling author was called, Scott maintained anonymity until 1827. Particularly after his elevation to the nobility in 1818, he considered writing novels to be an improper breadwinning occupation for a gentleman; it was only at a public dinner in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh in 1827 that the secret of his authorship was officially revealed.

Scotland and Beyond

While the plots of his first novels were all set in Scotland in the 17th or 18th century, Scott expanded the circle of his settings in terms of space and time, beginning with Ivanhoe (1820): Ivanhoe is set in 12th century England, Quentin Durward (1823) in France and Anne of Geierstein (1829) in 15th century Switzerland. Scott also reached contemporary English and continental European audiences with these works in particular. In between, however, he repeatedly returned to Scottish themes, even in his shorter prose works such as the short stories in the Chronicles of the Canongate.

Scott’s Portrayal of Characters

Scott’s great achievement, however, was not so much the reconstruction of the historical colouring, but rather the portrayal of characters in the historical milieu, with which the readers were given a new, lively approach to the story. Especially the characters from the lower social classes are portrayed in Scott’s novels with a humanity and immediacy that has rarely been seen in literature before. Thus, his novels feature numerous typical characters who are important for the narrative, who come from the people and often also show comical traits.

Keeping his Distance

Scott himself kept his novels at a distance and regarded them largely as commercial matters, although he was the first author of English literature to become a personality of national standing and national prestige during his lifetime. Although fiction was at the forefront of Scott’s work, he also published literary essays, historical stories for children, a book on the belief in magic and witches, and others, in particular a nine-volume biography of Napoleon. Scott participated intensively in public life and was significantly involved in certain political and social issues and projects. In 1818, for example, he led the successful search for the Scottish crown jewels, which had been almost forgotten for decades. In 1820 he was elected President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 1822 he arranged and organised the successful visit of the unpopular King George IV to Edinburgh. It was the first visit of a British monarch on Scottish soil after more than 170 years