Sir Walter Scott

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. ‘Caution comes too late when we are in the midst of evils.’ Set just before the Jacobite Rising in 1715, Scott drew upon the political and economic struggles leading up to the rebellion and the tumultuous history of the Highlands in his classic adventure novel Rob Roy. Despite the book’s title, Frank Osbaldistone is the protagonist, travelling through England and the Scottish Highlands to collect a debt owed to his father by his cousin Rashleigh. On his journey he comes across the mysterious and striking Rob Roy, the infamous yet hunted outlaw. A story about justice, love and the harsh realities of 18th-century Highland life, Scott’s work is still viewed as the ultimate historical adventure novel.

Wilfred of Ivanhoe returns from the Crusades to face the disapproval of his father, who disinherits him for his political allegiances and his love for the Lady Rowena. He gets caught up in the power-struggle between King Richard and Prince John. Set in 12th-century England,

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: IVANHOE CHAPTER I Thus communed these; while to their lowly doms The full-fed swine return'd with evening home; Compell'd, reluctant, to the several sties, With din obstreperous, and ungrateful cries. Pope's Odyssey. In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncas ter. The remains of this extensive wood are still to be seen at the noble seats of Wentworth, of Warnclifie Park, and around Rotherham. Here haunted of yore the fabulous Dragon of Wantley; here were fought many of the most desperate bat ties during the Civil Wars of the Roses; and here also flourished in ancient times those bands of gallant outlaws, whoa deeds have been rendered so popular in English song. Such being our chief scene, the date of our story refers to a period towards the end of the reign of Richard I., when his return from his long captivity had become an event rather wished than hoped for by his despairing subjects, who were in the meantime subjected to every species of subordinate oppression. The nobles, whose power had become exorbitant during the reign of Stephen, and whom the prudence of Henry the Second had scarce reduced into some degree of subjection to the crown, had now resumed their ancient license in its ut most extent; despising the feeble interference of the English Council of State, fortifying their castles, increasing the nnmbei f their dependants, reducing all around them to a state oS2 vassalage, and striving by every means in their power, to pi act themselves each at the head of such forces as might enable him to make a figure in the national convulsions which appeared to...

His Waverley novels brought Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) great international fame in his own day. Many modern readers, however, find them too daunting, perhaps because of their considerable length. The aim of this volume is to introduce the general reader to Scott's prose fiction through his highly accessible short stories. These include the "straightforward" horror stories My Aunt Margaret's Mirror and The Tapestried Chamber and the masterly Wandering Willie's Tale with its weird expedition to Hell, told in broad Scots. The Highland Widow and The Two Drovers mirror the themes of some of Scott's great novels. The former deals with friction and misunderstanding between generations in a Highland family - with fatal consequences. The latter examines ideas of justice and honour when Highlander and Englishman collide - again with fatal consequences. Also included are The Fortunes of Martin Waldeck and Death of the Laird's Jock. With an Introduction by Ronald W. Renton and an Essay by David Cecil.

A party on the Highland Tour, taking a scenic break from their journey come upon a miserable hut hid away among some cliffs; the ladies, upon enquiring what lies before them, hear the wretched tale of Elspat MacTavish, the Highland Widow, condemned forever to live penitent and alone. Condemned by her love for her husband and her only son. Full of honourable intentions, after the suppression of the Highland clans, to join the coalition on its campaign against the French into America, the unfortunate Hamish alas finds himself tricked by his own mother. The ensuing events lead to a tragic ending, made all the more pathetic by the unquenchable passion of a once-proud nation beating still in the breast of one woman.

A handsome modern hardback edition of Sir Walter Scott's classic.

A handsome modern hardback edition of Sir Walter Scott's classic novel.

A handsome new edition of Sir Walter Scott's classic.