Walter Scott

1771 (Edinburgh)-1832 (Abbotsford). Highly influential Scottish novelist and poet.

Life and Work

Though he is more readily remembered as a novelist, Scott began his career as a writer by publishing ballads in verse. While his early works were merely poetic adaptations of other authors’ works, the publication of his first own romances such as The Border Minstrelsy (1802-1803), The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805) or Marmion (1808) quickly led him to become the most popular author of his time. In the following years, he turned his attention to writing historical novels. With masterpieces such as Waverly (1814) or Ivanhoe (1819), which would become classics of their kind, Scott ultimately made a name for himself.

Apart from pursuing a career as a writer, Scott also worked as an attorney, enrolled as a volunteer cavalryman during the Napoleonic Wars and wrote for the Edinburgh Review. As a result of some misguided investments and the general financial collapse of 1826, however, Scott spent the later part of his life trying to repay large debts. Although he continued writing, none of his later work was as highly acclaimed as his former.

Significance for 19th-century British culture

As Scott often drew upon the oral tradition of his relatives to serve as the basis for his literary works, many are not only set in Scotland or England but also address fairly recent historical events. Thereby, he succeeded in creating a familiarity of time and place for his readers, which was very well received. Furthermore, Scott chose to place many of his literary heroes between two social classes or differing cultures with the intention of fostering communication between them and diminishing existing animosities.

Sources

Magnusson, Magnus (Ed): Chambers Biographical Dictionary. 5th ed. Edinburgh: W&R Chambers, 1990.