Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Author: Ivanova Daria

Teacher: Lavdanskaya Galina

Nikolaevna

• The famous English writer Walter Scott (1771 — 1832) is the founder of the historical novel in English literature. He was greatly interested in the past of his country and studied it by documents, history and legends.

Biography

Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His family was rather rich and noble. His father was a successful lawyer and his mother was the daughter of a professor of medicine at the University of Edinburgh. As a child, he spent lots of time at his grandfather’s farm at Sandyknowe, which was close to Scottish Borders. Despite his poor health, he was an active boy with lively mind and phenomenal memory.

• At the age of 14, he entered the Edinburgh College, where he became popular among the peers for his excellent storytelling. As a student, he got interested in mountaineering. This activity helped him to become physically fit and healthier. At his free time he liked reading books, including the works of ancient authors .

Walter Scott was fond of novels, poetry, ballads and legends of Scotland. For that reason, together with his peers he organized a poetic society. In 1792, he passed the most important exam in his life and became a lawyer. Since then he practiced law and became a respectable man in Edinburgh.

Walter Scott was married with Margaret Charpentier in France, 1797. They had five children.

Literary works

Novels and poetry by Walter Scott are still read, and many of his works are thought of as classics. The most readable works are :The Lady of the Lake, Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. But the most popular is Waverley.

• In 1831 his health deteriorated sharply, and he tried a continental tour with a long stay at Naples to aid recovery. He was taken home and died in 1832.