Waverley: Or 'Tis Sixty Years Since: Or 'Tis Sixty Years Since (Oxford World's Classics)

Whereas Austen's novels are subtle and beautiful, Scott's are epic and sublime. Waverely was the first historical novel in history, as we understand the genre today, and a seminal work that laid the groundwork for most historcal novelists to this day. It has everything: fictional characters arise out of historical possibliity to play their role in significant historical narratives; the action depicts a transitional period and demonsrates the dynamic movement of history and social change; and of course, there is much epic romance and swashbuckling.

Scott shines most in his portrait of the Scottish characters, who are usually far more colourful and exotic than his staple English protagonist. He goes a long way to producing the epic portrayal of an entire historical society over the course of the Waverley novels, and in this the first novel the eponymous character sojourns with the Mac-Ivor clan and eventually fights alongside them at Prestonpans. Along the way the reader is privy to the effects of the transition from feudal to bourgeois society.

Scott's detail is wonderfully evocative and really lends the narrative the spirit of the times. This is a great read, and in spite of the occasional anachronism, the history is thoroughly researched. Scott had the skill and knowledge to paint the broad strokes and pay attention to fine detail in his portrait of mid-18th Century Scotland. A great novel that anyone can enjoy.


Scotts best?   March 25, 2003
 17 out of 22 found this review helpful

I'd say this is his best moment. The original historical novel -fictional characters placed into an actual historical landscape, taking part in real historical events - this is set during the jacobite uprising in 1745, where we follow the adventures of Waverly as he travels up into the mystical highlands of Scotland.

I have to confess I'm not a huge fan of Scott, but this is a pretty good read. He is, however, extremely guilty of being very longwinded, describing absolutely everything in minute detail (more so than Dickens), and the narrative can tend to swing off on tangents to tell you things that are really extraneous to, well, anything. In this way it does take quite a few chapters before anything of note actually happens, so you do have to have a high level of endurance, but you are rewarded, as when things kick off, you find you've been so absorbed in the minute characterisation of the main and supporting characters, you do really care what happens to them. PLus, after so many chapters of inaction, when the action happens it's all he more exciting.

If you only read one Scott novel read this one. And chances are you probably won't want to read another, but you will have enjoyed this. honest.