Author
Walter Scott
1771-1832
Walter Scott (1771-1832) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
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Books by Walter Scott
The Lady of the Lake
"The Lady of the Lake" by Walter Scott is a narrative poem first published in 1810. Set in the Scottish Highlands, it weaves together three dramatic plots: a romantic rivalry among three men vying for Ellen Douglas's love, a conflict between an exiled noble and King James V of Scotland, and a brewing war between Lowland and Highland forces. This influential work unfolds across six cantos, each capturing a single day's action in the wild Trossachs region, where love, loyalty, and ancient feuds collide.
The Pirate Andrew Lang Edition
"The Pirate" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1821. Set in the Shetland Islands at the end of the 17th century, it tells the story of young Mordaunt, whose friendship with the Troil sisters is shattered by the arrival of a mysterious shipwrecked captain named Cleveland. As rivalry grows between the two men, Minna falls for the charismatic stranger, unaware of his dark secret. When pirates capture the Troils, hidden identities are revealed and loyalties tested in this tale of romance and adventure.
Ivanhoe: A Romance
"Ivanhoe: A Romance" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in December 1819. Set in 1194 England, it tells the story of Saxon knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe, disinherited for his loyalty to Norman King Richard the Lionheart and forbidden love for Lady Rowena. The novel weaves together tournaments, outlaws, and deep divisions between Jews and Christians, Normans and Saxons. Scott's vivid portrayal of medieval England sparked widespread fascination with chivalry and the Middle Ages, influencing how generations would imagine figures like Richard the Lionheart and Robin Hood.
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since
"Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1814. A young English gentleman receives a commission in a Scottish regiment on the eve of the Jacobite rising of 1745. During leave, he discovers his host supports the exiled Jacobite prince, forcing him to choose between loyalty to the Crown and admiration for the rebels' romantic cause. His honorable conduct earns him allies on both sides as the uprising unfolds toward its inevitable conclusion.
Marmion: A Tale Of Flodden Field
"Marmion: A Tale Of Flodden Field" by Walter Scott is a historical romance in verse published in 1808. Set in sixteenth-century Scotland and England, the poem follows Lord Marmion, a favorite of Henry VIII, who schemes to win a wealthy woman through treachery and betrayal. When his plot ruins an innocent knight and his former mistress seeks revenge, Marmion's ambitions lead him toward the fateful Battle of Flodden in 1513, where honor, justice, and redemption will be decided on the battlefield.
The Journal of Sir Walter Scott From the Original Manuscript at Abbotsford
"The Journal of Sir Walter Scott" by Walter Scott is a diary kept between 1825 and 1832. It chronicles Scott's catastrophic financial collapse in 1826 and his heroic seven-year struggle to write his way out of debt totaling over £125,000. Through personal tragedies, declining health, and relentless work, Scott records his race against time with unflinching honesty. Critics have hailed it as one of the finest diaries in English literature—a candid self-portrait revealing both the greatness and vulnerability of a literary giant.
Rob Roy — Complete
"Rob Roy — Complete" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1817. When Frank Osbaldistone refuses to join his father's business, he's sent to live with unfamiliar relatives in northern England. His cunning cousin Rashleigh betrays the family firm, forcing Frank to pursue him into the turbulent Scottish Highlands on the eve of the 1715 Jacobite Rising. There he encounters the legendary outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor and falls for the spirited Diana Vernon, navigating political intrigue, ambushes, and bloodshed in a land torn between clans and loyalties.
The Antiquary — Complete
"The Antiquary — Complete" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1816. Set in Scotland during the final decade of the 18th century, it follows an amateur historian and collector of dubious antiquities who befriends a mysterious young man named Lovel. When Lovel becomes entangled with the Wardour family—particularly the captivating Isabella—his uncertain origins threaten their connection. Combining Scottish manners, comic episodes, and melodrama, the story explores how the past shapes the present through treasure hunts, duels, and secrets waiting to be unearthed.
The Monastery
"The Monastery" by Walter Scott is a historical novel written during the early 19th century. The story is set against the backdrop of the Reformation and follows two main characters whose lives and ideologies are shaped by the contentious and vibrant era. It notably focuses on the contrasting perspectives of Halbert Glendinning, who is devoted to the Catholic faith, and a Reformed Protestant character, establishing tension between their beliefs and ambitions. At the start of the novel, the narrative sets the scene with an introduction from Captain Clutterbuck, who expresses his admiration for antiquities and the history surrounding the ruins of Melrose Abbey. Clutterbuck reflects on the fading influence of magical beliefs connected to the area and introduces the mysterious character of a Benedictine monk, who has come to Scotland to retrieve the heart of a significant historical figure buried within the abbey. His journey intertwines with themes of history, faith, and the supernatural, establishing a rich tapestry of characters and historical context that foreshadows the unfolding drama between tradition and change.
Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer — Complete
"Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer — Complete" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1815. When young Harry Bertram witnesses a murder and vanishes on his fifth birthday, his family's fortune crumbles. Years later, a mysterious cavalry officer arrives in Scotland, unaware of his true identity, while dark forces conspire to keep the Ellangowan estate from its rightful heir. Set against Scotland's lawless coast of smugglers and thieves, this tale weaves together prophecy, lost inheritance, and forbidden romance.
The Talisman
"The Talisman" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1825. Set during the Third Crusade, it follows Sir Kenneth, a Scottish knight who encounters a mysterious Saracen emir on the road to a hermit's cave. As Richard the Lionheart lies ill and tensions flare among Christian leaders, Kenneth becomes entangled in court intrigue, assassination plots, and stolen banners. With his identity concealed and honor at stake, he must navigate the complex relationship between Richard and the legendary Sultan Saladin while pursuing his forbidden love for Lady Edith.
The Abbot
"The Abbot" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1820. A sequel to "The Monastery," it dramatizes the imprisonment and daring escape of Mary, Queen of Scots from Lochleven Castle in 1567-1568. The story follows young Roland Graeme, a spirited page caught between political loyalties and romantic desire, as he becomes entangled in the queen's fate. Religious conflict, secret identities, and courtly intrigue converge as Mary's supporters plot her liberation, leading toward her climactic defeat at Langside and final departure from Scotland.
The Betrothed
"The Betrothed" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1825. Set in the Welsh Marches during the 12th century, it follows young Eveline Berenger, whose father is killed in a Welsh siege. Rescued by Damian Lacy, she becomes betrothed to his uncle Sir Hugo, who departs on crusade. As Damian serves as her guardian, rebel forces threaten her safety, and a mysterious prophecy warns of betrayal. A tangled web of loyalty, duty, and forbidden love unfolds against the backdrop of medieval conflict.
Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft
"Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" by Walter Scott is a study published in 1830 that surveys beliefs about witchcraft, ghosts, and the supernatural from Biblical times to the 19th century. Written as informal letters to his son-in-law, Scott draws on extensive folklore research to present supernatural anecdotes while analyzing them through a rationalist lens. The work examines how ignorance and prejudice fueled belief in demons and witches, and how witch hunts often targeted heretics and political enemies. This pioneering work influenced Victorian Gothic fiction and helped shape modern anthropological approaches to folklore.
The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Complete
"The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Complete" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1818. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh's violent Porteous Riots of 1736, this tale follows Jeanie Deans, a devout young woman who undertakes an extraordinary journey on foot from Scotland to London. Her mission: to secure a royal pardon for her sister Effie, condemned to death for alleged infanticide. Navigating dangerous encounters and moral dilemmas, Jeanie must rely on her faith, courage, and eloquence to save her sister's life.
The Bride of Lammermoor
"The Bride of Lammermoor" by Sir Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1819. Set in the Scottish Lammermuir Hills around the time of the 1707 Act of Union, it tells the tragic story of Lucy Ashton and Edgar Ravenswood, whose families are bitter enemies. When the young lovers become engaged, Lucy's manipulative mother schemes to destroy their relationship and force Lucy into a politically advantageous marriage. Based on an actual incident, this dark tale of thwarted love inspired Donizetti's famous opera "Lucia di Lammermoor."
Kenilworth
"Kenilworth" by Walter Scott is a historical romance novel published in 1821. Set in Elizabethan England, it tells the story of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who secretly marries Amy Robsart while pursuing Queen Elizabeth's favor and political power. Torn between his ambitious courtship of the Queen and his hidden wife's passionate devotion, Leicester conceals the truth with dangerous consequences. As royal festivities at Kenilworth Castle approach, deception and treachery threaten to unravel his carefully guarded secret with devastating results.
Old Mortality, Complete
"Old Mortality, Complete" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1816. Set in southwest Scotland during the turbulent Covenanter period of 1679, it follows Henry Morton, a young man caught between his love for a Royalist woman and his involvement in a Presbyterian uprising. Through battles at Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge, Morton navigates conflicting loyalties while religious extremism threatens both sides. Scott weaves together romance, political intrigue, and the passionate—often fanatical—struggle for religious freedom in seventeenth-century Scotland.
Redgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century
"Redgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1824. Set in 1765 Scotland, it follows young Darsie Latimer, who is mysteriously kidnapped by Hugh Redgauntlet and taken to Dumfriesshire. As Darsie's friend Alan Fairford searches desperately to rescue him, dark secrets about Darsie's family emerge. The kidnapping leads to a dangerous conspiracy involving Jacobite rebels plotting to restore the Stuart monarchy, with Bonnie Prince Charlie himself at the center.
Peveril of the Peak
"Peveril of the Peak" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1823. Set in 1678, it follows Julian Peveril, a Cavalier in love with Alice Bridgenorth, daughter of a Roundhead. When both Julian and his father face accusations tied to the infamous Popish Plot, their loyalties and lives hang in the balance. The story sweeps across Derbyshire's Peak District, the Isle of Man, and London, weaving together political intrigue, religious conflict, and forbidden romance during England's tumultuous Restoration period.
Quentin Durward
"Quentin Durward" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1823. Set in 1468 France, it follows a Scottish archer who joins King Louis XI's guard and becomes entangled in dangerous medieval politics. When tasked with escorting a Burgundian heiress fleeing a forced marriage, Quentin must navigate treacherous alliances between Louis and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Amid political intrigue, rebellion, and betrayal, the young archer's courage will be tested as he protects the noblewoman from those who would use her as a pawn.
Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field in Six Cantos
"Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field in Six Cantos" by Walter Scott is a historical romance in verse published in 1808. Set in 16th-century Scotland and England, the poem follows Lord Marmion, a favorite of Henry VIII, who schemes to win the wealthy Clara de Clare through treachery and deception. His plot involves forging evidence against her fiancé and betraying his own mistress, a dishonest nun. As Marmion travels to Edinburgh on a royal embassy, his dark secrets threaten to unravel, leading toward the historic Battle of Flodden in 1513.
St. Ronan's Well
"St. Ronan's Well" by Walter Scott is a novel first published in 1824. Set in a fashionable Scottish spa town, it tells the story of two half-brothers—Valentine Bulmer, Earl of Etherington, and Francis Tyrrel—who both seek to marry Clara Mowbray. Their rivalry conceals dark secrets from the past, including betrayal, a mysterious ceremony, and deception. As tensions escalate through duels and gambling debts, the truth threatens to destroy Clara and expose the earl's carefully constructed lies.
The Fair Maid of Perth; Or, St. Valentine's Day
"The Fair Maid of Perth; Or, St. Valentine's Day" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1828. Set in Perth, Scotland around 1400, it follows armourer Henry Gow who interrupts the Duke of Rothesay's attempted abduction of Catharine Glover, a glovemaker's daughter. This Valentine's Day kiss draws Henry into dangerous royal intrigue and a deadly Highland feud, culminating in a historic clan battle. Scott weaves romance, political conspiracy, and medieval warfare into a tale where personal loyalty collides with the violent power struggles of medieval Scotland.