Waverley

Good

Very good. Classic

5 stars. This is a beautiful and masterly book. Like all of Scott’s works, I loved it for the characters. Fergus is my favourite <33 then it’s Evan, Edward, and Callum. <3 There was less action in this book than in Scott’s other books—it was quieter in feeling, even if the circumstances were active. There was one long drinking scene, and after that several mentions of drinking/whiskey and some swearing (“good God/heavens” & “devil/deil” and the like, with one or two “d—d,” if I remember correctly). There was also a kiss or two mentioned. It was very humorous in places, but altogether it felt more like a quiet read than most of Scott’s novels. The characters, though, are marvellous. ^_^ Fergus—I love Fergus. And that ending was perfect.*Due to circumstances, I put this book down at the 53% mark and picked it up again over a week later, so I may have forgotten some content. This review is subject to revision.*A Favourite Quote: “[I have thrown] the force of my narrative upon the characters and passions of the actors;—those passions common to men in all stages of society, and which have alike agitated the human heart, whether it throbbed under the steel corslet of the fifteenth century, the brocaded coat of the eighteenth, or the blue frock and white dimity waistcoat of the present day.... It is from the great book of Nature, the same through a thousand editions, whether of black-letter, or wire-wove and hot-pressed, that I have venturously essayed to read a chapter to the public.”A Favourite Humorous Quote: “[N]o one knew better than Fergus that there must be some decent pretext for a mortal duel. For instance, you may challenge a man for treading on your corn in a crowd, or for pushing you up to the wall, or for taking your seat in the theatre; but the modern code of honour will not permit you to found a quarrel upon your right of compelling a man to continue addresses to a female relative which the fair lady has already refused. So that Fergus was compelled to stomach this supposed affront[.]”

Loved "Waverley". Thought that it certainly gave you an insight into the characters that Sr. Walter Scott gives us in this historical fiction. The guides were most helpful, although when reading historical and fiction I don't always expect each detail of the fiction to match the historical. Defining the terms was great, and although I could have used 3 bookmarks to help my progress I used 2 and then read the historical notes after I had completed the novel. Made the differences and the similarities of the parts of Scotland and England more understood. I appreciated the humor of the author, as well as the pathos of those very sad parts of the story.

enfoncez vos dents dans cette grande épopée Scott.

todo ok

This is probably not the best edition you can buy (the Waverley Complete Kindle edition) and some elements of it don't make sense - for example, it includes an editor's note to the Riverside Press edition which details illustrations of the locations included in the book (there are no illustrations in this book) - however, as a free version you can't really complain, and so I won't do.In reality, the quality of the edition is the only think I found I could complain about as a reader - this is a fantastic, romantic story, with all of the excitement, adventure and romance of olden times contained within it. As a student with a special interest in the eighteenth century I also found a great deal of value in this book - for example, I couldn't help but notice the intertextualities which exist between this novel and Charlotte Smith's novel "The Old Manor House" which precedes it. Similarly, Waverley himself, ("not celebrated for knowing [his own] mind very pointedly") bears a strange resemblance to another Waverly (spelled differently, as you will see) who was also one of Smith's characters, this time from her earlier novel "Desmond".The scenery alone is worth reading for - it's like going on holiday reading this book. Lose yourself in the wildest glens of highland Scotland and sink into the romance of the pastoral scenery. Waverley - although a child of caprice - is a wonderful romantic hero (I pictured him as Orlando Bloom in a kilt) and there's just the right balance of clashing swords, desperate escapes on galloping steeds and wooing fair ladies in remote and picturesque situations to make this a very satisfying read indeed. I shall be reading more Walter Scott...