Best Selling Books by Walter Scott

Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the English nobility was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favor with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king, Richard I of England. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by the Duke of Austria on his way back, was believed to still be in the arms of his captors. The legendary Robin Hood, initially under the name of Locksley, is also a character in the story, as are his "merry men." The character that Scott gave to Robin Hood in Ivanhoe helped shape the modern notion of this figure as a cheery noble outlaw.

Ivanhoe A Romance Walter Scott - Ivanhoe, set in 12th century England, has been credited for increasing interest in romance and medievalism; John Henry Newman claimed Scott "had first turned men''s minds in the direction of the Middle Ages", while Carlyle and Ruskin made similar assertions of Scott''s overwhelming influence over the revival, based primarily on the publication of this novel.

Frank Osbaldistone, the son of an English merchant, tells the story of his adventures as a young man at the beginning of the 18th century, wherein he falls in love with a beautiful young woman, rides to Scotland to save his estranged father''s reputation and business, and becomes involved with the remarkable Highlander, Rob Roy MacGregor, as a Jacobite rebellion breaks out in Scotland and northern England.

After ascending to the throne at a young age, and ruling Protestant subjects while personally practicing Catholicism, Mary, Queen of the Scots was hardly given a chance to be an influential leader. Other rulers, and sometimes her own subjects, looked down on her for her religious differences. Which is why, Queen Mary’s relatives, her Protestant subjects, and Lady Lochlevan locked her in Lochlevan castle at their first chance. Having been raised in solitude, and often sent away for extended stays the castle, Mary had little patience for her imprisonment. Stuck there with her ladies-in-waiting, Mary bides her time, planning an escape. Meanwhile, Roland Graeme, a young man with mysterious origins visits the castle and immediately falls in love with Catherine, Mary’s lady-in-waiting. However, the love affair grows complicated when Roland gets into a feud with Catherine’s twin brother. While Roland struggles with his feelings, Catherine and Mary plan a daring escape, recruiting the help of a surprising ally. Sequel to The Monastery, Sir Walter Scott’s The Abbot is a historical adventure novel. First published two-hundred years ago in 1820, The Abbot earned commercial success and the approval of critics, evening ranking as high as one of Scott’s most popular novels, Waverley. Praised for its outstanding character portrayals, critics were enamored by Catherine’s striking depiction and Queen Mary’s humorous sarcasm. With the portrayal of an iconic and popular royal, along with the impressive description of the setting, this work of historical fiction is perfect for the modern reader. Featuring plot twists, betrayals, battles, romance, and drama, Sir Walter Scott’s The Abbot is full of exciting action and rich prose that remains to entertain even modern audiences. This edition of The Abbot by Sir Walter Scott now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Abbot crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Sir Walter Scott’s literature.