Andrew Lang

Sir Walter Scott Andrew Lang

Sir Walter Scott's Waverley; or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since, first published anonymously in 1814, is Scott's first novel and the world's first work of historical fiction. Often comical and with aspects of a picaresque novel, Waverley depicts the travels of the English soldier Edward Waverley during the Jacobite uprising of 1745. Scott went on to become a celebrated poet and writer of works such as Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake.

Some historical context is necessary for modern readers to understand the novel. It is set during the Jacobite uprising of 1745, when British subjects loyal to the deposed House of Stuart sought to regain power and restore Charles Edward Stuart, or "Bonnie Prince Charlie," to the throne, defeating the reigning Hanover dynasty. This uprising, known as "The '45," was the last in a long line of attempts at rebellion and restoring the Stuart name to the throne. A surge in Scottish nationalism helped fuel the rebellion; the Stuart family originated from Scotland and the line of Mary, Queen of Scots. Though the rebellion was unsuccessful, its aftermath helped create a legacy in Scottish literature and a sense of national Scottish unity: the very legacy that led Sir Walter Scott to write Waverley.

The novel first introduces the Waverly family. Edward Waverley, the protagonist, is the son of the second son of minor nobility. His uncle, Everard Waverley, is a Jacobite sympathizer who supports the Stuarts, while his father, Richard, is a Hanoverian. This political difference has caused a rift between the brothers, and Everard has denied his brother his share of the Waverley estate.