Category: Classics

Lifespan: (August 15, 1771 –September 21, 1832)

Interesting & Unique Facts: Scott started out as a lawyer and wanted to be a poet, eventually becoming very successful. When the Scott's printing company became embroiled in pecuniary difficulties, in 1814, Scott set out to write a cash-cow. The result was Waverley, a novel that was written anonymously.

During this time the nickname 'The Wizard of the North' was popularly applied to the mysterious best-selling writer. Scott's identity as the author of the novels was widely rumoured, and in 1815 he was given the honour of dining with George, Prince Regent, who wanted to meet "the author of Waverley".

In 1825 his company nearly collapsed and instead of declaring bankruptcy Scott placed his home, Abbotsford House, and income into a trust belonging to his creditors, and proceeded to write his way out of debt.

Author's work in order (with publication dates):

Waverly Novels

• Waverley (1814)
• Guy Mannering (1815)
• The Antiquary (1816)
• Rob Roy (1818)
• Ivanhoe (1819)
• Kenilworth (1821)
• The Pirate (1822)
• The Fortunes of Nigel (1822)
• Peveril of the Peak (1822)
• Quentin Durward (1823)
• St. Ronan's Well (1824)
• Redgauntlet (1824)
• Tales of the Crusaders, consisting of The Betrothed and The Talisman (1825)

• Woodstock (1826)
• Chronicles of the Canongate, 2nd series, The Fair Maid of Perth (1828)
• Anne of Geierstein (1829)

Tales of My Landlord

• 1st series The Black Dwarf and Old Mortality (1816)
• 2nd series, The Heart of Midlothian (1818)
• 3rd series, The Bride of Lammermoor and A Legend of Montrose (1819)
• 4th series, Count Robert of Paris and Castle Dangerous (1832)

Tales from Benedictine Sources

• The Abbot (1820)
• The Monastery (1820)

Short Stories

• Chronicles of the Canongate, 1st series (1827) [Collection of three short stories: The Highland Widow, The Two Drovers and The Surgeon's Daughter]
  

• The Keepsake Stories (1828) [Collection of three short stories: My Aunt Margaret's Mirror, The Tapestried Chamber and Death Of The Laird's Jock]