Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott1771–183219th centuryRomanticism Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright, and historian. Many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and Scottish literature. Famous titles include the novels Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Waverley, and the narrative poems The Lay of the Last Minstrel, Marmion, and The Lady of the Lake. He was a pioneering figure of the Romantic literary movement and is credited with inventing the modern historical novel.
Did you know?
- He contracted polio as a toddler, which left him with a lifelong limp.
- He spent significant time in the Scottish Borders gathering local folklore, ballads, and historical tales, which inspired his career.
- He is widely credited with inventing the modern historical novel genre with his Waverley series.
- The city of Edinburgh's Waverley Station is named after his first novel.