The Antiquary (Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels): No. 3 - Hardcover

Scott, Sir Walter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0748605371 ISBN 13: 9780748605378

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 1995

Synopsis

The third of the Waverley Novels is dominated by two old men, Jonathan Oldbuck (the Antiquary of the title) and the beggar Edie Ochiltree. Together they apply their knowledge of the past to sort out the confusion of the present, and in doing so restore the fortunes of ancient houses. This was Scott's favourite among his novels, and presents a quizzical and amusing view of the profession of history and, by implication, of Scott's own practice as writer and collector.

About this title

Review:

David Hewitt has brought formidable skills to bear on one of Scott's finest novels and has made it much moreaccessible to scholarly and ordinary readers alike. Re-reading it in thisformat is truly a pleasure. -- Jill Rubenstein The Edinburgh Edition respects Scott the artist by 'restoring' versions of the novels that are not quite what his first readers saw. Indeed, it returns to manuscripts that the printers never handled, as Scott's fiction before 1827 was transcribed before it reached the printshop. Each volume of the Edinburgh edition presents an uncluttered text of one work, followed by an Essay on the Text by the editor of the work, a list of the emendations that have been made to the first edition, explanatory notes and a glossary! The editorial essays are histories of the respective texts. Some of them are almost 100 pages long; when they are put together they constitute a fascinating and lucid account of Scott's methods of composition and his financial manoeuvres. This edition is for anyone who takes Scott seriously. David Hewitt has brought formidable skills to bear on one of Scott's finest novels and has made it much moreaccessible to scholarly and ordinary readers alike. Re-reading it in thisformat is truly a pleasure. The Edinburgh Edition respects Scott the artist by 'restoring' versions of the novels that are not quite what his first readers saw. Indeed, it returns to manuscripts that the printers never handled, as Scott's fiction before 1827 was transcribed before it reached the printshop. Each volume of the Edinburgh edition presents an uncluttered text of one work, followed by an Essay on the Text by the editor of the work, a list of the emendations that have been made to the first edition, explanatory notes and a glossary! The editorial essays are histories of the respective texts. Some of them are almost 100 pages long; when they are put together they constitute a fascinating and lucid account of Scott's methods of composition and his financial manoeuvres. This edition is for anyone who takes Scott seriously.

From the Back Cover:

The third of Sir Walter Scott's acclaimed Waverley Novels, a series that included Rob Roy and Ivanhoe, The Antiquary is set in Scotland in the last years of the eighteenth century and centers around Jonathan Oldbuck, the antiquary, the closest to a self-portrait of any of Scott's characters. The passionate lover, a familiar character to readers of Sir Walter Scott, is here represented by Lovell, who relentlessly pursues the woman he hopes to marry. The antiquary is a constant commentator on the characters and their actions, always at hand to provide his opinionated version of the story. While the reader may be swept up in the exciting plot, The Antiquary is a book that is not to be hurried; it has come to be appreciated for its rich description of a bygone age. This fine new edition of the book, restoring the original version drawn directly from Scott's manuscript, is accompanied by a critical essay, as well as annotations and a comprehensive glossary by a prominent scholar in the field.

About this edition

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0748605371
• ISBN 13: 9780748605378
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 542
• Editor: Hewitt David