Waverly; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since, by Sir Walter Scott
All right, I just had to write a review on this, as it's part of my latest obsession.
I really didn't think I was going to like at it at all when I started, because the prose is very antiquated, and it took several chapters for anything to happen. Reading through these and persevering did prove to be worthwhile, though. Waverly is set in the times of Bonnie Prince Charlie (excuse my ignroance on the history of this period), focusing on the part of Edward Waverly in the conflicts in Scotland.
One of the best things about Waverly is the way Scott keeps making the reader think and feel differently; there is no clear cut good or bad in this book. This can be clearly seen with the position and feelings of Waverly himself. Originally, he distrusts the motives of the followers of the Chevalier, and the reader pretty much agrees with him. Then the reader is forced to change their views just as he does at an apparent insult to Waverly from the Government. However, the death of Gardiner and the arrival of Talbot switch this again: like Waverly, we are left feeling that there has been a terrible mistake, and Waverly has become a traitor and is very likely to be severely punished for the wrong cause. This is again perhaps questioned by the fates of Fergus Mac-Ivor and Evan Dhu at the end. We feel that Waverly has almost betrayed them, and that their deaths are unfair. However, the unlikeable character of Fergus Mac-Ivor prevents the reader from having too much symapthy with him, and allows us to feel slightly confused about where Waverly did wrong and where he did right; this seems to reflect his own feelings.
The characters in this book are well-drawn and sometimes very silly. Waverly, often deluded by his over-active imagination and love of romantic literature is nonetheless a sympathetic character. Others, like Baile Macwheeble and the Baron Bradwardine are amusing in the silliness. Although impressive, Fergus Mac-Ivor is unlikeable, as is his sister Flora, who I did find somewhat irritating.
My main criticisms of this book are that Waverly's part in the story sometimes seems to be unimportant when compared to that of more major players like Mac-Ivor, and that he is sometimes annoyingly soppy.
It's difficult to define the 'genre' of this book, but I suppose it could be loosely described as historical novel and adventure story to some extenet. Anyway, I liked it very much, despite crying at the end of it, so I do recommend it.
All right, I just had to write a review on this, as it's part of my latest obsession.
I really didn't think I was going to like at it at all when I started, because the prose is very antiquated, and it took several chapters for anything to happen. Reading through these and persevering did prove to be worthwhile, though. Waverly is set in the times of Bonnie Prince Charlie (excuse my ignroance on the history of this period), focusing on the part of Edward Waverly in the conflicts in Scotland.
One of the best things about Waverly is the way Scott keeps making the reader think and feel differently; there is no clear cut good or bad in this book. This can be clearly seen with the position and feelings of Waverly himself. Originally, he distrusts the motives of the followers of the Chevalier, and the reader pretty much agrees with him. Then the reader is forced to change their views just as he does at an apparent insult to Waverly from the Government. However, the death of Gardiner and the arrival of Talbot switch this again: like Waverly, we are left feeling that there has been a terrible mistake, and Waverly has become a traitor and is very likely to be severely punished for the wrong cause. This is again perhaps questioned by the fates of Fergus Mac-Ivor and Evan Dhu at the end. We feel that Waverly has almost betrayed them, and that their deaths are unfair. However, the unlikeable character of Fergus Mac-Ivor prevents the reader from having too much symapthy with him, and allows us to feel slightly confused about where Waverly did wrong and where he did right; this seems to reflect his own feelings.
The characters in this book are well-drawn and sometimes very silly. Waverly, often deluded by his over-active imagination and love of romantic literature is nonetheless a sympathetic character. Others, like Baile Macwheeble and the Baron Bradwardine are amusing in the silliness. Although impressive, Fergus Mac-Ivor is unlikeable, as is his sister Flora, who I did find somewhat irritating.
My main criticisms of this book are that Waverly's part in the story sometimes seems to be unimportant when compared to that of more major players like Mac-Ivor, and that he is sometimes annoyingly soppy.
It's difficult to define the 'genre' of this book, but I suppose it could be loosely described as historical novel and adventure story to some extenet. Anyway, I liked it very much, despite crying at the end of it, so I do recommend it.
