Waverley Complete
Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832
English
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[Transcriber's Note:
I feel that it is important to note that this book is part
of the Caledonian series. The Caledonian series is a group
of 50 books comprising all of Sir Walter Scott's works.]
WAVERLEY
OR 'T IS SIXTY YEARS SINCE
BY SIR WALTER SCOTT
VOLUME I
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
It has long been the ambition of the present publishers to offer
to the public an ideal edition of the writings of Sir Walter
Scott, the great poet and novelist of whom William Hazlitt said,
'His works are almost like a new edition of human nature.' Secure
in the belief not only that his writings have achieved a permanent
place in the literature of the world, but that succeeding
generations will prize them still more highly, we have, after the
most careful planning and study, undertaken the publication of
this edition of the Waverley Novels and the complete poetical
writings.
It is evident that the ideal edition of a great classic must be
distinguished in typography, must present the best available text,
and must be illustrated in such a way as at once to be beautiful
in itself and to add to the reader's pleasure and his
understanding of the book. As to the typography and text, little
need be said here. The format of the edition has been most
carefully studied, and represents the use of the best resources of
The Riverside Press. The text has been carefully edited in the
light of Scott's own revisions; all of his own latest notes have
been included, glossaries have been added, and full descriptive
notes to the illustrations have been prepared which will, we hope,
add greatly to the reader's interest and instruction in the
reading of the novels and poems.
Of the illustrations, which make the special feature of this
edition, something more may be said. In the case of an author like
Sir Walter Scott, the ideal edition requires that the beautiful
and romantic scenery amid which he lived and of which he wrote
shall be adequately presented to the reader. No other author ever
used more charming backgrounds or employed them to better
advantage. To see Scotland, and to visit in person all the scenes
of the novels and poems, would enable the reader fully to
understand these backgrounds and thereby add materially to his
appreciation of the author.
Before beginning the preparation of this edition, the head of the
department having it in charge made a visit in person to the
scenes of the novels and poems, determined to explore all the
localities referred to by the author, so far as they could be
identified. The field proved even more productive than had been at
first supposed, and photographs were obtained in sufficient
quantity to illustrate all the volumes. These pictures represent
the scenes very much as Scott saw them. The natural scenery--
mountains, woods, lakes, rivers, seashore, and the like--is nearly
the same as in his day. The ruins of ancient castles and abbeys
were found to correspond very closely with his descriptions,
though in many instances he had in imagination rebuilt these ruins
and filled them with the children of his fancy. The scenes of the
stories extend into nearly every county in Scotland and through a
large part of England and Wales. All of these were thoroughly
investigated, and photographs were made of everything of interest.
One of the novels has to do with France and Belgium, one with
Switzerland, one with the Holy Land, one with Constantinople, and
one with India. For all of these lands, which Scott did not visit
in person, and therefore did not describe with the same attention
to detail as in the case of his own country, interesting pictures
of characteristic scenery were secured. By this method the
publishers have hoped to bring before the reader a series of
photographs which will not only please the eye and give a
satisfactory artistic effect to the volumes, but also increase the
reader's knowledge of the country described and add a new charm to
the delightful work of the author. In addition to the photographs,
old engravings and paintings have been reproduced for the
illustration of novels having to do with old buildings, streets,
etc., which have long since disappeared. For this material a
careful search was made in the British Museum, the Advocates'
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