Sir Walter Scott's 'Waverly'

Essay from the year 2008 in the subject Book Science, grade: 1,6, Edinburgh Napier University, language: English, abstract: 'Waverley' or ''Tis Sixty Years Since' the first novel by Sir Walter Scott tells the story of Edward Waverley who gets involved in the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. The novel tells about authentic battles during the rebellion and is therefore considered the first historic novel ever written. Published anonymously on 7 July 1814 it took not only Edinburgh but also the rest of Great Britain by storm and proved a popular sensation. It guided the way following generations wrote and understood history. The enormous impact as the prototypical English historical novel soon made it the most successful work of its kind and for the first time in history the novel became a respectable form. On that account this assessment will have a closer look at the creation and success of the novel 'Waverley' by Sir Walter Scott, by giving an overview over the impact it had when it was published, the publisher and printer and the author himself and analysing the reasons for its success and fast dissemination. The paper will close with a summary and conclusion.