OF ENGLISH AUTHORS EDITED BY THE REV. E. T. STEVENS, M.A. OXON. Joint Editor of The Grade Lesson-Books' The Useful Knowledge Series' &c. REV. D. MORRIS, B.A. LOND. Author of The Class-Book History of England' &c. LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832) was the son of a Scotch barrister, or, as it is called in Scotland, a Writer to the Signet. The poet was born in Edinburgh, but his earlier years were passed in the neighbourhood of the Valley of the Tweed, and in sight of the English Border; and there, in the home of his grandfather, he became acquainted with many Border tales and ballads, and acquired a taste for antiquarian lore. He was educated at the Edinburgh High School, and afterwards at the University of the same city; but, like many other famous men, his place in class was somewhat low. He adopted his father's profession, and eventually received a legal appointment under the crown. In 1802 he published his first important work, called the Minstrelsy of the Border.' This was followed in 1804 by his edition of the ancient poem 'Sir Tristrem.' 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel,' published in 1805, and 'Marmion,' in 1808, established Scott's fame as a poet. 'The Lady of the Lake' appeared in 1810, and received on all sides the highest praise and popularity. His later poems, 'Don Roderick,' 'Rokeby,'" "The Lord of the Isles,' &c., showed a falling off in poetical power, and the author's fame as a poet began to wane. He then devoted his genius to prose composition, and the immortal 'Waverley Novels' were the result. Scott was made a baronet in 1820. His later life was spent at Abbotsford—a beautiful seat in Roxburghshire— which the proceeds of his genius had enabled him to buy. |