Poetry from the Waverley Novels and Other Works - (The Edinburgh Edition of Walter Scott's Poetry) by David Hewitt (Hardcover)

About the Book

The original poetry by Walter Scott in the Waverley Novels and other works

Book Synopsis

This scholarly edition offers the first reliably identified collection of Walter Scott's original poetry in the Waverley Novels, the letters and the Journal. Past editors of Scott found it hard to recognise what is and is not quotation; but thanks to modern databases the poems in this volume have been identified as almost certainly his own.
This collection demonstrates, again, Scott's brilliant versatility in the handling of verse forms and his extraordinary range of voice. The poetry of the Waverley Novels is often dramatic, being uttered or sung by one of the characters; mottoes at the heads of chapters stand in a critical relationship to the narrative; the poetry of the letters and Journal is often quizzical and self-mocking; and there are many superb parodies.
As part of the 'meaning' of these poems lies in their context, this collection succinctly contextualises each one. It also provides full textual and explanatory annotation and an essay which explores, among other things, the wavering boundary between new creation and quotation.

From the Back Cover

FRONT FLAP THE EDINBURGH EDITION OF WALTER SCOTT'S POETRY GENERAL EDITOR: Alison Lumsden Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh in 1771 and had a remarkable literary career as a translator, editor, poet, novelist and dramatist. His work was read across the world and his literary and cultural legacies both at home and abroad are profound. Scott died at Abbotsford, his home in the Scottish Borders, in 1832. Scott's poetry dominated the early years of the nineteenth century. However, his significance for Romantic poetry has been lost by the absence of a recent and reliable edition. This new critical edition, which offers a companion to the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels, aims to redress this situation with the very first complete collection of his poetry, offering newly edited texts, material hitherto uncollected, and supportive materials to allow readers to experience afresh the poetry that Scott wrote throughout his career. Bringing together for the first time Scott's complete poetical works, including several unpublished works, this edition: - restores Scott's notes to the status that they held during the early stages of publication - is edited to the standards established by the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels, revisiting all the textual witnesses to establish reliable fresh texts - provides full textual apparatus and explanatory annotation to aid the reading of these neglected masterpieces by a twenty-first-century audience The Edinburgh Edition invigorates our understanding of Walter Scott's poetry and provides the contexts for understanding the foundations of his literary career BACK COVER [headline] The original poetry by Walter Scott in the Waverley Novels and other works This scholarly edition offers the first reliably identified collection of Walter Scott's original poetry in the Waverley Novels, the letters and the Journal. Past editors of Scott found it hard to recognise what is and is not quotation; but thanks to modern databases the poems in this volume have been identified as almost certainly his own. This collection demonstrates, again, Scott's brilliant versatility in the handling of verse forms and his extraordinary range of voice. The poetry of the Waverley Novels is often dramatic, being uttered or sung by one of the characters; mottoes at the heads of chapters stand in a critical relationship to the narrative; the poetry of the letters and Journal is often quizzical and self-mocking; and there are many superb parodies. As part of the 'meaning' of these poems lies in their context, this collection succinctly contextualises each one. It also provides full textual and explanatory annotation and an essay which explores, among other things, the wavering boundary between new creation and quotation. [bio] David Hewitt was formerly Regius Professor of English at the University of Aberdeen. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels, for which he edited: Rob Roy (2008), The Heart of Mid-Lothian (with Alison Lumsden; 2004), Redgauntlet (with G. A. M. Wood; 1997), and The Antiquary (1995). BACK FLAP THE EDINBURGH EDITION OF WALTER SCOTT'S POETRY The Lay of the Last Minstrel Marmion The Lady of the Lake Rokeby Don Roderick, The Bridal of Triermain, The Field of Waterloo and Harold the Dauntless The Lord of the Isles Shorter Poems Poetry from the Waverley Novels and Other Works Verse Drama Scott's Reflections on Poetry: 1830 Introductions and 1833 essays [bio] Alison Lumsden is Regius Professor of English at the University of Aberdeen where she directs the Walter Scott Research Centre.

About the Author

David Hewitt was formerly Regius Professor of English at the University of Aberdeen. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels, for which he edited Rob Roy (EUP, 2008), The Heart of Mid-Lothian (with Alison Lumsden; EUP, 2004), Redgauntlet (with G. A. M. Wood; EUP, 1997) and The Antiquary (EUP, 1995).