Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish author who is best known for his poetry and historical romances, such as Ivanhoe and Rob Roy. He is also famous for his contributions to Scottish history, such as helping to unearth Scotland's missing crown jewels and leading the campaign that saved the Scottish banknote when the London Parliament threatened its existence. He was born in 1771 and died in 1832. His biography, written by the journalist Richard Hutton, was first published in 1878 in the first series of 'English Men of Letters'.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) is famous for his poetry and historical romances such as Ivanhoe and Rob Roy. As the first English-language author to achieve truly international fame in his lifetime, his depiction of Scottish history and culture spread around the world so effectively that it persists even today. Scott also contributed to Scottish history himself: in 1818 he helped to unearth Scotland's missing crown jewels, and he also led the campaign that saved the Scottish banknote when the London Parliament threatened its existence. First published in 1878 in the first series of 'English Men of Letters', this biography by the journalist Richard H. Hutton (1826-97) tells Scott's story from his childhood and ancestry, through his early years as an advocate to his extraordinary fame and success as a writer, through bankruptcy to recovery, and his final days.