THE WOODSTOCK SCUFFLE; or, Most dreadfull apparitions that were latelyseene in the Mannor-house of Woodstock, neere Oxford, to the greatterror and the wonderful amazement of all there that did behold them.  Read more...

Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the etext in square brackets ("[]") close to the place where they were referenced by a suffix in the original text.  Read more...

Introduction to Chronicles of the Canongate. Appendix to Introduction--The Theatrical Fund Dinner. Introductory--Mr. Chrystal Croftangry. The Highland Widow. The Two Drovers.  Read more...

The Author of the Waverley Novels had hitherto proceeded in an unabatedcourse of popularity, and might, in his peculiar district of literature,have been termed "LEnfant Gate" of success.  Read more...

A certain degree of success, real or supposed, in the delineation ofQueen Mary, naturally induced the author to attempt something similarrespecting "her sister and her foe," the celebrated Elizabeth.  Read more...

Sir Walter Scotts "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft" were hiscontribution to a series of books, published by John Murray, whichappeared between the years 1829 and 1847, and formed a collection ofeighty volumes known as "Murrays  Read more...

The "Lay of the Last Minstrel," Scotts first romantic tale, waspublished in January, 1805, and won for its author his first greatsuccess. The writing of "Marmion" was begun in November, 1806.  Read more...

The origin of "Old Mortality," perhaps the best of Scotts historicalromances, is well known. In May, 1816, Mr. Joseph Train, the gauger fromGalloway, breakfasted with Scott in Castle Street.  Read more...

William, the Conqueror of England, was, or supposed himself to be, thefather of a certain William Peveril, who attended him to the battle ofHastings, and there distinguished himself.  Read more...

The scene of this romance is laid in the fifteenth century, whenthe feudal system, which had been the sinews and nerves of nationaldefence, and the spirit of chivalry, by which, as by a vivifying soul,that  Read more...

When the Editor of the following volumes published, about two yearssince, the work called the "Antiquary," he announced that he was, for thelast time, intruding upon the public in his present capacity.  Read more...

"St. Ronans Well is not so much my favourite as certain of itspredecessors," Lady Louisa Stuart wrote to Scott on March 26, 1824. "Yetstill I see the authors hand in it, _et cest tout dire_.  Read more...

From what is said in the Introduction to the Monastery, it mustnecessarily be inferred, that the Author considered that romance assomething very like a failure. It is true, the booksellers did notcomplain of the sale,  Read more...

The present work completes a series of fictitious narratives, intended toillustrate the manners of Scotland at three different periods. _Waverley_embraced the age of our fathers, _Guy Mannering_ that of our own youth,and the _Antiquary_ refers  Read more...

The Tales of the Crusaders was determined upon as the title of thefollowing series of the Novels, rather by the advice of the fewfriends whom, death has now rendered still fewer, than by theauthors own  Read more...

Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the etext in square brackets ("[]") close to the place where they were referenced by a suffix in the original text.  Read more...

Every quarter of Edinburgh has its own peculiar boast, so that thecity together combines within its precincts, if you take the wordof the inhabitants on the subject, as much of historical interestas of natural beauty.  Read more...

Having, in the tale of the Heart of Mid-Lothian, succeeded in somedegree in awakening an interest in behalf of one devoid of thoseaccomplishments which belong to a heroine almost by right, I was nexttempted to  Read more...

SCOTT began to work on "The Heart of Mid-Lothian" almost before he hadcompleted "Rob Roy." On Nov. 10, 1817, he writes to Archibald Constableannouncing that the negotiations for the sale of the story to Messrs.  Read more...

When I first saw Mr. Osgoods beautiful illustrated edition of The Ladyof the Lake, I asked him to let me use some of the cuts in a cheaperannotated edition for school and household use; and  Read more...

It would be difficult to assign any good reason why the author ofIvanhoe, after using, in that work, all the art he possessed to removethe personages, action, and manners of the tale, to a distance  Read more...

The "Betrothed" did not greatly please one or two friends, whothought that it did not well correspond to the general title of"The Crusaders." They urged, therefore, that, without directallusion to the manners of the Eastern  Read more...

[Transcribers Note:I feel that it is important to note that this book is partof the Caledonian series. The Caledonian series is a groupof 50 books comprising all of Sir Walter Scotts works.  Read more...