Sir Walter Scott

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sir Walter Scott was a great poet and novelist. When he was a toddler, a bone disease left him with a permanent limp. Mostly confined indoors as a result, he had read many books before he turned fifteen. Soon, Scott’s interest was aroused in history and he was particularly attracted to Scottish legends. When he was twenty-one years old, he entered the University of Edinburgh to please his father. As Scott studied law, he also read all he could about Scottish folklore and ballads in his spare time. Soon, he had an impressive collection of the same. In 1797, Scott married Charlotte Charpentier, the daughter of a French refugee. Two years later, he was appointed sheriff of Selkirkshire. Later, he was also appointed as the clerk of the court of sessions. These two steady incomes made it possible for him to devote himself totally to writing. In 1805, he began his first novel called Waverley but left it unfinished for almost ten years, finally completing it in 1814 without putting his name on it. The book was a huge success and Scott admitted that he was the author only in 1827. Most of Scott’s novels feature a historical background and are packed with romance, suspense and action. His most popular novel is undoubtedly ‘Ivanhoe’, the tale of a young Saxon hero who lived in England during the time of King Richard the Lion Heart and Robin Hood.