From its first publication in 1817 Rob Roy has been recognised as containing some of Scott's finest writing and most engaging, fully realised characters. The outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor was already a legendary, disputed figure by the time Scott wrote - a heroic Scottish Robin Hood to some, an over-glamorised, unprincipled predator to others. Scott approaches Rob Roy indirectly, through the adventu…
This, one of the great works of fiction, is of historical value for its graphic picture of the Saxons and Normans in England after the Norman occupation of the land. The tournament at Ashby, the siege of Torquilstone, the trial of Rebecca, the Jewess,--these are a few incidents in this story "of the days of old When knights were bold." Robin Hood, under the name of Locksley the yeoman, appears …
The "Lay of the Last Minstrel," Scott's first romantic tale, was published in January, 1805, and won for its author his first great success. The writing of "Marmion" was begun in November, 1806. Constable offered as publisher to pay at once a thousand guineas for the copyright, when he heard that the new poem was begun, though he had not yet seen a line of it. Miller and Murray joined, eac…