Edward Waverly enjoyed a privileged upbringing, despite his family's
drama. Coming of age during a political uprising, Edward's time is split
between his father and his uncle, who each have opposing political
views, which causes a rift in the family. His uncle is a traditional
British subject that wishes to overthrow the government so that Charles
Edward Stuart is restored to power, commonly known as a Jacobite.
However, Edward's father is a Hanoverian, a citizen who supports the
current government. Raised between the two, Edward himself has flippant
views. In fact, he is more interested in chasing women than his studies
or politics. For this reason, Edward's aunt decides to send him to the
army. Serving as a Hanoverian soldier, Edward takes his training about
as seriously as he took his studies, but as his regiment travels around
Scottland, Edward is taken by the beauty of the nation and its culture,
especially falling for a young woman named Flora. Though Edward quickly
becomes enamored by Flora, he soon realizes that their romance is
ill-fated, as he is a Hanoverian soldier, and Flora is a dedicated
Jacobite. While Edward challenges his own political views for love, more
chaos unfolds, including war, uprisings, and accusations of treason.
First published anonymously in 1814, Waverley rose to almost immediate
fame, praised for its authenticity and comedy. Already famous as a poet,
Sir Walter Scott eventually admitted that this extraordinary historical
novel was among his first attempts to publish his prose fiction. With
themes of war and tolerance and beautiful prose, Waverley depicts a
young soldier's struggle with love and beliefs as he travels across
Scottland. Featuring stunning detail, the landscape and culture of 18th
century Scottland is beautifully represented as is the fascinating
history of the Jacobite uprising of 1745. This edition of Waverley by
Sir Walter Scott now features an eye-catching cover design and is
printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these
accommodations, this edition of Waverley crafts an accessible and
pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the
original mastery of Sir Walter Scott's literature.
