Author Description
Old Mortality (1816), which many consider the finest of Scott's Waverley novels, is a swift-moving historical romance that places an anachronistically liberal hero against the forces of fanaticism in seventeenth-century Scotland, in the period infamous as the `killing time'. Its central character, Henry Morton, joins the rebels in order to fight Scotland's royalist oppressors, little as he shares the Covenanters' extreme religious beliefs. He is torn between his love for a royalist's granddaughter and his loyalty to his downtrodden countrymen. As well as being a tale of divided loyalties, the novel is a crucial document in the cultural history of modern Scotland. Scott, himself a supporter of the union between Scotland and England, was trying to exorcise the violent past of a country uncomfortably coming to terms with its status as part of a modern United Kingdom. This novel is in itself a significant political document, in which Scott can be seen to be attempting to create a new centralist Scottish historiography, which is not the political consensus of his own time, the seventeenth century, or today. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Henry Morton finds himself caught between his personal convictions and the violent religious extremism of the Covenanter rebellion in seventeenth-century Scotland. Morton, a man of moderate temperament, is forced to choose sides when the political climate of the 'killing time' demands total allegiance. He navigates a landscape defined by rigid sectarian conflict and royalist oppression, balancing his affection for a royalist's granddaughter against his sympathy for the suffering of his countrymen. The narrative employs a third-person perspective to examine the friction between individual conscience and the demands of historical upheaval.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Exploration of religious fanaticism versus moderate political reform
- Examination of the historical tension between Scotland and England
- Focus on the psychological conflict of divided loyalties
- Detailed depiction of the seventeenth-century Scottish landscape
- Use of anachronistic character archetypes to bridge historical eras
- Integration of political philosophy into narrative action
- Analysis of the impact of civil war on personal relationships
- Contextualization of Scottish identity within the United Kingdom
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on the novel's role as a foundational text in the development of the historical romance genre. Readers frequently highlight the contrast between the protagonist's liberal sensibilities and the harsh, uncompromising environment of the Covenanter movement. Critics often analyze how the author uses the narrative to reconcile the violent history of Scotland with the political realities of the nineteenth century. The pacing is noted for its ability to balance intense action sequences with long-form political and social commentary. Many readers find the work effective in illustrating the complexities of national identity and the difficulty of maintaining neutrality during periods of civil unrest.
Page Count:
624
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191611433
ISBN-13:
9780191611438
Adventure
English
Political fiction
Scottish literature
Historical
classic
English & College Success
Community Tags
Similar Books
