Old Mortality, Volume 2.

Scott, Walter, 1771-1832Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 484K words
Chapters: 49

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Old Mortality, Volume 2. by Walter Scott. Author: Scott, Walter, 1771-1832. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Aug 22, 2004

Editor's review

This is a public-domain English electronic edition of Volume 2 of Walter Scott's Old Mortality, part of his series of Scottish historical novels. This volume continues the historical setting and character threads of the previous volume, with a narrative involving religious conflict, political upheaval, and everyday life, exemplifying Scott's characteristic approach of fictionalizing historical events. For readers studying Scott's work or Scottish historical narrative, this volume offers the original text for comparative reading, textual analysis, or course use. As a Project Gutenberg public-domain ebook, the text is presented in the original English without modern annotations, introduction, or standardized pagination; citations should specify the edition. In terms of reading experience, nineteenth-century English syntax and historical references pose a certain barrier; readers are advised to master the previous volume before starting this one and to note characters and events as they read. Overall, it suits readers with a clear purpose or research need rather than the general reader seeking light entertainment.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who have read Volume 1 of Old Mortality and wish to continue with the original text
Literature students studying Scott's narrative technique in historical fiction
English-language readers interested in Scottish religious and political history
Those needing a public-domain English text for coursework or textual analysis

Not a good fit for

Readers who have not read the previous volume and would find the threads disjointed if starting here
Beginners with limited English reading experience who rely on modern annotations
General fiction readers expecting a self-contained, standalone plot

Reading tips

First confirm you have read Volume 1 or know the prior story, then proceed through this volume in chapter order.
Prepare a character relationship chart and note as you read the correspondences between religious factions and political positions.
Mark historical names and events as you encounter them, then consult background materials after finishing a section.
Compare with Scott's other Scottish novels to observe his mode of historical narrative.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I read this Volume 2 directly without having read Volume 1?

Not recommended. This is Volume 2 of Old Mortality, and its characters and events continue from the previous volume; reading it directly may leave you confused about the plot and character relationships. It is best to read Volume 1 first or consult a plot summary before starting this volume for a more complete reading experience.

Does this electronic edition include annotations or an introduction?

According to the information, this is a public-domain English ebook released by Project Gutenberg, with no indication of modern annotations or a scholarly introduction. Readers needing background explanation should consult Scottish historical materials or literary histories themselves, or read alongside an annotated scholarly edition.

Is this book suitable for academic citation?

It can be used as a public-domain source text, but note that this electronic edition has no standardized pagination or modern editorial information. For academic citation, specify the Project Gutenberg edition, release information, and access date, verify quotations for accuracy, and where necessary compare with an authoritative print or scholarly electronic edition.

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About the author

Scott, Walter, 1771-1832 Author

Walter Scott (Scott, Walter, 1771-1832) was a British writer known for his historical novels and narrative poetry. The library holds 94 of his works, including the representative Ivanhoe and Waverley Or ‘Tis Sixty Years Since — Complete, as well as The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2. His historical novels often draw on the history of Scotland and England, weaving real historical events into the fates of fictional characters, with unhurried plotting and vivid characterization; they exercised a profound influence on the development of the European historical novel. Ivanhoe, set in medieval England, is among his most widely read works. Publicly available information on his nationality, dates of birth and death, and other biographical details is limited, so no speculation is offered here.