Sir Walter Scott

Saintsbury, George, 1845-1933Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 274K words
Chapters: 28

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.Sir Walter Scott by George SaintsburyAuthor: Saintsbury, George, 1845-1933,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Aug 6, 2009

Editor's review

This is a critical-biographical work on Walter Scott by the literary critic George Saintsbury, made available as a free eBook by Project Gutenberg. Saintsbury was a major British literary historian and critic from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, known for his broad vision and direct judgments. The book is not a year-by-year record of Scott's life but a critic's examination of Scott's creative achievements, stylistic features, and place in literary history, marked by strong personal evaluation. For Chinese readers its value is twofold: first, it serves as a primary source for understanding how British critics after the Victorian era assessed Scott; second, its method of analyzing works can help readers form a clearer framework for observing Scott's novels. Note that the book was written long ago, and its style and critical assumptions bear the marks of its time; readers should read it with a discerning eye rather than treat it as definitive. It suits readers interested in British literary history and criticism who have some English reading ability.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying the history of British literature and criticism
Those preparing to read Scott's novels who want an overview of the critical tradition first
Readers interested in late-nineteenth-century critical style and modes of evaluation
Learners with English reading ability who prefer literary criticism

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking a detailed biography or chronological life of Scott
General readers who want to read Scott's novels directly
Readers who struggle with English and need modern translation and annotation

Reading tips

First read summaries of one or two of Scott's major works, then compare them with this book's judgments to understand their basis.
While reading, distinguish factual statements from the critic's personal evaluations, and take brief notes for clarity.
Use it alongside a textbook of British literary history, placing its views in the context of critical history.
Record unfamiliar titles as you go rather than looking up each one; review them together after finishing.

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

Is this book a biography of Scott?

Not exactly. It is closer to a critical biography written by a critic, focusing on evaluating Scott's work and literary standing rather than recording life events year by year. For detailed biography, you will need to read a biographical work alongside it.

Can I read this book without having read Scott's novels?

You can, but you will get less from it. The book discusses specific works at length, and without textual experience it is hard to judge whether the criticisms are fair. It is best to read a summary or excerpt of at least one of Scott's novels before starting.

Do the book's views still have value today?

They have value for reference but require discernment. The book reflects the critical tastes and standards of a particular era and is material for studying reception history; its specific judgments may not match contemporary consensus, so readers should compare them with other sources.

Comments

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About the author

Saintsbury, George, 1845-1933 Author

George Saintsbury (1845–1933) was a British literary historian and critic. Public information on the details of his life is limited; he is known chiefly for his many works on literary history and prosody. The library holds twelve of his works, including the two volumes of A History of the French Novel, a historical manual of English prosody, a history of nineteenth-century literature, a history of Elizabethan literature, a short history of French literature, and studies of Sir Walter Scott and Matthew Arnold. His writing is distinguished by solid scholarship and clear organization; he was adept at assessing authors and genres within a general historical framework, and his surveys of prosody and of the novel are especially accomplished. These works long served as references for the study of English and comparative literature and remained influential into the twentieth century.