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Walter Scott - Biography

Walter Scott is an outstanding Scottish writer, considered one of the founders and masters of historical romance. His works have left a deep mark on world literature, and his contribution to the formation of the literary genre and the cultural heritage of Scotland is invaluable.

Walter was born on 15 August 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of successful barrister Walter Scott and Anne Rutfurd. He was the third of six children in the family. In early childhood, he weakened from polio, which made his left leg frail, and he became dependent on support. This physical ailment did not prevent him from becoming an active and creative person.

Scott attended Edinburgh School, where he developed a vivid interest in literature and history. His fascination with old ballads and historical stories served as the basis for his future work. In 1792 he entered the University of Edinburgh, where he studied law and literature.

Scott began his literary career as a poet, writing poetry and ballads inspired by Scottish culture and history. His debut epic poem The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805) brought him great popularity. He also wrote a novel in verse, "The Lady of the Lake" (1810), which became a bestseller and became widely known.

However, Scott's historical novel became his true literary contribution. His novel "Waverley" (Waverley, 1814) is considered the first historical novel in literary history, and he used the pseudonym "Author Waverley" for publication to maintain anonymity. The novel was a huge success and was later followed by many other historical novels, such as Ivanhoe (Ivanhoe, 1819) and Old Mortower (Old Mortality, 1816).

Scott was deeply connected to his homeland and Scottish culture. His work is steeped in a love of Scotland's history and national identity. He was also active in collecting and studying Scottish folk ballads and served loyally as a judge and barrister in his native Edinburgh.