Title:  Waverley, Volume I

Author:  Sir Walter Scott

Release Date:  January, 2004 [EBook #4964] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 5, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK Waverley, volume I ***

Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks
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[Transcriber’s Note:  I feel that it is important to note that this book is part of the Caledonian series.  The Caledonian series is a group of 50 books comprising all of Sir Walter Scott’s works.]

WAVERLEY

OR ’T IS SIXTY YEARS SINCE

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT

VOLUME I

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

It has long been the ambition of the present publishers to offer to the public an ideal edition of the writings of Sir Walter Scott, the great poet and novelist of whom William Hazlitt said, ‘His works are almost like a new edition of human nature.’  Secure in the belief not only that his writings have achieved a permanent place in the literature of the world, but that succeeding generations will prize them still more highly, we have, after the most careful planning and study, undertaken the publication of this edition of the Waverley Novels and the complete poetical writings.

It is evident that the ideal edition of a great classic must be distinguished in typography, must present the best available text, and must be illustrated in such a way as at once to be beautiful in itself and to add to the reader’s pleasure and his understanding of the book.  As to the typography and text, little need be said here.  The format of the edition has been most carefully studied, and represents the use of the best resources of The Riverside Press.  The text has been carefully edited in the light of Scott’s own revisions; all of his own latest notes have been included, glossaries have been added, and full descriptive notes to the illustrations have been prepared which will, we hope, add greatly to the reader’s interest and instruction in the reading of the novels and poems.

Of the illustrations, which make the special feature of this edition, something more may be said.  In the case of an author like Sir Walter Scott, the ideal edition requires that the beautiful and romantic scenery amid which he lived and of which he wrote shall be adequately presented to the reader.  No other author ever used more charming backgrounds or employed them to better advantage.  To see Scotland, and to visit in person all the scenes of the novels and poems, would enable the reader fully to understand these backgrounds and thereby add materially to his appreciation of the author.