Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Old Mortality, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.
Although primarily remembered for his extensive literary works and his political engagement, Scott was an advocate, judge and legal administrator by profession, and throughout his career combined his writing and editing work with his daily occupation as Clerk of Session and Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire.
A prominent member of the Tory establishment in Edinburgh, Scott was an active member of the Highland Society, served a long term as President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1820–32) and was a Vice President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (1827–1829).
Scott's knowledge of history, and his facility with literary technique, made him a seminal figure in the establishment of the historical novel genre, as well as an exemplar of European literary Romanticism.
Den unge Henry Morton bliver i 1679 arresteret af den engelske konges hærfører, Claverhouse, for at have huset en James Burley, der er anfører for en flok ekstremistiske presbyterianske oprørere, der har snigmyrdet den skotske kirkes primas, ærkebiskop James Sharpe af St. Andrews. Derved bliver han ufrivilligt deltager i - og en af lederne af - presbyterianernes oprør.
Som sædvanlig hos Scott er vrimler det med stærke personligheder på begge sider, en kærlighedshistorie og store slagscener, og trods det - for en dansker - måske lidt fjerntliggende religiøse emne, der ligger til grund for romanen, er den fuldt ud så læseværdig som hans hertillands mere kendte værker som fx. Ivanhoe.
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