A Legend of Montrose

 2020 was a year for reading books that would expand my understanding of 17th century Scotland.  I chose to start 2021 with another Sir Walter Scott Novel set in the same time period with Montrose in the center.  I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative describing the battle where The Great Montrose faced Argyll.  I also enjoyed Annot Lyle as a female thread throughout the novel.  A Legend of Montrose is one of the shorter novels and not as well received as its predecessor, The Bride of Lammermoor.  However, I do recommend reading this novel.

Ivanhoe

 Sir Walter Scott wrote Ivanhoe in 1819 and continues to be highly popular.  I read this in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Did anyone have a problem reading this novel?

I only ask because I just watched a you tube video by someone who published an edited version which eliminated all the extraneous material making it much shorter.

I guess I will have to reread this to see if this was necessary.  

The length of a novel has not necessarily been a deterrent for me.  I recall reading The Prince of India by Lew Wallace.  I loved this two-volume 1,000 page adventure and preferred it to his more popular publication of Ben-Hur.  When I finished, I decided I would like a shorter novel.  My sister recommended The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  

After this "shorter" read which I enjoyed,  I thought I would try The Count of Monte Cristo. It was only 600 pages so I whipped through it and had great fun.  However, I was very disappointed when I discovered the 600 page version was pretty much the Reader's Digest version.  

I guess I will have to reread The Count of Monte Cristo after I reread Ivanhoe.

Any suggestions for a short novel?

Peveril of the Peak

 This was a favorite of Queen Victoria's husband but I chose to read it at this time because of my current focus on 17th century Scotland.  Definitely one of Scott's more readable novels.  Just one more of the works that demonstrates the results of a lack of religious tolerance.  Is all this what Christianity is all about.  
Loved the scenes involving King Charles II.  Loved one more of Scott's happy endings.  Loved the strength of another one of Scott's female characters.
Once more I reflect on those who have blamed Scott for the Civil War in America because he promoted chivalry and the plantation owners in the South found this inspiring.  I find nothing objectionable in chivalry and if the South misused this principle, it is not the fault of Scott.  Otherwise Jesus Christ would be responsible for not only the 17th century British Civil War but also the Spanish Inquisition.

The King's Jaunt

I just finished The King's Jaunt by John Prebble.
I expected a lot of pomp and circumstance and was surprised at the fatal falling scaffolds, references to the Highland Clearances and many events that would today require extra security to prevent an assassination. It appears Sir Walter Scott's efforts to impress the monarch were successful and King George IV enjoyed wearing his Scottish outfits.
I will have to refer to Scott's journal to review his commentary but he definitely was fatigued by his efforts.
I would say a definite read but don't expect any romance

To Let

John Galsworthy is not on my list of Scottish writers but apparently Scotland has something that could have made a difference in the lives of two characters in his novel To Let.

  Fleur and Jon should have gone to Scotland as they discussed and declared themselves married rather than let their problematic parents ruin their love. 
I didn't know you could go to Scotland and declare yourselves married but the end result might have been happier for the young lovers.

I guess all this is one more example of money (and property) can't buy happiness.

John Galsworthy is an excellent writer and I enjoy reading his works.

Fanny Kemble's Civil Wars

I chose this book because Fanny Kemble belonged to a famous theatrical family that occasionally performed in plays based on the works of Sir Walter Scott.  I did thoroughly enjoy the narratives involving her family and all the challenges they faced in their profession.  I was very surprised at the avenue her life followed after she chose to tour America to help her family resolve a financial crisis.  Marrying a suitor who soon inherited the second largest slave plantation in Georgia unpredictably redirected her life and career.  Her publication of Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation and its effect on her life make this a fascinating read.  This will make our future visit to St. Simons Island more interesting.
The cast of characters in her life made this book even livelier than expected with Henry James thoughts at the very end.
She did play the part of Julia Mannering alongside her father as Guy Mannering in New York City in 1832.  Guy Mannering is one of Scott's more interesting novels.  Fanny Kemble and her father Charles Kemble were noted for their performances of Shakespeare.  The result of Fanny Kemble's American life deprived the Shakespearean and Scott stage of a luminary resulting from the American Civil War and what caused it.

Woodstock or the Cavalier

This novel takes place after the battle of Worcester in which several thousand Scottish soldiers were taken prisoner and sent to New England and the West Indies (not a part of the book but useful if researching genealogy).  I enjoyed the scenes which involved Cromwell and/or King Charles (in disguise of course).  I especially found interesting the revealing section where Cromwell ordered the execution of the Lee family (very bad) and their dog (very, very bad) which fortunately was not carried out.  He totally forgot this and was surprised to hear about this shortly afterwards. 

Alice Lee was another one of Scott's heroines who showed a strength of character which in many cases surpassed the men around her.

I just finished a few books on The Glorious Revolution so I chose this to glean a little from the history a bit earlier short before the Restoration.