Scottelanea: The People and Places of Walter Scott
3 total works
As son-in-law and literary executor to Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854) was uniquely placed to produce a definitive biography of the great poet and novelist. First published in 1837-8, shortly after Scott's death, this celebrated seven-volume work is based on personal memories, correspondence, and Scott's own autobiographical sketches. Wide-ranging in his purview, Lockhart is also detailed in his descriptions: the Aberdeen Journal of the day observed that the volumes trace Scott's life and literary efforts with 'the most minute distinctness'. Volume 7 covers the period from 1826 until Scott's death in 1832. This was perhaps the darkest chapter in Scott's life, during which his financial woes forced him to sell the copyright for the Waverley novels. This final volume also includes an appendix listing Scott's publications as well as an index of names.
Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1837)
by John Gibson Lockhart
Published 19 July 2013
The Scottish writer and editor, John Gibson Lockhart, published his first full attempt at a biography of his late father-in-law in 1837. This is Volume 2 of a new reprint of that seven Volume edition. These are the years from 1804 to 1812, in which the story of many important personal and literary milestones - including the purchase of land at Abbotsford, partnership with James Ballantyne, work on 'Marmion', Dryden and Swift, and the beginning of 'The Quarterly Review' - mix with fascinating accounts of domestic and social life, from the politics of The Peninsula War and an ever widening Correspondence to Excursions in England and Scotland.
The first (seven-volume) edition of the Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, written by his son-in-law J.D. Lockhart and published in 1837, was flawed. Before a revised edition appeared in 1839, the Ballantyne family issued a pamphlet refuting the accuracy of the circumstances surrounding the failure of their joint business. This prompted an immediate answer from Lockhart, which in turn was answered by the Ballantynes - with fascinating detailed Company Accounts to support their position. All three pamphlets are brought together in this volume.