After meeting during their travels, William Lovel, a young man, and Oldbuck, an antiquary, become good friends. Bonded over their shared interests, Lovel is very intrigued by Oldbuck's collections, particularly by the elder man's latest find, an ancient book about Roman ruins. Impressed by the young man's manners and intelligence, Oldbuck invites Lovel to meet some of his influential friends, including a wealthy man named Sir Arthur Wardour. While...

In his only novel set in his own time, Scott's St. Ronan's Well depicts the trials and tribulations of a fictional seaside town. The plot centers on Valentine Bulmer and his half-brother Francis Tyrrel and their fight over Miss Clara Mowbray, the sister of the village laird.

Edward Waverly enjoyed a privileged upbringing, despite his family's drama. Coming of age during a political uprising, Edward's time is split between his father and his uncle, who each have opposing political views, which causes a rift in the family. His uncle is a traditional British subject that wishes to overthrow the government so that Charles Edward Stuart is restored to power, commonly known as a Jacobite. However, Edward's father is a Hanoverian,...

Nigel Olifaunt, a Scottish nobleman, travels to England to collect a debt on his late father's behalf, but is ultimately met with deception and disappointment. The Fortunes of Nigel is one man's tumultuous journey to keep what's rightfully his. Following his father's death, Nigel Olifaunt leaves his native Scotland for London, England. He plans to meet with King James VI to recoup the money his family originally lent to the crown. Despite a legitimate...

One of Sir Walter Scott's most popular and influential works, "Ivanhoe" is the story of one of the last remaining Saxon noble families. At the beginning of the novel we find its titular character, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who has been disinherited by his father for his allegiance to the Norman king, Richard the Lionheart, and for falling in love with the Lady Rowena, returning from the Third Crusade. Wilfred's father, Cedric, had planned to marry Lady...

There is so much within this novel, set in Switzerland during the Wars of the Roses in England. Quite complicated politics. (Goodreads)

The story is set just after the Union of Scotland and England, in the Liddesdale hills of the Scottish Borders, familiar to Scott from his work collecting ballads for The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. The main character is based on David Ritchie, whom Scott met in the autumn of 1797. In the tale, the dwarf is Sir Edward Mauley, a hermit regarded by the locals as being in league with the Devil, who becomes embroiled in a complex tale of love,...

Edgar's family and their home, Ravenswood, is well-respected and revered by the people of Scotland, until their political endorsement invites controversy. When Edgar's father is stripped of his noble title due for supporting King James VII, Lucy's father, Sir William, buys their family estate. Meant to be the rightful master of Ravenswood, Edgar is livid, and feels that his family legacy, has been usurped. Soon, dreaming of getting vengeance, Edgar...

Robert Dudley, the first Earl of Leicester, is happy with his wife, Amy Robsart, but will not let her tell anyone that they are married. Even though they both love each other, Robert values power and popularity much more than he values his wife. After secluding Amy in a house called Cumnor Hall with the help of his henchman, Varney, Robert entertains the idea of marrying Queen Elizabeth I. Fueled by desire for the power of the throne, Robert hides...

When he is in search of refuge, Guy Mannering, a colonel of an Indian army, decides to spend the night at the home of Godfrey Bertram, the Laird of Ellangowan. Despite being a generous and friendly host, the Laird's attention is focused on his wife instead of his guest, as his first child is soon to be born. As Lady Betram goes into labor giving birth to a healthy boy named Harry, a psychic arrives to form a prophecy, though the woman is undermined...