Waverly; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since

[Esioul]

Waverly; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since, by Sir Walter Scott


All right, I just had to write a review on this, as it's part of my latest obsession.

I really didn't think I was going to like at it at all when I started, because the prose is very antiquated, and it took several chapters for anything to happen. Reading through these and persevering did prove to be worthwhile, though. Waverly is set in the times of Bonnie Prince Charlie (excuse my ignroance on the history of this period), focusing on the part of Edward Waverly in the conflicts in Scotland.

One of the best things about Waverly is the way Scott keeps making the reader think and feel differently; there is no clear cut good or bad in this book. This can be clearly seen with the position and feelings of Waverly himself. Originally, he distrusts the motives of the followers of the Chevalier, and the reader pretty much agrees with him. Then the reader is forced to change their views just as he does at an apparent insult to Waverly from the Government. However, the death of Gardiner and the arrival of Talbot switch this again: like Waverly, we are left feeling that there has been a terrible mistake, and Waverly has become a traitor and is very likely to be severely punished for the wrong cause. This is again perhaps questioned by the fates of Fergus Mac-Ivor and Evan Dhu at the end. We feel that Waverly has almost betrayed them, and that their deaths are unfair. However, the unlikeable character of Fergus Mac-Ivor prevents the reader from having too much symapthy with him, and allows us to feel slightly confused about where Waverly did wrong and where he did right; this seems to reflect his own feelings.

The characters in this book are well-drawn and sometimes very silly. Waverly, often deluded by his over-active imagination and love of romantic literature is nonetheless a sympathetic character. Others, like Baile Macwheeble and the Baron Bradwardine are amusing in the silliness. Although impressive, Fergus Mac-Ivor is unlikeable, as is his sister Flora, who I did find somewhat irritating.

My main criticisms of this book are that Waverly's part in the story sometimes seems to be unimportant when compared to that of more major players like Mac-Ivor, and that he is sometimes annoyingly soppy.

It's difficult to define the 'genre' of this book, but I suppose it could be loosely described as historical novel and adventure story to some extenet. Anyway, I liked it very much, despite crying at the end of it, so I do recommend it.

[Foxbat]

This is a book I keep meaning to get around to but keep putting it off - mainly because of the antiquated text you describe.
I think morally ambiguous books are the hardest to write about but you've managed it.

A good review that (hopefully) will kick me out of my literary laziness and actually encourage me to pick up the book and read it

[Esioul]

Thanks I enjoyed it so I thought about it a lot (which stopped me from sleeping the other night, which is why I'm still so tired, hehe)

I only read it, actually, because I didn't have anything else to read and it was one of the books in the house, but I'm glad I picked it up. The antiquated text stops being too much of a problem after the first few chapters, and there is some scottish dialect which I had to ask my mum about, but you shouldn't have a problem with that.

[Foxbat]

there is some scottish dialect which I had to ask my mum about, but you shouldn't have a problem with that.

Ah ken exactly whit ye mean Hen. Ah'd feel a richt eejit if ah couldny unerstaun ma mither tongue. Luckily ah've goat a few radge mates thit'll keep me oan the straicht an narrow if ah gaun astray a pickle. Oanywys, enough o' that - ah'm aff up tae Auld Reekie tae huv a deek in some book shoaps. Then Ah'm comin hame fur ma porridge - which Ah huv wi salt by the way. Nane o this daft sugar malarky

[Esioul]

A've just been tae W-, on my crabbit wee bike, that's no new now I ken!

What do they mean when they say 'my buckie?'

[Foxbat]

What do they mean when they say 'my buckie?'

I think that's a West Coast word (I'm an East Coaster). It probably means my pal or something along those lines.

East and West coast are quite different with dialect and many different words - and teuchters! don't get me started about them - all that heilan this an heilan that, an harris tweed an herum ho

[Esioul]

Hehe.... I like speaking in a Scottish dialect, but it annoys my brother who can't do it at all. I almost went to Edinburgh university, but I realised that flying doesn't agree with me so it wouldn't really be feasible.

Do you know of a cartoon called Urh Willie and the Brrrrooones? My mum's always talking about it.

[Foxbat]

Oor Wullie and The Broons are as culturally important to Scotland as Whisky, Irn Bru (our other national drink - made from girders) and Haggis.

I grew up reading these characters every week in the Sunday Post.
Check out this web page for more info

http://www.thatsbraw.co.uk

Enjoy

[Esioul]

I'm allergic to Irrrron Brrrrrru, but I've never tried Whiskey or haggic. Thanks very much for that link- I've always been curious about it. My mum grew up with cartoons like that, especially as she came from Dundee.

I had to go into a shop in Edinburgh with my dad and ask for that comic, but I didn't dare so my dad asked, but he said it in such an English accent that the bloke at the till couldn't help almost cracking up. We never did get a copy, for all that.

[Foxbat]

I'm not keen on whisky but Haggis is fantastic stuff. It's even better if you catch one and cook it yourself

I hope your dad didn't ask for a copy of 'The Browns'. He would have been laughed out of town. Oh the embarassment of it all.

[Esioul]

Well, he said 'Can I have a copy of Urrh Willie and the Brrrooones', trying to say it the way my mum said it, but it sounded so much like an English person trying to sound Scottish that it was funny. It was somewhat embarressing, too,

I always used to want to catch a haggis, when I was little, but rumours of nasty bits like sheeps eye's and cows stomach has kept me from that more recently.

[Foxbat]

LOL! I bet he felt a rrright fool.

Haggis does contain offal but it's certainly not awful