Set against the backdrop of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, Waverley
depicts the story of Edward Waverley, an idealistic daydreamer whose
loyalty to his regiment is threatened when they are sent to the Scottish
Highlands. When he finds himself drawn to the charismatic chieftain Fergus
Mac-Ivor and his beautiful sister Flora, their ardent loyalty to Prince
Charles Edward Stuart appeals to Waverley’s romantic nature and he allies
himself with their cause – a move that proves highly dangerous for the
young officer. Scott’s first novel was a huge success when it was published
in 1814 and marked the start of his extraordinary literary success. With
its vivid depiction of the wild Highland landscapes and patriotic clansmen,
Waverley is a brilliant evocation of the old Scotland – a world Scott
believed was swiftly disappearing in the face of a new, modern era.