Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian and antiquarian who played a central role in the development of the modern historical novel. Born in Edinburgh in 1771, he first gained fame through narrative poems such as The Lay of the Last Minstrel and Marmion. His deep interest in Scottish history, folklore and border traditions later shaped his fiction, which frequently explores conflict between old loyalties and changing political and social orders.
Scott’s first novel, Waverley, was published anonymously in 1814 and gave its name to the series now known as the Waverley Novels. His best-known works include Rob Roy, The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Old Mortality, Ivanhoe and The Bride of Lammermoor. By combining fictional protagonists with real historical events and figures, Scott helped establish a model of historical fiction that influenced writers across Europe and beyond.