Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart

This celebrated seven-volume biography (1837–8) draws on personal accounts of Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), correspondence and autobiographical sketches.

John Gibson Lockhart (Author)

9781108056977, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 November 2012

438 pages, 2 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.5 cm, 0.55 kg

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 1 opens with Scott's brief autobiography, written in 1808 and revised in 1825. Lockhart's biography proper opens with Scott's birth in 1771, provides an account of his education, and concludes here with his first contributions to the Edinburgh Review in 1804.

Preface
1. Memoir of the early life of Sir Walter Scott, written by himself
2. Illustrations of the autobiographical fragment
3. Illustrations of the autobiography continued
4. Illustrations of the autobiography continued
5. Illustrations continued
6. Illustrations continued
7. First expedition into Liddesdale
8. Publication of ballads after Bürger
9. Early married life
10. The Border Minstrelsy in preparation
11. Preparation of Volume III of the Minstrelsy
12. Contributions to the Edinburgh Review.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]