The Betrothed

A complete, critically edited edition of the Waverley Novels as Scott originally wrote them. The first of Scott’s Waverley novels burst upon an astonished world in 1814. Its publication marked the emergence of the modern novel in the western world, influencing all the great 19th-century writers. This edition of Sir Walter Scott’s novels captures the original power and freshness of his best-loved novels. Going back to the original manuscripts, a team of scholars has uncovered what Scott originally wrote and intended his public to read before errors, misreadings and expurgations crept in during production. This edition offers: a clean, corrected text; textual histories; explanatory notes; verbal changes from the first-edition text; and full glossaries. The plot unfolds against the backdrop of border conflicts between the Anglo-Norman and Welsh barons. Having refused the hand of his daughter, Eveline, to the Welsh prince Gwenwyn, the Anglo-Norman Raymond Berenger is killed when the incensed Gwenwyn lays siege to his castle of Garde Douloureuse. His daughter is saved only by the intervention of Hugo de Lacy, Constable of Chester who, in turn, slays Gwenwyn. Out of gratitude rather than love, Eveline pledges herself to her elderly rescuer. Hugo, though, must fulfil a vow to join the Third Crusade and sets out immediately leaving Eveline under the guardianship of his nephew and heir Damian.