When Rob Roy went on sale on December 31st, 1817, it sold beyond all expectation. By the time Scott sat down to write The Heart of Midlothian, two weeks later, the entire first edition of 10,000 copies had already sold out. Scott's Rob Roy is a dark tale indeed, a story of political intrigue that features mysterious plots, spies, and secret coming and goings. It's a novel, in essence, that casts history as the world of conspiracy and the theater of illusion.

Author Biography

Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia and North America. Scott's novels and poetry are still read and many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Old Mortality, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. Although primarily remembered for his extensive literary works and his political engagement, Scott was an advocate, judge and legal administrator by profession and throughout his career combined his writing and editing work with his daily occupation as Clerk of Session and Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire.