In The Antiquary (1816), written by Sir Walter Scott, the character of the title, a collector of antiques, is not the hero, instead he provides the narration and commentaries on the story of a man known as Major Neville, who seeks knowledge of his birth and the love of Isabella Wardour. Like all of Scott's historical fiction, this novel is an accurate and fascinating portrayal of the time in which it was set. From the author's introduction: "The present work completes a series of fictitious narratives, intended to illustrate the manners of Scotland at three different periods. Waverley embraced the age of our fathers, Guy Mannering that of our own youth, and The Antiquary refers to the last ten years of the eighteenth century."

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.