Quentin Durward

Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a Scottish writer, poet, translator, and lawyer. The future literati was born in Edinburgh, in a large family of lawyer Walter Scott and his wife Anne Rutherford, the daughter of a professor at the University of Edinburgh. As a child, the boy fell seriously ill, and although, thanks to the efforts of his parents and relatives, he managed to recover, the writer limped for the rest of his life and had poor health. His family often told him exciting stories from Scottish history and read poetry, and he was eagerly introduced to Scottish folk tales and legends. Thus, he developed an interest in the culture, folklore, and history of Scotland, which determined the direction of his future creativity. At first, Walter intended to follow in his father's footsteps and become a lawyer: in 1792 he graduated from the law faculty and worked in his specialty for several years, combining legal practice with public activities and literary work. Even during his studies, Scott engaged in translations of literary works from German and then became fascinated with writing poetry and collecting folk tales, ballads, and legends of Scotland, which was facilitated by his work trips around the country. He took to writing his own prose works, particularly historical novels, only in adulthood. In them, he sought to accurately convey the features of the described era, thoroughly develop the characters, and, of course, bring elements of folklore into the narrative. The first such texts were published under a pseudonym, thus maintaining his anonymity until 1827. Among them is the novel "Quentin Durward", which first appeared in 1823. Its main character is a young Scottish nobleman who carelessly becomes involved in a whirlpool of political intrigue. The events of the novel unfold in France in the 15th century. The young Quentin faces incredible adventures, fierce battles, and first love. The text of the work in this edition is accompanied by detailed notes and elegant, intricate illustrations that capture the characters and accurately depict the costumes, interiors, and landscapes of medieval Europe.