The Talisman

This edition features the historical novel by Walter Scott (1771–1832) "The Talisman, or Richard the Lionheart in Palestine." Today, it is rightly considered one of the best works of this famous Scottish writer. The plot of the novel narrates the times of the legendary Crusades. The knight Kenneth, caught at the intersection of Western and Eastern cultures, must thwart the plots of the conspirators who are weaving against the English king. The text is illustrated by French artists of the 19th century, Alfred de Richmont and A. de Péri.

Walter Scott (1771–1832) – a famous Scottish writer, poet, and translator. He was born in Edinburgh to lawyer Walter Scott and his wife Anne Rutherford, the daughter of a professor at Edinburgh University. In early childhood, the boy fell seriously ill, and although thanks to the efforts of his relatives he managed to recover, the writer limped and had poor health for the rest of his life. Walter was happily introduced to Scottish tales and legends by his family; he often heard about the remarkable events from Scottish history and was read poetry. Thus, Walter developed an interest in the culture, folklore, and history of Scotland, which defined the direction of his future work. At first, Scott intended to follow in his father's footsteps and become a lawyer. In 1792, the young man graduated from the Faculty of Law and, for several years, combined his legal practice with public activities and literary work. Since his school years, Scott had been translating works of fiction from German, and later he became passionate about composing poetry and collecting folk tales, ballads, and legends of Scotland, which was fostered by his work trips across the country. He began writing prose texts, particularly historical novels, only in adulthood. In his novels, he sought to accurately convey the characteristics of the described era, meticulously develop characters, and detail the atmosphere. One of the distinguishing features of Scott's work was the elements of folklore, which the author invariably incorporated into his texts. The first such works were published under a pseudonym, allowing him to maintain anonymity until 1827. They were later dubbed "Waverley Novels" – after the title of Scott's first prose work published in 1814.

"The Talisman, or Richard the Lionheart in Palestine" – is one of the best historical novels by Walter Scott. It was first published in 1825 and has since been reissued and translated into various languages of the world numerous times. The events in the novel unfold against the backdrop of the Third Crusade, when King Richard the Lionheart and Sultan Saladin clashed in the struggle for Jerusalem. By chance, the Scottish knight Kenneth finds himself at the heart of the internecine intrigues and treacherous plots arising at the intersection of two cultures. He is set to embark on a winding path full of dangerous adventures, demonstrate fidelity to his beloved, and acquire the talisman, about whose properties legends are told. The elegant, romantically executed illustrations included in this edition were created by French painters and graphic artists A. de Richmont and A. de Péri.