Anna Geirstein, or The Virgin of the Mist

«Anna Geirstein, or The Virgin of the Mist» — a historical novel filled with thrilling adventures, glorious feats, and ancient mysteries by the Scottish writer Walter Scott (1771–1832). The plot of the novel narrates the times of the clash between two sworn enemies: French King Louis XI and Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold. Majestic castles, brave warriors, and beautiful ladies are depicted in intricate detail by the illustrator Louis Dunki (1856–1915). The translation of the text into Russian was done by engineer-colonel of the Russian Imperial Army, member of the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature Samuel Samuelovich de Shaplet (1798–1834).

Walter Scott (1771–1832) — a famous Scottish writer, poet, and translator. He was born in Edinburgh, to a 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 he managed to recover with the help of his relatives, the writer limped and was in poor health for the rest of his life. In his family circle, the future writer was readily acquainted with Scottish tales and legends; he was often told about remarkable events from Scottish history and read poetry. Thus, Walter developed an interest in the culture, folklore, and history of Scotland, which determined the direction of his future creativity. At first, Scott intended to follow in his father's footsteps and become a lawyer. In 1792, the young man graduated from law school and for several years combined legal practice with public and literary activity. Even during his studies, Scott read extensively and translated works of fiction from German, and then became interested in composing poetry and collecting folk tales, ballads, and legends of Scotland, facilitated by his frequent travels throughout the country. Scott began writing the historical novels that would make him famous at a mature age. To accurately convey the characteristics of the described era and realistically depict the artistic world, the writer spent a long time researching historical documents. One of the distinctive features of Scott's work was also the elements of folklore, invariably woven by the author into the plots of his novels. For a long time, he published prose works under a pseudonym, thus maintaining anonymity until 1827. They were later dubbed «Waverley Novels» — named after Scott's first novel published in 1814. The achievements of the outstanding writer were recognized during his lifetime, and in 1820 Walter Scott was granted the title of baronet.

The historical novel «Anna Geirstein, or The Virgin of the Mist» was first published in 1829. The work was conceived by the author as a continuation of «Quentin Durward»; it gained wide popularity among the reading public. The events of «Anna Geirstein» unfold against the backdrop of the fierce confrontation between French King Louis XI and Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold. Two Englishmen, John Philipson and his son Arthur, wander through Switzerland on a mysterious mission. The unpredictable and risky adventure leads them to the legendary castle of Geirstein. In this edition, the novel is complemented by a set of 152 wonderful illustrations by Swiss artist Louis Dunki (1856–1915).