The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scott Monument
61 metre high monument to Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), designed by George Meikle Kemp
The Scott monument is famously the largest monument to a writer in the world. The question is, why was Walter Scott so important? Born and raised in Edinburgh, from a young age Scott collected the folk tales of the Borders - tales considered so lowly that it was frowned upon to write them down. They became his source for poetry and his series of novels, starting with Waverley which Scott published anonymously in 1814. It was an instant success and even the regent King George IV wanted to meet him.
Scott's romantic tales created a new genre the historical novel - which became key to Scottish and world literature influencing writers as diverse as Tolstoy and Victor Hugo. Almost single-handedly, he rehabilitated the international image of Scotland at a time when many considered it dangerous and backwards. He 'discovered' the Honours of Scotland, helped reinstate outlawed tartan, and orchestrated the first visit of a monarch to Scotland in 171 years. in many ways, the romantic image of Scotland that many people around the world hold today is a result of Scott's genius.
The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scott Monument
61 metre high monument to Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), designed by George Meikle Kemp
The Scott monument is famously the largest monument to a writer in the world. The question is, why was Walter Scott so important? Born and raised in Edinburgh, from a young age Scott collected the folk tales of the Borders - tales considered so lowly that it was frowned upon to write them down. They became his source for poetry and his series of novels, starting with Waverley which Scott published anonymously in 1814. It was an instant success and even the regent King George IV wanted to meet him.
Scott's romantic tales created a new genre the historical novel - which became key to Scottish and world literature influencing writers as diverse as Tolstoy and Victor Hugo. Almost single-handedly, he rehabilitated the international image of Scotland at a time when many considered it dangerous and backwards. He 'discovered' the Honours of Scotland, helped reinstate outlawed tartan, and orchestrated the first visit of a monarch to Scotland in 171 years. in many ways, the romantic image of Scotland that many people around the world hold today is a result of Scott's genius.