This is a collection of Sir Walter Scott's long poems. They are stories or novelettes, really, in verse. These all focus on the struggle between England and Scotland with always an unhappy love affair in the center of it, and at times, a little mysticism. It would have helped to know more about the historical events (the introduction does explain a little of it) so that I could keep the character's straight, but that didn't interfere too much with the exuberance of Scott's art. The descriptions of battles, nature, the unhappy couples are full of vigor, sound and fury. He was a master at making the language ring. This edition does contain a glossary of words not likely to be understand by modern American readers at the end of the book. I can see why Scott was a best seller in his day. I'm now curious to read some of his prose, Ivanhoe perhaps.
Oh, and I was surprised to come across 2 lines that I had always thought came from Shakespeare: "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" It is in Marmion
Contains:
The Lady of the Lake
Marmion
Thomas the Rhymer
Glenfinlas
The Eve of Saint John
Hunting Song
Jock of Hazeldean
Proud Maisie
The Erl-King
Harold Harfager
County Guy
Glee for King Charles ( )