1612 Waverly Novels--Volume VII: The Fair Maid of Perth - Anne of Geierstein - The Surgeon's Daughter - Castle Dangerous, by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (read 11 Jan 1981) I found The Fair Maid of Perth (published in 1828) quite interesting. It tells of Henry Smith, an armorer in love with Catherine Glover, the Fair Maid. The son of King Robert III strives to abduct her from her home but is foiled by Henry, who cuts off the hand of one of the Prince's followers. This follower seeks to have Henry killed but by mistake kills another. Henry then defeats the murderer in trial by combat, but the murderer escapes death by hanging through the connivance of the hangman. Two Highland clans meet in a deadly field at Perth. The chief of one of them is also in love with the Fair Maid, but is a coward. As one looks back over the plot it does not seem like much, but like all Scott novels while one is reading it seems absorbing.
Anne of Geierstein is one of Scott's last novels. It has quite a bit of Gothic in it, starting out quickly in the mountains of Switzerland where Philipson and his son meet Anne and her uncle, as well as Rudolph. There is a duel between Arthur and Rudolph. Then they accompany Swiss ambassadors to the Duke of Burgundy, with many far-fetched adventures along the way. Anne's father, Albert, usually appearing as the Black Priest of St.Paul's, helps and hinders, alternately. The Swiss defeat Charles the Bold three times--and the
Earl of Oxford seeks help for Margaret of Anjou, widow of King Henry VI of England. All in all, it is a lively story, and not bad reading. The novel first appeared in May of 1829. [Christopher Sykes says Anne of Geierstein is "Scott's worst novel" but my choice for Scott's worst novel is Count Robert of Paris, which I read 8 Aug 1983.].
The Surgeon's Daughter is a rather slight story about a man who was raised by a Scotch doctor and sought to betray said doctor's daughter to an Indian prince. The story was published in 1827.
Castle Dangerous is a story about the time of 1300 and involves the effort of the Scotch to retake Douglas Castle. Scott changes, as usual, historical facts to suit his fancy, and the story is a far-fetched one,involving a woman who said she'd marry whoever managed to hold Douglas Castle for England for a year and a day. Having read these four Scott novels I have had enough of Scott for now. ( )