Waverley

By: Sir Walter Scott

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Waverley by Sir Walter Scott is an enthralling tale of love, war and divided loyalties. Taking place during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, the novel tells the story of proud English officer Edward Waverley.

After being posted to Dundee, Edward eventually befriends chieftain of the Highland Clan Mac-Ivor and falls in love with his beautiful sister Flora. He then renounces his former loyalties in order actively to support Scotland in open rebellion against the Union with England.

The book depicts stunning, romantic panoramas of the Highlands, and is famous for being one of the first historical novels. Its influence extended to many authors, including Dickens, Dumas, Gogol, Stevenson, Thackeray, and Tolstoy.

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Public Domain (P)2018 Naxos AudioBooks

Loved it

I love Walter Scott as a writer, and I love David Rintoul as a narrator, so my reaction to this delightful recording was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Scott’s story is a swashbuckler with a conscience, and one whose mostly happy ending is tinged with sadness at the tremendous losses that have been sustained. Edward Waverley is a dashing hero with a tendency to dither and bumble, which only makes him that much more likable. Some background on the 1745 revolt of Bonnie Prince Charlie is helpful and readily available from Wikipedia and elsewhere.

David Rintoul turns in a riveting performance

David Rintoul turns in a riveting performance (several riveting performances actually), breathing exquisite life into Scott"s carefully drawn characters. A must read -- I mean a must listen to. Bravo!!!

Great story with a great narrator.

The narrator does an excellent job. The voices fit the characters perfectly, even the females.

A classic splendidly told

Scott can hard to read these days - but this magnificent reading brings him back to life. Bravo!

Meandering, slow paced

Set in early 18th century Scotland
Interesting in that respect, otherwise dull. Little plot and a feckless hero.

Superb Historical Novel

"The classic historical novel set during the early 18th century in Scotland during the Jacobite rebellion is a captivating tale that expertly weaves together the complexities of political turmoil, romance, and loyalty. With a backdrop of breathtaking Scottish landscapes, the story unfolds with intrigue and suspense, immersing readers in a world filled with unforgettable characters and a rich tapestry of historical events. Offering a compelling blend of adventure, drama, and historical accuracy, this timeless novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction." - prompt engineered by P. AItch

Fascinating history

As I approach my 9th Decade I had never read anything by Walter Scott until now. This is a highly readable book. The writing is fully accessible (apart from long absence from Latin). I know nothing of Scottish history so am very pleased to have read this exciting account of a momentous time. There is so very much I just do not know of the history and religion of Scotland, but now I have a sense. The many and varied characters, main and subsidiary, were wonderfully drawn. Finally, Scott described the many places where this story is set in a way that makes me want to visit them. Finally finally, Mr Rintouil’s reading was superb. This is a highly engaging historical novel and I will be reading more from Sir Walter Scott.

Excellent Reading of Waverly

As a new reader of Scott's novels, I found Waverly to be a bit underwhelming as a story. The pains Scott goes through to add historical depth and detail to this work is incredible. The story at times, however, falters to leave a distinct impression on a modern reader. I intend to read The Talisman next with the hopes that my understanding of Scott's style and philosophy of art will grow on me. The prose is beautiful. The writing is clearly the product of a master craftsman. It's definitely a novel you should read if you are a fan of historical novels like War and Peace as well as Les Miserables.

A portrait of the Times.

The languid display of erudition not found in modern novels. Also the authors command of five languages and the reader’s mastery thereof.

Slow start

After listening to Ivanhoe, I was looking forward to Waverley and similar adventure. This book is more ponderous than Ivanhoe and less fun. The action really doesn’t begin until around chapter 25 about a third of the way into the book. That said, the characters are very well drawn and the auld sod is enchanting. The performance is remarkable for its range from aristocratic English to Highland brogue.