tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post6965188984360214918..comments2024-03-25T09:01:20.997-07:00Comments on Diary of an Autodidact: Heart of Midlothian by Sir Walter ScottDiary of an Autodidacthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-32426702960097502822021-07-03T11:06:42.995-07:002021-07-03T11:06:42.995-07:00I did read The Black Dwarf years ago, and concur. ...I did read The Black Dwarf years ago, and concur. Pretty meh at best. My current favorite of the Scottish novels is Old Mortality, for its themes of freedom of religion and conscience. But Heart of Midlothian is up there, for the reasons you mention. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-24722431185306098932020-09-19T13:34:10.596-07:002020-09-19T13:34:10.596-07:00In 2003 I decided to throw away all the books I wo...In 2003 I decided to throw away all the books I would never read of the 3000+ books which overfilled my many book cases. This done, there were still a lot left. As a test case I started on Volume 1 of Waverley novels to see whether they were going to have to go as well. They were not easy. They require you to have a half decent memory of what they taught you a long time ago at school of 17th and 18th Century Scottish history. But never mind ... on one at a time to Volume 7 "The Heart of Midlothian."It was not an easy read but enough of it was interesting, particularly the description of the central character, Jeanie, a young woman who could not tell a lie. I was married to one of those. They are extraordinary. Their lives are not easy, but they are whole. A joy and a delight if sometimes uncomfortable. So on and on through the long winding tale until the unbelievable chance encounter with the shiftless character who could make some amends for his shameless behaviour. The encounter was so utterly improbable that I nominated the book as "The worst novel ever written" and ploughed on to the bitter (well, sweet) end.<br />At the end of the whole enterprise I thought that one day I might have a go at re-reading all the Waverley novels and a few weeks ago started again at Volume 1 - this time having recovered some scraps of memory of Scottish history. This time I had very nearly reached the chance encounter which was lurking round the corner. I had fallen in love again with Jeanie, and was so delighted with the faithful description of the sort of person she was, that I was prepared to forgive anything. It got better. She was so uncomplicated. ... to forgive nearly anything. Then there were a whole series of other chance events which made things turn out OK that I had completely forgotten about.<br />So ... the plot may be rubbish, but the dramatis personae may be unusual, but are real.<br />For the record, the really worst novel ever written is the previous story in the Waverley Novels - The Black Dwarf.David Butlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08896643830497878811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-71628743231288349352011-12-01T12:05:03.604-08:002011-12-01T12:05:03.604-08:00Welcome to the blog, Sky! I welcome any and all (c...Welcome to the blog, Sky! I welcome any and all (civil) comments and discussion. It's always nice to meet a fellow Scott fan.Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-82944711635899995702011-11-29T13:15:37.114-08:002011-11-29T13:15:37.114-08:00After reading your review of Holmes on RtK I had t...After reading your review of Holmes on RtK I had to come check out your blog.<br />I fell in love with Scott when I was 9. He is most definitely a neglected author.Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01446914963118461073noreply@blogger.com