Author expects backlash over his shorter Ivanhoe

Friday 19 October 2012

A NEW version of Sir Walter Scott's most famous novel, Ivanhoe, has been released – with the text cut in half to make it more accessible to 21st century readers.

Custom byline text:

George Mair

Its writer, Professor David Purdie, chairman of the Sir Walter Scott Club, said he was braced for criticism after he spent 18 months chopping the epic 1819 text from 179,000 words to just 95,000.

The famous book tells the story of a 12th-century knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe. However, the Edinburgh author's epic chivalric romance, featuring jousting knights and courtly passion, fails to appeal to many modern readers.

The new book, minus "excessive description and extraneous punctuation", will also be published in e-book form to introduce the "father of the historical novel" to a new readership.It has already been welcomed by another Edinburgh author, Alexander McCall Smith, who said: "This is exactly what's needed in order to rescue Sir Walter Scott."Mr Purdie said: "The paradox of Sir Walter Scott is he remains much admired, but little read. The collected works of Scotland's greatest novelist adorned the bookshelves of our grandparents, the attics of our parents and the pulp mills of today. That is a pity."The general opinion has grown that Scott, as a novelist, is 'difficult'."This impression seems to be generated by the fact he wrote at a time when the printed word was the central means of communication; when attention spans were longer, distractions fewer and the historical novel a brilliant innovation."Scott is still studied in college and university courses in the UK and in continental Europe, where his seminal contribution to romance literature is secure."However, the non-academic educated reader seems to find him prolix in dialogue, rambling in description, meandering in plot and, well, just too long."However, Mr Purdie said some members of the 119-year-old Sir Walter Scott Club see the paperback as "toying" with the text. He added: "I am braced for criticism of the very concept of such an abridgement."Whatever the motive, no-one adjusts the text, or the score, or the brushwork of a master and escapes with impunity, 'scaithless' as Scott himself would say."However, if the present abridgement literally and metaphorically epitomises this great novel; if it leads modern readers back to the original masterpiece – and indeed to our greatest novelist himself, it will have served its purpose."Gavin MacDougall, director of publishers Luath Press, said: "I think it will attract a lot of interest."Official launch events will be held on Tuesday in Edinburgh and November 1 at Abbotsford, the Borders home of Sir Walter.Sir Walter, born in Edinburgh's Old Town, was a phenomenon in the 19th century.He published his first novel, Waverley, anonymously, at the age of 44, becoming the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his own lifetime.

Contextual targeting label:

Arts and Entertainment

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Author expects backlash over his shorter Ivanhoe

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED