Sir Walter Scott's The Heart of Midlothian

Edinburgh, 1736: an indignant crowd has gathered in the Grassmarket to watch the execution of a smuggler. Opening with the start of the Porteous Riots, The Heart of Midlothian is one of Walter Scott's most famous historical novels, featuring murder, madness and seduction. A tale of religious piety, filial devotion and legal loopholes, this edition has been expertly reworked for modern audiences by David Purdie.

Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771-21 September 1932) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet, born in Edinburgh's Old Town. Despite the anonymous publication of his first novel, Waverley, Scott became the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his own lifetime, with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia and North America. His novels and poetry are still well-known, and many of his works including Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake and The Heart of Midlothian are regarded as classics of literature. Ivanhoe was Scott's first novel to be set outwith Scotland, being positioned in late 12th Century England. It was allegedly published in 1819.