The Posthumous British Editions of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels, 1832-1871, And the Evolution of his Literary Legacy

Abstract

This thesis argues for the importance of the posthumous editions of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels in shaping his literary reputation between 1832 and 1871. In the series of editions published by Robert Cadell and later A. & C. Black between Scott's death and the centenary of his birth, changes were made to the paratextual presentation of the novels, particularly through illustrations and notes. By tracing these changes, I will show how Scott's literary legacy evolves over this crucial period. Furthermore, by demonstrating that these posthumous editions reached a far wider audience than ever before, I will suggest that these editions, rather than any published during Scott's lifetime, most powerfully shaped his status as a cultural icon in the nineteenth century. These editions are, thus, still important to the way that Sir Walter Scott's place in the literary canon is understood.