by Walter Scott
ADVERTISEMENT TO THE WAVERLEY NOVELS
IT has been the occasional occupation of the Author of Waverley,for several years past, to revise and correct the voluminousseries of Novels which pass under that name, in order that, ifthey should ever appear as his avowed productions, he might renderthem in some degree deserving of a continuance of the publicfavour with which they have been honoured ever since their firstappearance. For a long period, however, it seemed likely that theimproved and illustrated edition which he meditated would be aposthumous publication. But the course of the events whichoccasioned the disclosure of the Author's name having, in a greatmeasure, restored to him a sort of parental control over theseWorks, he is naturally induced to give them to the press in acorrected, and, he hopes, an improved form, while life and healthpermit the task of revising and illustrating them. Such being hispurpose, it is necessary to say a few words on the plan of theproposed Edition.
In stating it to be revised and corrected, it is not to beinferred that any attempt is made to alter the tenor of thestories, the character of the actors, or the spirit of thedialogue. There is no doubt ample room for emendation in all thesepoints,--but where the tree falls it must lie. Any attempt toobviate criticism, however just, by altering a work already in thehands of the public is generally unsuccessful. In the mostimprobable fiction, the reader still desires some air ofvraisemblance, and does not relish that the incidents of a talefamiliar to him should be altered to suit the taste of critics, orthe caprice of the Author himself. This process of feeling is sonatural, that it may be observed even in children, who cannotendure that a nursery story should be repeated to them differentlyfrom the manner in which it was first told.
But without altering, in the slightest degree, either the story orthe mode of telling it, the Author has taken this opportunity tocorrect errors of the press and slips of the pen. That such shouldexist cannot be wondered at, when it is considered that thePublishers found it their interest to hurry through the press asuccession of the early editions of the various Novels, and thatthe Author had not the usual opportunity of revision. It is hopedthat the present edition will be found free from errors of thataccidental kind.
The Author has also ventured to make some emendations of adifferent character, which, without being such apparent deviationsfrom the original stories as to disturb the reader's oldassociations, will, he thinks, add something to the spirit of thedialogue, narrative, or description. These consist in occasionalpruning where the language is redundant, compression where thestyle is loose, infusion of vigour where it is languid, theexchange of less forcible for more appropriate epithets--slightalterations in short, like the last touches of an artist, whichcontribute to heighten and finish the picture, though aninexperienced eye can hardly detect in what they consist.
The General Preface to the new Edition, and the IntroductoryNotices to each separate work, will contain an account of suchcircumstances attending the first publication of the Novels andTales as may appear interesting in themselves, or proper to becommunicated to the public. The Author also proposes to publish,on this occasion, the various legends, family traditions, orobscure historical facts which have formed the ground-work ofthese Novels, and to give some account of the places where thescenes are laid, when these are altogether, or in part, real; aswell as a statement of particular incidents founded on fact;together with a more copious Glossary, and Notes explanatory ofthe ancient customs and popular superstitions referred to in theRomances.
Upon the whole, it is hoped that the Waverley Novels, in their newdress, will not be found to have lost any part of theirattractions in consequence of receiving illustrations by theAuthor, and undergoing his careful revision.
ABBOTSFORD, January, 1829.