Scott's View Eildon Hills Scotiana.com 2006
Day after day, in our quest of Scotland, we go deeper and deeper into that fascinating country and like hungry pilgrims on a never ending path we discover new horizons at each turn. So, let us walk on, listening on the road to what people say and write there…
If you could see my library, you couldn’t believe it. Since 2000, the year when we first discovered the country, I have collected many many books by Scottish writers and about Scotland. Janice has been doing the same thing, on the other side of the ocean, both of us dreaming of improbable libraries which would contain the whole of our precious treasures.
If you ask me the ritual question “What three books would you choose to bring with you on a desert island?”, I would immediately answer : I can’t ! To begin with, how could I let behind a single volume of George Mackay Brown or Iain Crichton Smith, my favourite Scottish authors ! I need to have them beside me. Isn’t their writing at the origin of that Scottish pilgrimage which led us as far as Orkney and the Hebrides? Then, on my bedside table, there’s always a book by Kenneth White open on a poem or a geopoetic page, so I could not travel without having several of his books in my bag. And I don’t speak of all those books we’re discovering every day and which make us dream, think and travel, laugh, weep or even thrill. Remember, there’s no computer on a desert island and much time to read ! NO, definitely, I could not choose ! So, why not discover these favourite of ours, one after the other, in Scotiana. We’ve already introduced some of them…
Sir Walter Scott Edinburgh Monument The author and his dog Maida Scotiana 2006
Today, not to lose Rob Roy’s trail, and also because we do love this author, we’re going to enter the world of Sir Walter Scott, one of the most famous Scottish writers, if not the most famous one.
Abbotsford Scotiana.com 2000
Abbotsford Scotiana.com 2001
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So, let us follow Sir Walter and that his faithful dogs on the road of his beloved country, in the heart of the Scottish Borders, and within the rooms of his cherished home at Abbotsford, a beautiful gothic manor which reflects its master and had been built near Melrose, on the banks of the River Tweed.
Abbotsford Walter's study Scotiana.com 2006
During our last visit to Abbotsford, Janice and I promised to read all Walter Scott’s books, including the big volume of his Journal which Michael, a Walter Scott admirer and a very friendly man whom we had met at the reception, had so kindly lent us for the visit. Big challenges, as usual ! But we promised ! And here we were, in Abbotsford, deeply moved and very happy to be there, feeling in each room of this mythical house the presence of the “maître des lieux”… what memories ! To this day we’ve read Rob Roy and Waverley, also Quentin Durward the action of which happens to be situated in Touraine, France (and in the process, I’ve learned a lot of French history), The Highland Widow, My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror, The Tapestried Chamber. We’ve begun to read The Fair Maid of Perth, have made little incursions in Walter Scott’s poetry and big ones in his very interesting Journal.
Now, try to imagine the great writer at his desk…
Abbotsford Sir Walter Scott's study Rob Roy painting Scotiana.com 2007
Abbotsford Sir Walter Scott's study Scotiana.2007
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Guess what? Walter Scott is writing his great novel Rob Roy…
Walter Scott Rob Roy 1st edition 1818 Killin Museum Scotiana.com 2006
About this very interesting book, I will tell you more in my next post… so, stay tuned !
A bientôt. Mairiuna
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