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Telegrams: Amberley, Glos. Telephone: Amberley 14. Station: Stroud. C.W.R.
LITTLEWORTH HOUSE, AMBERLEY, Gloucestershire.
April 27th 1932
Lieut. Colonel John Buchan, M. P.,
Dear Sir,
I have just read with extreme interest your book on Sir Walter Scott, and I am venturing to write and tell you how much I have enjoyed it. I was brought up on Walter Scott, and my mother used to read his books aloud to us when we were small boys, 65 years ago, and I think by the time I was 14 I had read all his novels, except "St. Ronan's Well" and some of the shorter stories . From time to time I reread them, and of recent years have read many of them over again more than once. A few years ago I read Lockhart's Life of Scott with intense interest, because it threw so much light upon the Novels themselves, the characters which they portrayed, and the circumstances under which the y were written; and now your book will enable me to reread some of them, at any rate, with added interest. Whenever I talke one down from my shelves, I shall look at your book to see what you have to say about it .
My father was also a great admirer of Scott's Novels, and he and I used to argue as to which was the best. He favoured "The Heart of Midlothian" whereas I placed
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f'irst of all, and still place first "The Antiquary." I have heard him say more than once that he thought one of' the finest passages in Scott's Novels was the description of the interview between Jeanie Deans, The Queen, the Duke of Argyll and Lady Suffolk. I am interested to see that you also quote this passage as being of outstanding merit. I wonder whether you have ever noticed (no doubt you have) the words which Scott puts into the Queen 's mouth when Jeanie Deans has finished speaking. 'This is eloquence' said Her Majesty to the Duke of Argyll."
Scott makes the Queen as it were praise his own writing, and for a moment places himself' in the position of the Queen, without any intention of self-laudation.
While I agree with you and my f'ather that this is one of the finest passages in Scott, I think on the whole "The Antiquary" is the finer novel. The contrast in character between Monkbarns and his nephew Hector M'Intyre, between Sir Arthur Wardour and Lord Glenallan, the wonderful way in which he has painted old Edie Ochiltree, must fill everyone with admiration. The character of poor Lord Glenallan is one of the most pathetic in fiction, and the scene where Monkbarns goes to see the old boatman the morning after the storm, and the meeting between Elspeth of Craigburnfoot and Lord Glenallan are wonderful
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Telegrams: Amberley, Glos. Telephone: Amberley 14. Station: Stroud. C.W.R.
LITTLEWORTH HOUSE, AMBERLEY, Gloucestershire.
bits of writing. The tragedy is that young people nowadays have no appreciation of Scott whatever. Scott's Novels are like a diamond mine; one must dig a little to find the gems, and they have not the patience to do so. I can only hope that the centenary of his death may revive a love of Scott, and if, when anyone takes one of his books from the shelf, he will at the same time read what you have to say about it, I cannot help thinking that he will be able to realise something of Scott's wonderful charm.
I can only say personally that I thank you for writing a book which has helped me to a deeper understanding of Scott, and given me very great pleasure to read.
Believe me, Yours faithfully, Stanley Marling
P.S. Today I have had lunching with me General Banon, who was President of the Fiyfishers' Club this year when you were the Guest of Honour at the Annual Dinner. Like the General, I have been a member of the Club now for a good many years, and was glad to hear from him that you were also going to join it.
