Read the text of his address here in the [bulletin] >> [transcript]

Summary of Speech:

His toast was both insightful and witty, reflecting on Scott’s literary and historical significance.

The Burden of Bicentenaries
Trevor-Roper humorously noted that bicentenaries can be overwhelming, risking Scott being "killed" by excessive celebrations, reappraisals, and biographies. He seized the occasion as possibly his last chance to speak on Scott’s legacy.

Scott’s Historical Context

• Scott was a product of Scotland's transformation following the 1707 Union, emerging from a once "backward, inward-looking" country.
• The period after 1745, with the end of Jacobitism, allowed Scotland to modernize, leading to the intellectual advancements of the Scottish Enlightenment.
• Unlike his predecessors, who were eager to shed Scottish identity (referring to Scotland as "North Britain"), Scott reembraced and redefined Scottish history and culture.

Scott’s Dual Nature

• Scott was a complex character, balancing a practical modern life with a deep love for romanticized history.
• He was a rationalist who admired figures like Dr. Johnson and edited works of Dryden and Swift.
• Despite being associated with Romanticism, he was sceptical of superstition and indifferent to religion.
• He rejected both Catholicism and strict Presbyterianism, showing a more pragmatic approach to faith.

Scott’s Political Views

• He was not a Scottish nationalist; rather, he was a British patriot who supported the 1707 Union.
• His historical novels aimed to reconcile Scots with their British identity, much like Maria Edgeworth’s Irish novels sought to support the Anglo-Irish Union.
• He would have been horrified at any movement undermining the Union, preferring Scotland to remain an "inferior sort of Northumberland" rather than seek independence.

Scott’s Literary Legacy

• His novels mythologized Scotland, transforming its image and identity.
• However, he also created a romanticized and somewhat artificial version of Scotland—where Lowlanders admired Highland Jacobites despite historical reality.
• This led to the tartan-clad, romanticized image of Scotland still prominent today.
• His novels inspired European literature and influenced historical philosophy.

Critiques and Satire

• Lord Macaulay mocked how Scott had created an absurd myth where Scots celebrated defeats like Killiecrankie as their own victory.
• Scott himself was sometimes trapped by his myth-making, leading to moments like the overly theatrical visit of George IV to Scotland in 1822.

A Final Call to Read Scott

• Trevor-Roper urged the audience to go back to Scott’s best works—Waverley, Guy Mannering, The Antiquary, Old Mortality, Rob Roy, The Heart of Midlothian, and The Bride of Lammermoor—to appreciate his true literary genius.
• He humorously suggested two ways to honour Scott: opposing unnecessary modern developments (like road-building through Darnick) or, more radically, fulfilling Scott’s alleged wish to "blow up" the statue of William Wallace at Dryburgh Abbey!

Points of Interest:

• Trevor-Roper balanced admiration with sharp critique, acknowledging Scott’s immense contributions while questioning the romanticized legacy he left behind.
• Scott was not a Scottish nationalist but rather a British patriot who sought to integrate Scotland into the Union.
• His novels reshaped Scottish identity but also fostered a mythologized version of its history.
• Despite his flaws and contradictions, Scott remains a literary giant whose best works still deserve to be read.

Read the text of his address here in the [bulletin] >> [transcript]