Bricks Without Straw

Summary of the Article:

The article delves into the history of Sir Walter Scott's review of his own works, particularly his first series of Tales of My Landlord (comprising The Black Dwarf and Old Mortality). The review, published in the Quarterly Review of January 1817, is one of the few times Scott directly commented on his novels. There is a longstanding debate about the authorship of this review, as Scott claimed to have collaborated with his friend William Erskine, although there is little concrete evidence that Erskine contributed significantly.

Milne's article examines the manuscript and printed version of the review, uncovering discrepancies between the two. Notably, the manuscript contains a long passage that was omitted from the final published version. Milne suggests that Scott might have taken a more prominent role in the review than initially thought, particularly in defending Old Mortality from critiques by the Reverend Dr. Thomas McCrie. The review ultimately defends Scott's portrayal of the Covenanters in the novel, despite McCrie's arguments that Scott lacked sympathy for them.

Milne also reflects on an encomium of the author in the printed review, which seems somewhat exaggerated for Scott to have written about himself. It raises the possibility that it was added by someone else, like the Quarterly's editor William Gifford or the publisher John Murray.

Key Points of Interest:

1. Collaboration Mystery: Scott's claim of collaborating with Erskine remains unclear, with no substantial evidence of Erskine's involvement in the final product.
2. Manuscript Discrepancy: A long passage from Mr. Blackadder’s narrative about the Battle of Bothwell Bridge was omitted in the final printed review. This change may have been made to allow Scott to directly counter McCrie's criticism.
3. Literary Comparisons: The article contains a strong comparison between Scott and Shakespeare, with a passage praising Scott’s genius in a way that might have been written by someone else, potentially an editor.
4. Refutation of Criticism: Scott’s review presents a firm rebuttal to McCrie’s claim that Old Mortality was unsympathetic to the Covenanters, illustrating Scott’s deeper command of historical sources.

Milne’s article adds complexity to the understanding of Scott’s role in his own literary critique, while also revealing the challenges of studying early 19th-century literary history, where authorship and collaboration were often more ambiguous than today.

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