Scott as a Historian

Ian Chisholm’s talk focused on Sir Walter Scott as a historian, exploring his historical writings, novels, and their influence on history and culture. He also placed Scott within the Scottish Enlightenment’s historiographical tradition, comparing him to contemporary historians such as David Hume, William Robertson, and Adam Ferguson.

Key Themes of the Talk:

1. Chisholm’s Personal Connection to Scott

• Chisholm mentioned that he is a descendant of Scott’s great-grandfather, making him Scott’s second cousin five times removed.
• His love for history was inspired by Scott’s Tales of a Grandfather, which he read as a child.

2. Scott’s Place in the Scottish Enlightenment Historiography

• The 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment was highly focused on history, with leading thinkers like Hume, Robertson, and Smith.
• Two key approaches to history emerged:

1. Conjectural History – Focused on the progress of society through economic and social change (influenced Karl Marx).
2. Traditional Narrative History – Emphasized great events, rulers, and battles.

• Scott was unique in combining both approaches, making him a narrative historian, antiquarian, and philosophical thinker.

3. Scott’s Historical Works

(i) Tales of a Grandfather (1828-1830)

• Scott’s most famous work of history, written for his six-year-old grandson.
• Aimed at educating young readers with dramatic, engaging storytelling.
• Introduced critical historical analysis, as seen in his correction of Shakespeare’s Macbeth (highlighting the real Macbeth as a just ruler).

(ii) The Life of Napoleon (1827)

• A biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, written in a rushed manner due to financial pressures.
• While deeply researched, full of inaccuracies.

(iii) Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft (1830)

• Explored superstition and folklore through a historical and rational lens.

(iv) Scott’s Approach to History

• Used original sources where possible but relied mostly on printed materials rather than direct research.
• Admired tradition and oral history, believing that poetry and ballads captured the spirit of the past better than chronicles.
• Recognized inaccuracies in history but argued that historical truth is shaped by tradition.

4. Scott’s Historical Novels: The Waverley Series

• Scott’s greatest contribution to history was through his historical novels.
• Blended fiction with historical realism, making history accessible to the public.
• Key themes:The clash between tradition and progress.
• Passive heroes caught between different worlds (e.g., Waverley, Morton, Darsie Latimer).
• Darker, more active figures (Fergus Mac-Ivor, Rob Roy) ultimately doomed by historical progress.

(i) The Model of a Scott Novel

• A civilized Lowlander or Englishman enters a barbarous world (Highlands, Jacobites, Covenanters).
• Through their journey, they observe the old world’s beauty but accept the need for progress.
• Jacobitism is doomed, as Scott sees it as an outdated system resisting inevitable change.

(ii) Scott’s Real Views on Progress

• Accepted that economic and social change was necessary but mourned the loss of old traditions.
• Criticized extreme idealism (e.g., romanticized Jacobitism) but respected the past.
• Balanced nostalgia and realism, reflecting his own divided life—a historian, antiquarian, and modernizing landlord.

5. Scott’s Influence on Popular History and Culture

Scott’s historical influence went far beyond academia, shaping modern perceptions of history in literature, film, and national identity.

(i) Shaping Scottish Identity

• Romanticized Highland culture (kilts, clans, Jacobitism), which became Scotland’s dominant global image.
• Though he portrayed Jacobites as doomed, his novels revived their cultural legacy.

(ii) Influence on the Robin Hood Legend

• In Ivanhoe, Scott transformed Robin Hood into a symbol of Saxon resistance against the Normans.
• This was not historically accurate, but became the standard depiction in later stories and films.

(iii) The Crusades and The Talisman

• Scott depicted Crusaders as brutal and Muslims as civilized, influencing modern views of the Crusades.
• Ridley Scott’s 2004 film Kingdom of Heaven was criticized for being based more on The Talisman than real history.

(iv) The American Civil War

• Mark Twain blamed Scott for inspiring Southern chivalry, claiming Ivanhoe contributed to the Confederate mindset.
• Example of how historical fiction can shape real-world ideologies.

(v) Influence on Historiography

• Scott humanized history, portraying ordinary people alongside kings and generals.
• Inspired historians like Carlyle and G.M. Young, who credited him with making history more engaging and vivid.

Interesting Points from the Talk:

1. Scott’s Historical Accuracy

• He never invented history, but he sometimes misremembered facts or relied on tradition over evidence.
• Criticized false history but believed in preserving oral traditions.

1. Scott as a "Founding Father of Scottish Sociology"

• Explored how different societies functioned (Highlands vs. Lowlands).
• Influenced Karl Marx with ideas on economic and social progress.

1. His Divided Personality

• A nostalgic historian yet a modern landlord and gas company chairman.
• Loved feudal traditions but recognized they had to die out.

1. Scott’s Self-Criticism

• Anonymously reviewed his own novels, mocking their weak plots and passive heroes.

1. His Lasting Cultural Influence

• Turned Jacobites into Scottish icons.
• Redefined Robin Hood.
• Influenced how we see the Crusades.
• Popularized history for general reader.

Conclusion

Ian Chisholm’s talk highlighted Scott’s extraordinary impact as a historian, novelist, and cultural figure. While not always accurate, Scott shaped how generations understand history, bringing the past to life in ways more influential than academic historians. His blend of narrative, conjectural, and antiquarian history ensured that his works remain relevant and widely read today.