Waverley
Sir Walter Scott · 1814 · Novel
It is widely considered the first historical novel, establishing many conventions of the genre, including the use of a fictional protagonist amidst real historical events.
What it is
Set during the Jacobite rising of 1745, it follows the adventures of Edward Waverley as he navigates loyalty between the British crown and the Scottish Highlanders.
↑Inherited from
This work originated its idea. No known prior influences in the dataset.
↓Passed on to(8)
Ivanhoe further solidified Scott's formula of romantic adventure set against a meticulously researched, yet idealized, historical backdrop.
Cooper applied Scott's romantic historical novel formula to the American frontier, idealizing both the landscape and its indigenous inhabitants.
Hugo adopted Scott's method of using a detailed historical setting as a grand backdrop, though with a darker, more critical tone.
Dumas popularized the swashbuckling adventure within a historical setting, building on Scott's romantic portrayal of past eras.
Dickens used the French Revolution as a dramatic stage for personal sacrifice and redemption, a technique pioneered by Scott.
Tolstoy expanded on the idea of individuals caught in the sweep of major historical conflicts, integrating philosophical reflections on history itself.
Wallace created an epic narrative set in ancient Rome, using detailed historical and religious context as a grand stage for personal and spiritual journeys.
Sienkiewicz followed Wallace's success in crafting an epic historical novel set in ancient Rome, focusing on the clash of cultures and early Christianity.
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