Walter Scott

Scottish, 1771–1832

Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a Scottish novelist, poet, and historian widely credited with inventing the historical novel. Ivanhoe, set in medieval England during the reign of Richard the Lionheart, became an international sensation and established the template for historical fiction. Scott's vivid recreations of Scotland's past in works like Rob Roy and Waverley helped shape the romantic image of the Scottish Highlands.