The Heart of Mid-Lothian by Walter ScottMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
In 1736 there was a riot during which an unpopular policeman, Captain John Porteous was lynched in Edinburgh. He had been reprieved of the murder of several citizens and some of the local populace resented this, suspecting that justice had not been served. The younger sister of Jeanie Deans, named Effie, had at the same time been accused of killing her own baby, but the body of the child had not been found. When Effie is found guilty Jeanie sets out on a journey to London to plead for the life of her unmarried sister. The story revolves around her journey and the events that befall her on the way. The tale is quite complicated, not least because Effie will not reveal the identity of the father. Her own father is a devoutly religious man and feels that the family’s reputation is deeply tarnished by all that is connected to Effie and the scandal.
There is an interesting court room scene and various encounters with Dukes, Lairds and criminal characters, which reflect some of the curious mores of the 18th century times. Unfortunately, even though I usually enjoy authentic dialect often found in historical novels, Scott’s constant use of the Scottish vernacular made this book very difficult to read with understanding. There were seven pages of glossary at the back of the novel and constantly turning to this completely spoilt the flow of the plot. I was about half way through it before I began to enjoy some of the conversations and exploits experienced by the main characters. Jeanie Deans is a delightful character, while Madge Wildfire and mother are both scary and difficult to accept as real. The Heart of Mid-Lothian is thought by some to be his best novel, and Scott is to be applauded for writing such strong female parts in this book. But it is not his best novel for me. I enjoyed Rob Roy and Waverley much more.
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