December 18: Sir Walter Scott

Heap on more wood!
The wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
~Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish-born author and poet. He is said to have been one of the first English-language authors to experience international influence in his lifetime. He is known for his works Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Lady of the Lake. He is credited with starting the concept of the historical novel and was very popular in America in the 19th century (though some American authors did not appreciate it -- Mark Twain among them!) To read more about him, click here.