The Heart of Mid-Lothian
Walter Scott
Classic
83 / 3 stars
I enjoyed this more than Ivanhoe, even tho it was set in Scottland in the 1800’s. A woman is trying to save her sister from being hung. The thing that turned me off tho, was the use of the scottish dialect. It was nigh impossible to understand. Thankfully there was a glossary in the back. But how am I supposed to know that “I dinna ken muckle aboot dukes, fools and wee bairns” is supposed to mean “I don’t know much about ducks, fowls and little children”? I don’t like that dialect.
Hooray for Scotland!
There is a Midlothian in the Dallas, Texas metro area. I dinna ken it were a Scottish name.
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I would never read this book again. While “dialects” were the rage at the time, it’s like reading a foreign language and that just turns the book into something different than an ordinary novel.
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I like a few unique vocab words in a novel, especially if they are important concepts in the book’s culture, and I don’t mind using a glossary/pronunciation guide to use them. I learned how to pronounce the Welsh ll sound from a detailed description in The Grey King. But I realize I’m an outlier, and also that it can be overdone.
I don’t use foreign words in my books only because the characters are speaking ancient languages that I don’t presume to make up. But even so, I’ve gotten complaints about the archaic English words I use.
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*deep intake of breath* Blasphemy!
*********
I am kidding. It’s the use of Scots, tho, that made him the nations favourite at the time. I like Sir Walter but I struggle with his writing, too.
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😀
I remember when I read this there was some sort of “introduction” by some big mouth literati who told me more than I ever wanted to know about the book and the times and hte author. I do remember that the dialect was a draw back then. I’m just glad it didn’t become ingrained!
I am also glad I read Ivanhoe first, so I had another book to compare this too.
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