The life, work and legacy of one of Scotland’s greatest literary figures will be explored in a new course being offered by Aberdeen University.
Entitled Walter Scott: The Man Behind the Monument, it aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Scott’s work and legacy, while challenging misconceptions.
The free four-week course is being led by Professor Ali Lumsden, director of the University’s Walter Scott Research Centre and honorary librarian at Abbotsford, Scott’s home in the Scottish Borders and home to the historic collections that helped inspire his writing.
It is being hosted digital education platform FutureLearn in partnership with the Abbotsford Trust.
Professor Lumsden will deliver a series of video-based modules as part of the course alongside with the Trust’s Kirsty Archer-Thompson.
“Many people think of Scott as the man who invented the ‘shortbread tin’ image of Scotland, but what this course aims to do is move people beyond this simple and sometimes negative reputation,” Professor Lumsden said.
“While it is true that Scott presented a romantic image of Scotland, his writing also dealt with many of the complex social issues of the day.
“In Rob Roy for example, he writes about the deprived circumstances of Highland society and how that leads to the Jacobite Rising – making clear the link between deprivation and social upheaval, as opposed to any love for the Jacobite cause.
“It’s an interesting analogy because you can ask yourself what motivates someone to become rebellious now, and why people become politically discontented – because you will often find that economic reality lies behind heartfelt political sentiment.
“Scott realised you don’t have to write about the moment you’re living in to write about the issues that are relevant to your own time and that is why his work endures in the modern age.”
Today marks the 248th anniversary of Scott’s birth.
The course officially gets underway on October 7 and registration is now open.