Antiquary, The by LANG, Andrew and SCOTT, Sir Walter

Illegitimacy, false identity, and bankruptcy are the major elements of Sir Walter Scotts 1816 novel, The Antiquary. Set in the period of the French Revolution, the novels hero, Lovel, struggles to gain repute and the hand of his beloved despite his uncertain parentage. During these pursuits, he befriends the titles antiquary, Johnathan Oldbuck, who finds Lovel a captive audience to his scholarly studies and a tragic likeness to his own disappointments in love. Readers will discover whether Lovels acts of bravery and courage ultimately earn him the birth and fortunes of a nobleman. (Summary by S. Kovalchik)