Booknews
The third of Scott's (1771-1832) Waverly Novels is set in Scotland in the last years of the 18th century, and centers around Jonathan Oldbuck, the antiquary, the closest to a self-portrait of any of Scott's characters. This splendid Edinburgh Edition restores the original version drawn directly from Scott's manuscript, accompanied by a critical essay, as well as annotations and a comprehensive glossary. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
NOVEMBER 2023 - AudioFile
Scott's genial romance--mixing elements of comedy, adventure, melodrama, and mystery--presents difficulties that David Rintoul's skilled, heartfelt performance more than overcomes. To defects of its period (published 1816) such as slowness and verbosity, the book adds frequent Latin quotations--glossed-in asides--and conversations in the Scots dialect--sometimes impenetrable, though one usually gathers the gist. While Rintoul's German accent for the book's villain mostly sounds Eastern European, his other accents seem natural, and his rich, resonant voice brings the dialogue to life and enhances the narrative sections. His acting is so vivid and true, his attunement to feeling so fine, his narration so vibrant that his performance sweeps the listener along in the story, delivering far more entertainment than the text alone could provide. W.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
