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Chapter 1 - Introduction

Walter Scott and the Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2021

Susan Oliver
Affiliation:
University of Essex
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Summary

This chapter explains the book's main argument, establishing why Scott needs to be re-assessed and read as an environmental writer. An identification of the types of environment explored in the ensuing chapters is accompanied by a summary of ecocritical theories that shape the arguments. The concept of land ethics is considered at the outset, to show how Scott anticipated that twentieth-century term introduced by American environmentalist Aldo Leopold. The chapter revises more usual readings of Scott’s work to show how he challenged rather than conformed to conventional picturesque understandings of landscape and rural environments. Explorations of the relationships between cities and rural Scotland show how Scott addressed the division between town and country, including his involvement with the energy (oil and coal gas) industry. Examples are taken from Scott's collected ballads, original poetry, fiction and personal writing as well as from his lifelong activity in land management and environmental stewardship.

Type
Chapter
Information
Walter Scott and the Greening of Scotland
Emergent Ecologies of a Nation
, pp. 1 - 27
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Introduction
  • Susan Oliver, University of Essex
  • Book: Walter Scott and the Greening of Scotland
  • Online publication: 30 July 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108917674.001
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  • Introduction
  • Susan Oliver, University of Essex
  • Book: Walter Scott and the Greening of Scotland
  • Online publication: 30 July 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108917674.001
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Susan Oliver, University of Essex
  • Book: Walter Scott and the Greening of Scotland
  • Online publication: 30 July 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108917674.001
Available formats
×