Quentin Durward - Sir Walter Scott
First published 1823.
Sir Walter Scott was an author who lived and wrote in the 18th and 19th century, and was one of the most popular authors of his day. He also was an author of predominantly "historical fiction," meaning that many of his books (this one included) were set in a far earlier time period than he was writing.
This makes reading his works doubly fascinating for me, because we aren't just getting a glimpse into the time period of the novel; we are getting a glimpse into the time period of the novel as interpreted by the time period that Scott lived in. Both are different from our modern culture, and they are individually different from each other as well. So, in Quentin Durward we get a tale of chivalry and honour set in 1468, with the norms of that time explained and justified by the norms of Scott's time - a setting and culture doubly removed from ours.
What about the story, though? Well, we follow our titular hero, Quentin, as he arrives in France from Scotland, hoping to make his mark through military service to one of the powerful figures at play in French politics at that time. He encounters a mysterious merchant (a figure whose identity is revealed by one of the footnotes far before the plot reveals it!) and subsequently is taken into service to the French monarch, Louis XI, with the help of his uncle, who is already one of Louis' Scottish guard. The plot quickly thickens, and Quentin is tasked with helping two women secretly travel to seek refuge from a distant bishop. What he doesn't realise is that the king is secretly wanting the women to be captured by another historical figure for his own political reasons.
A few characters in the story are quite complex: the king is really quite corrupt, yet is also portrayed as honourable and regal when the story requires. Another character, the gypsy Hayraddin, is loyal to Quentin but also has sinister undertones - tones that are emphasised in a way that feels a little too "racial profiling" for a modern audience. Both of these 'villainous' characters seem shaped by the 15th century setting and 19th century storytelling, and it gives a 'foreign' feeling to some of the motivations found throughout the story. Quentin is heroic and noble, but also mistrusts Hayraddin due to his ethnicity - with the story allowing this mistrust to be paid off at various points.
Overall, the story is an interesting look at an early time through the lens of a later period of time. The story is full of honour and a little bit of romance, and is 'adventurous' enough to hold the interest of the reader, while old-fashioned enough that reading it does take a while.
Recommended in the right circumstances.
Completed 11 February 2025.
(2025 Book Challenge - "Different Country/Continent")
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