Beginning with previously unpublished letters from Effie Gray's childhood, the author has traced the story of the clever little Scots girl who became known as 'The Fair Maid of Perth' and who went on to marry two artistic giants of the 19th century: John Ruskin and John Everett Millais. This is the story of Effie's marriage to John Ruskin.

This new editon of The Fair Maid of Perth reintroduces the formerly neglected later writings of Scott.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

This eBook edition of "The Fair Maid of Perth" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Fair Catharine Glover, daughter of a glovemaker in Perth, kisses Henry, the armourer, while he is sleeping, on Valentine's Day. Catharine has also caught the eye of the Duke of Rothesay, and on St Valentine's morning Henry encountered a party of his courtiers in the act of placing a ladder against her window. Having cut off the hand of one, and seized another, he was saluted by Catharine as her lover and drawn simultaneously into royal intrigue and highland feud.

Set within a framing narrative, these three stories take place in the years following the Jacobite defeat and feature characters who are leaving Scotland to seek their fortunes elsewhere. In two of Walter Scott's best-known tales, "The Highland Widow" and "The Two Drovers," two young men are torn between traditional Scottish loyalties and the opportunities offered by England. "The Surgeon's Daughter" follows three young Scots to India during the first years of the British Empire. All three highlight Scott's unique gift for re-creating the spirit of historical eras and painting stirring portraits of Scottish people.

"The Fair Maid of Perth," the daughter of a sturdy glover of that city, is the central figure of a romance of the time of Robert III of Scotland. Prince David, his dissolute son, is the connecting link between court and people, and the story is likewise concerned with the feuds of warring elans which stained so many pages of Scottish history. The best swordsman in all Perth is the doughty armorer, Henry Smith. Brave in other quarters, however, he is easily frightened by the mere presence of Catharine Glover, the "Fair Maid," whom he loves devotedly. His devotion is soon put to good service in beating off a party of roystering courtiers who have placed a scaling ladder underneath her window with evil intent. He cuts off the hand of Sir John Ramorny in the melee, and the party take to flight. As this is St. Valentine's Eve, Smith is rewarded by being chosen the valentine of Catharine for the ensuing twelvemonth, according to a local custom. Citizens indignant at the attack of the courtiers lay the matter before the provost who in turn brings it before the King. The King learns that his son David, Duke of Rothsay, has been among the roysterers, and he orders that Ramorny—who has been the prince's master of horse—shall be dismissed from his service ...

INTRODUCTORY. The ashes here of murder'd kings Beneath my footsteps sleep; And yonder lies the scene of death, Where Mary learn'd to weep. CAPTAIN MARJORIBANKS. Every quarter of Edinburgh has its own peculiar boast, so that the city together combines within its precincts, if you take the word of the inhabitants on the subject, as much of historical interest as of natural beauty. Our claims in behalf of the Canongate are not the slightest. The Castle may excel us in extent of prospect and sublimity of site; the Calton had always the superiority of its unrivalled panorama, and has of late added that of its towers, and triumphal arches, and the pillars of its Parthenon. The High Street, we acknowledge, had the distinguished honour of being defended by fortifications, of which we can show no vestiges. We will not descend to notice the claims of more upstart districts, called Old New Town and New New Town, not to mention the favourite Moray Place, which is the Newest New Town of all. We will not match ourselves except with our equals, and with our equals in age only, for in dignity we admit of one. We boast being the court end of the town, possessing the Palace and the sepulchral remains of monarchs, and that we have the power to excite, in a degree unknown to the less honoured quarters of the city, the dark and solemn recollections of ancient grandeur, which occupied the precincts of our venerable Abbey from the time of St. David till her deserted halls were once more made glad, and her long silent echoes awakened, by the visit of our present gracious sovereign.