Waverley · Chapter
Dedication explained
Walter Scott dedicates his collected works of fiction to King George, expressing humble gratitude for the royal permission to do so, and noting that the stories have provided amusement and relief to readers, thereby contributing to the happ
What happens
Walter Scott dedicates his collected works of fiction to King George, expressing humble gratitude for the royal permission to do so, and noting that the stories have provided amusement and relief to readers, thereby contributing to the happiness of the people.
Characters to notice
- King George
The dedicatee of the volume, addressed as 'Your Majesty' by the author.
Key passages
“The Author of this collection of Works of Fiction would not have presumed to solicit for them your Majesty’s august patronage, were it not that the perusal has been supposed in some instances to have succeeded in amusing hours of relaxation, or relieving those of languor, pain, or anxiety, and therefore must have so far aided the warmest wish of your Majesty’s heart, by contributing in however small a degree to the happiness of your people.”
The author would not have dared to ask for the king's support if the stories had not been found to entertain readers in their leisure time or to ease their boredom, pain, or worry, thus helping to fulfill the king's desire for his subjects' happiness.
Scott justifies the dedication by claiming his fiction serves a public good.