The Lady of the Lake

*** Original and Unabridged Content. Made available by GOLDEN CLASSIC PRESS***

Synopsis:
The Lady of the Lake is a narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott, 1st published in 1810. Set in the Trossachs region of Scotland, it's composed of six cantos, each of which concerns the action of a single day. The poem has three main plots: the contest among three men, Roderick Dhu, James Fitz-James & Malcolm Graeme, to win the love of Ellen Douglas; the feud & reconciliation of King James V of Scotland & James Douglas; & a war between the lowland Scots (led by James V) & the highland clans (led by Roderick Dhu of Clan Alpine). The poem was tremendously influential in the 19th century, & did much to inspire the Highland Revival. By the late 20th century, however, the poem was virtually forgotten. Its influence is thus indirect: Schubert's Ave Maria, Rossini's La donna del lago (1819), the racist custom of cross burning, the last name of USA abolitionist Frederick Douglass & the song "Hail to the Chief" were all inspired by the poem. It shares its name with the Arthurian character the Lady of the Lake, but other allusions to the legend are scant.