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Summary of the Speech:

Dr Archie Turnbull, reflecting on Scott from the perspective of a publisher, framed his address around the enduring vitality of Scott's work and the importance of accurate, engaging editions. He began by commemorating key historical milestones in Scottish publishing, linking them to Scott’s legacy and recent scholarly projects — including the re-publication of The Antiquary, Saint Ronan’s Well, and Redgauntlet, supported by the Bank of Scotland and led by David Hewitt.

Turnbull argued that Scott should be read not as a relic, but as an author alive with “potency,” comparing him to a publisher’s marginalia, always asking: “can this guy write?” He challenged the idea that Scott’s work was slow or steady (as John Betjeman once suggested), instead portraying it as vibrant, daring, and intellectually dynamic.

Turnbull explored Scott’s imaginative metaphors (e.g. coaches as wombs, sentences as waterfalls), his musical prose, and his bold linguistic choices. He gave particular attention to Scott’s mixing of Scots and English, celebrating the cultural duality it reflected. He also highlighted Scott’s deep literary intelligence, noting that references—like Elijah’s cloud or the symbolism of “unharbouring”—reveal a multi-layered narrative technique.

The talk defended Scott against accusations of outdated grammar or slapdash writing, pointing to Old Mortality, composed and published in only 90 days, as an example of intense narrative energy. Turnbull praised Scott’s philosophical Europeanism and noted how his fiction resonated with ideas of progress, modernity, and even Marxist class struggle (Ivanhoe being cited as a key influence on Karl Marx).

Noteworthy Points:

• Editing Legacy: Turnbull referenced the role of editors like David Hewitt in restoring Scott’s texts to scholarly standards—an effort that coincided with the 1994 Club Centenary and marked a transition into its second century.
• Humour and Irony: He quoted Scott mocking James Ballantyne with “whoreson noodles,” showing the author’s feisty personality even in proofs.
• Linguistic Play: The pun on “ladySHIP” and “unHARBOURing her into your own HANDS” in Saint Ronan’s Well highlighted Scott’s witty craftsmanship.
• Multilingual Relevance: Turnbull remarked how Scott’s voice seemed unfamiliar to English readers but natural in European languages like French and Italian, enhancing his reputation abroad.
• Cinematic Prose: He likened Scott’s pacing to “real time” filmmaking, suggesting he might have thrived in cinema alongside Hitchcock.
• Marxist Influence: The Corriere della Sera claimed that Ivanhoe had informed Marx’s class theory, revealing Scott’s overlooked socio-political depth.

Final Verdict:

Turnbull concluded by endorsing V.S. Pritchett’s description of Scott as “the only Shakespearean talent in the English novel,” asserting that once properly edited and republished, Scott's legacy would not just endure, but be re-elevated to its rightful place at the heart of literary tradition.

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