Colloquium on Kenilworth

Summary of the Colloquium:

The event opened warmly, celebrating the first in-person gathering in two years. It featured two speakers:

• Professor J.H. Alexander, distinguished scholar and editor of Kenilworth for the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels.
• Lee A. Simpson, long-standing member of the Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club and passionate advocate for Scott’s work.

J.H. Alexander’s Talk

Alexander offered a meticulous literary analysis of Kenilworth, reflecting on its:

• Narrative control and structure.
• Thematic depth, especially the contrast between public splendour and private misery.
• Use of Shakespearean and Elizabethan motifs and language.
• Intricate, symbolically rich imagery (gold, birds, machinery).
• Strategic literary allusions, especially to Ben Jonson’s The New Inn and Langham’s letter on the Kenilworth entertainments.
• Emphasis on how Scott's motifs and character arcs feed into a tightly constructed tragic conclusion, likened to a “finely tuned machine.”

Alexander highlighted that although Kenilworth isn’t among Scott’s absolute masterpieces (Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian, etc.), it remains dramatically powerful and thematically coherent.

Lee A. Simpson’s Response

Lee's presentation took a more personal and emotional tone. He shared:

• His enduring friendship with the late Fraser Elgin, sparked and sustained through shared readings of Kenilworth.
• How their weekly meetings shaped his understanding of Scott and deepened his appreciation of language, even leading Fraser to tutor him in Latin.
• His admiration for Scott’s linguistic wit, pace, humour, and ability to portray characters with astonishing psychological realism.
• The novel’s accessibility, especially due to its fast-paced beginning and relative lack of dense historical preamble.

Lee praised Scott as a “genius like no other,” noting how his characters come alive through detailed and often humorous prose. He strongly recommended Kenilworth as a good starting point for new Scott readers.

Discussion and Q&A Highlights

• The novel was well-received in its time, praised for its dramatic focus and narrative control.
• Kenilworth is loosely based on historical events surrounding Amy Robsart, who died mysteriously—possibly murdered, possibly by accident.
• The character of Varney provoked questions: his decision to kill Amy was attributed to bitterness and personal ambition.
• Scott’s motivations for writing Kenilworth may have included a desire to create a companion piece to his portrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots in The Abbot, and his love of Elizabethan drama.
• The pacing, linguistic richness, and dramatic structure of the novel were commended.

Interesting Points

• Scott’s Control: Despite his usual free-flowing style, Kenilworth is unusually structured and thematically tight—perhaps due to his legal background or deliberate planning.
• Amy Robsart’s Death: The real historical mystery adds gravitas and depth to the fictionalised account, making Amy’s fate central to the novel’s emotional power.
• Imagery of Machinery and Performance: Scott’s recurring motifs of theatricality and mechanical imagery (especially in the depiction of Varney’s trap) underscore themes of manipulation, control, and tragic inevitability.
• Language as Entertainment: Both Alexander and Lee appreciated Scott’s playful yet precise use of language, with Lee especially drawn to the novel’s humour and rhythm.