Rob Roy

Read by James Robertson

To me the finest passages in Scott's fiction are those in which his Scots-speaking characters get fully into their stride. The narrative of Rob Roy drags occasionally, especially in the first few chapters, but this is more than compensated for deeper into the novel by the wonderful dialogue of two of Scott's finest creations, Bailie Nicol Jarvie and Andrew Fairservice. This passage is a good example of their sparring.

In this passage from Rob Roy - Frank Osbaldistone, Bailie Nicol Jarvie and Andrew Fairservice are on their way into the Highlands near Loch Lomond to meet with Rob Roy himself. Baillie Nicol Jarvie and Andrew Fairservice cannot abide each other.

December 2009

James Robertson is a celebrated Scottish author, poet and editor born in 1958. He has written acclaimed novels, short stories and poetry, often engaging with Scottish history and culture. Co-founder of the Scots language imprint Itchy Coo, he champions writing in English and Scots.

Text used with permission of Edinburgh University Press [The Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels]