The Pirate

About the book

In the northern islands of Scotland, Mordaunt Mertoun has grown familiar with the household of Magnus Troil and his daughters Minna and Brenda. His rescue of the shipwrecked Cleveland introduces a charismatic outsider whose arrival changes old friendships and awakens new attachments. Cleveland's uncertain history becomes increasingly important as romantic expectations meet the dangers of maritime adventure. Scott surrounds the central relationships with island customs, Norse memories, sea lore, and the enigmatic presence of Norna, whose claims to unusual knowledge influence those around her. The novel's setting is more than a picturesque background: isolated communities, dangerous waters, and rival interpretations of the past shape what its characters believe possible and whom they are prepared to trust.

• Trust and hidden identity
• Island traditions
• Romantic imagination

Why read it

Read it for Scott's richly imagined northern islands and the tension between familiar loyalties and a stranger's appeal.

English text of the Andrew Lang edition