The Lady of the Lake

A lost king, a hunted outlaw, and a maiden whose song echoes across the waters of Loch Katrine: The Lady of the Lake is Walter Scott at the height of his poetic powers. First published in 1810, this sweeping narrative poem follows James Fitz-James, a knight who loses his way in the Highland wilds and is sheltered by Ellen Douglas, daughter of the exiled Earl of Moray. Around her gather three suitors—a Highland chief, a noble heir, and the mysterious stranger himself—as old loyalties stir toward open rebellion. The poem that made Loch Katrine a destination and gave the world 'Hail to the Chief' remains a cornerstone of Scottish Romanticism. This edition presents the complete, unabridged original text—all six cantos, with their lyric preludes—accompanied by a new introduction and reader's notes that illuminate the history, landscape, and legend behind the verse. Part of The Founding Texts Library.