The Antiquary

The Antiquary (1816) is a novel by Sir Walter Scott, in which one of the central characters is an amateur historian, archaeologist and collector of items of dubious antiquity. Although the eponymous character, he is not necessarily the hero, as many of the characters around him undergo far more significant journeys or change. Instead, he provides a central figure (and location) for other more exciting characters and events - on which he provides a sardonic commentary. The book is written in the third person so even the narrative does not remain with the antiquary.

This is Scott's gothic novel, redolent with family secrets, stories of hidden treasure and hopeless love, with a mysterious, handsome, young man, benighted aristocracy and a night-time funeral procession to a ruined abbey, no less. But the romance and mystery is counterpoised by some of Scott's more down-to-earth characters, and grittily unromantic events.

— Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.