Published in 1821, The Pirate is Walter Scott’s novel set in the remote Shetland Islands in the late seventeenth century — a romantic adventure involving the mysterious Clement Cleveland, whose past and true nature provide the central mystery. Scott drew on his personal visit to Shetland in 1814 to create a vivid portrait of that wild, Norse-influenced culture. This edition was prepared by Andrew Lang, the prolific Scottish scholar and editor.
As an example of Scott’s engagement with the peripheral landscapes and cultures of the British Isles, it offers pleasures distinct from his more familiar Scottish mainland novels. Download this free EPUB from Better Gutenberg for the complete text.