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ADVERTISEMENT　TO　EDITION　1829



　　It　has　been　the　occasional　occupation　of　the　Author　of　Waverley　for
several　years　past　to　revise　and　correct　the　voluminous　series　of
Novels　which　pass　under　that　name；　in　order　that；　if　they　should
ever　appear　as　his　avowed　productions；　he　might　render　them　in
some　degree　deserving　of　a　continuance　of　the　public　favour　with
which　they　have　been　honoured　ever　since　their　first　appearance。　For
a　long　period；　however；　it　seemed　likely　that　the　improved　and　illustrated
edition　which　he　meditated　would　be　a　posthumous　publication。
But　the　course　of　the　events　which　occasioned　the　disclosure　of　the
Author's　name　having　in　a　great　measure　restored　to　him　a　sort　of
parental　control　over　these　Works；　he　is　naturally　induced　to　give
them　to　the　press　in　a　corrected；　and；　he　hopes；　an　improved　form；
while　life　and　health　permit　the　task　of　revising　and　illustrating
them。　Such　being　his　purpose；　it　is　necessary　to　say　a　few　words
on　the　plan　of　the　proposed　Edition。

　　In　stating　it　to　be　revised　and　corrected；　it　is　not　to　be　inferred
that　any　attempt　is　made　to　alter　the　tenor　of　the　stories；　the　character
of　the　actors；　or　the　spirit　of　the　dialogue。　There　is　no　doubt
ample　room　for　emendation　in　all　these　points…but　where　the　tree
falls　it　must　lie。　Any　attempt　to　obviate　criticism；　however　just；
by　altering　a　work　already　in　the　hands　of　the　public；　is　generally
unsuccessful。　In　the　most　improbable　fiction　the　reader　still　desires
some　air　of　vraisemblance；　and　does　not　relish　that　the　incidents　of
a　tale　familiar　to　him　should　be　altered　to　suit　the　taste　of　critics；
or　the　caprice　of　the　author　himself。　This　process　of　feeling　is　so
natural　that　it　may　be　observed　even　in　children；　who　cannot　endure
that　a　nursery　story　should　be　repeated　to　them　differently　from　the
manner　in　which　it　was　first　told。

　　But　without　altering　in　the　slightest　degree　either　the　story　or　the
mode　of　telling　it；　the　Author　has　taken　this　opportunity　to　correct
errors　of　the　press　and　slips　of　the　pen。　That　such　should　exist
cannot　be　wondered　at；　when　it　is　considered　that　the　Publishers
found　it　their　interest　to　hurry　through　the　press　a　succession　of　the
early　editions　of　the　various　Novels；　and　that　the　Author　had　not
the　usual　opportunity　of　revision。　It　is　hoped　that　the　present
edition　will　be　found　free　from　errors　of　that　accidental　kind。

The　Author　has　also　ventured　to　make　some　emendations　of　a
different　character；　which；　without　being　such　apparent　deviations
from　the　original　stories　as　to　disturb　the　reader's　old　associations；
will；　he　thinks；　add　something　to　the　spirit　of　the　dialogue；　narrative；
or　description。　These　consist　in　occasional　pruning　where　the　language
is　redundant；　compression　where　the　style　is　loose；　infusion　of
vigour　where　it　is　languid；　the　exchange　of　less　forcible　for　more
appropriate　epithets…slight　alterations；　in　short；　like　the　last　touches
of　an　artist；　which　contribute　to　heighten　and　finish　the　picture；
though　an　inexperienced　eye　can　hardly　detect　in　what　they　consist。

　　The　General　Preface　to　the　new　Edition；　and　the　Introductory
Notices　to　each　separate　work；　will　contain　an　account　of　such　circumstances
attending　the　first　publication　of　the　Novels　and　Tales
as　may　appear　interesting　in　themselves　or　proper　to　be　communicated
to　the　public。　The　Author　also　proposes　to　publish　on　this　occasion
the　various　legends；　family　traditions；　or　obscure　historical　facts；
which　have　formed　the　ground…work　of　these　Novels；　and　to　give　some
account　of　the　places　where　the　scenes　are　laid；　when　these　are　altogether
or　in　part　real；　as　well　as　a　statement　of　particular　incidents
founded　on　fact；　together　with　a　more　copious　Glossary；　and　Notes
explanatory　of　the　ancient　customs　and　popular　superstitions　referred
to　in　the　Romances。

　　Upon　the　whole；　it　is　hoped　that　the　Waverley　Novels；　in　their
new　dress；　will　not　be　found　to　have　lost　any　part　of　their　attractions
in　consequence　of　receiving　illustrations　by　the　Author；　and　undergoing
his　careful　revision。


　　　Abbotsford；　　January　1829。