Walter Scott (1771–1832) was an English poet, novelist, and historian. Scottish by origin. The creator and master of the genre of historical novel, in which he managed to merge major historical events and the private lives of the characters. From his pen, bright, lively, multidimensional and original characters emerged not only from real historical characters, but also from fictional ones. For services to his fatherland, Scott was given the title of baronet in 1820. The novel “St. Ronan's Waters,” published in this volume, belongs to the genre of the Gothic novel. Here there are many plot motifs characteristic of him: the secret separating the hero and heroine, their ruined love, brothers - rivals both in love and in inheriting the title, the tragic outcome and death of the heroine... This is the only Scott novel written about the time in which he himself lived author.