Book Minute: Sir Walter Scott

Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott is considered to be the inventor of the historical novel. His best-known work, Ivanhoe, published in 1819, but set in 12th-century medieval England, helped shape the legend of Robin Hood.
During his last illness, resting in his library of nearly twenty thousand books, Sir Walter expressed a desire to be read to. His son-in-law considered the vast collection and asked what book he would like. Sir Walter responded, “Need you ask? There is but one.” The younger man then read aloud chapter 14 from John’s Gospel which includes the well-known words of Jesus, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Afterwards, Sir Walter said, “Well that is a great comfort.”
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