ABSTRACT
As a relief to the pervading high seriousness of the early numbers of the Quarterly Review, Walter Scott, in the spring of 1810, decided to prepare an article on “the flitting and evanescent productions of the time.” He applied to his bookseller for a selection of them, and a “hamper of the newest and most fashionable novels” was sent to him. In the resultant article, published in May, 1810, Scott described disparagingly the general mediocrity of these Gothic novels, and then added:
Amid these flat imitations of the Castle of Udolpho we lighted unexpectedly upon the work which is the subject of the present article, and, in defiance of the very bad taste in which it is composed, we found ourselves insensibly involved in the perusal, and at times impressed with no common degree of respect for the powers of the author. We have at no time more earnestly desired to extend our voice to a bewildered traveller, than towards this young man, whose taste is so inferior to his powers of imagination and expression, that we never saw a more remarkable instance of genius degraded by the labour in which it is employed. It is the resentment and regret which we experience at witnessing the abuse of these qualities, as well as the wish to hazard a few remarks upon the romantic novel in general, which has induced us (though we are obliged to go back a little) to offer our criticism on the 'Fatal Revenge, or the House of Montorio'.
