The Talisman

Known to his contemporaries as "The Wizard of the North," this Scottish novelist and poet won great fame for his richly composed historical novels and romantic tales. His works, which draw heavily on the folklore of the British Isles, include the novels Ivanhoe and Kenilworth and the poem "The Lady of the Lake." Once quite wealthy, Scott was nearly bankrupted by a failed business venture, and spent his last years in debt.