Quentin Durward

Composition and sources

Quentin Durward was composed in a remarkably short space of time. After carrying out some preparatory research towards the end of 1822 Scott began writing in January 1823 and supplied the finishing sentences in response to a request from his coadjutor James Ballantyne on 3 May.

Scott's principal source was the Mémoires of Philippe de Commines. As usual he adapts historical facts freely in the construction of his fiction, though he generally follows Comines' balanced approach to the character of Louis XI. He was able to make substantial use of other documents and the editorial commentary in the collection in which Comines was included, the first series of the Collection complete des mémoires relatifs a l'histoire de France by [Claude Bernard] Petitot (1819‒26). Occasional details are drawn from a wide range of historians, most of whom were more hostile to Louis. It is likely that some details for Scott's descriptions of northern France were derived from manuscript material deriving from continental journeys by his friend James Skene of Rubislaw. For his gipsy material Scott relied largely on two works: 'Dissertation on the Gipseys ... from the German of H. M. G. Grellmann (1807), and A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, and Present State of the Gypsies by John Hoyland (1816).

Editions

The first edition was published in three volumes in London on 17 May 1823 by Hurst, Robinson, and Co., and in Edinburgh two days later by Archibald Constable and Co. As with all the Waverley novels before 1827 publication was anonymous. The print run was 10,000 and the price one and a half guineas (£1 11s 6d or £1.57½). In 1830 Scott provided Quentin Durward with an introduction and notes for the 'Magnum' edition, where it appeared in two volumes in December 1831 and January 1832.

The standard modern edition, by J. H. Alexander and G. A. M. Wood, was published as Volume 15 of the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels in 2001: this is based on the first edition; the 'Magnum' material appears in Volume 25b.

Plot introduction

The plot centres on the medieval rivalry between Louis XI of France and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Louis incites the citizens of Liège to revolt against Charles, and they seize and murder Charles's brother-in-law, Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège, under the command of Louis's ally, William de la Marck, who was hoping to install his son in Louis de Bourbon's place (a real historical event which occurred in 1482).

At the time of the murder, Louis is present in Charles' camp at Péronne, hoping to fool him with a false display of friendship. Charles, however, sees through his mask of deceit, accuses him of instigating the uprising, and has him imprisoned. Louis's superior coolness of mind permits him to allay Charles's suspicions and to regain his liberty. In a sub-plot, the Burgundian heiress Isabelle de Croye takes refuge at Louis's court when Charles attempts to give her hand in marriage to his odious favourite Campo-Basso. Louis, in turn, resolves to give her in marriage to the bandit-captain William de la Marck, and sends her to Flanders under the pretence of placing her under the protection of the Bishop of Liège. She is guarded on her journey by Quentin Durward, an archer, who has left behind poverty in Scotland to join the Archers of Louis's Scottish Guard. Quentin prevents the intended treachery and earns Isabelle's love. Charles, though, promises her in marriage to the Duke of Orléans (heir to the French crown) but she refuses, and, in anger, the Duke promises her to whoever brings him the head of de la Marck. This Quentin does with the help of his uncle, Ludovic Lesley, and wins Isabelle's hand.

Plot summary

The story takes place in the year 1468. The age of feudalism and chivalry is passing away, and the King of France incites the wealthy citizens of Flanders against his own rebellious vassal the Duke of Burgundy. Quentin Durward comes to Tours, where his uncle is one of the Scottish bodyguard maintained by Louis XI, to seek military service, and is invited by the king, disguised as a merchant, to breakfast at the inn, and supplies by him with money. Narrowly escaped being hanged by the provost-marshal for cutting down Zamet, whom he finds suspended from a tree, he is enlisted by Lord Crawford. In the presence chamber, he is recognised by Louis. The royal party is preparing for a hunting excursion, when the Count of Crèvecœur arrives with a peremptory demand for the instant surrender of the duke's ward, the Countess of Croye, who has fled from Burgundy with her aunt to escape a forced marriage; and proclaims that his master has renounced his allegiance to the crown of France. In the chase which follows, Durward saved the king's life from a boar, for which service Louis, after consulting with his barber, entrusts him with the duty of conducting the countess and Lady Hameline, ostensibly to the protection of the Bishop of Liege, but really so that they might fall into the hands of William de la Marck. After proceeding some distance, they are overtaken by Dunois and the Duke of Orléans, who wanted to seize the countess, but are prevented by Lord Crawford, who arrives in pursuit and takes them prisoner. Then Hayraddin comes riding after them, and under his guidance they journey for nearly a week, when Quentin discovers that the Bohemian is in league with De la Marck. He accordingly alters their route, and they reach the bishop's castle in safety.

A few days afterwards, however, it is assaulted by the citizens, and Hayraddin, having effected Lady Hameline's escape with Marthon, Quentin rush back to save the countess, and, at Gieslaer's suggestion, Pavilion passes them as his daughter and her sweetheart into the great hall where the outlaw, known as the Boar of Ardennes, is feasting with the rioters. The bishop, who is also governor of the city, is then dragged in, and, having denounced his captor, is murdered by a stroke of Nikkel Blok's cleaver. There is a shout for vengeance, but De la Marck summons his soldiers, upon which Quentin holds a dirk at the throat of his son Carl, and exhorts the citizens to return to their homes. With the syndic's help, Lady Isabella and her protector reach Charleroi, where she is placed in a convent, while he carries the news to the Duke of Burgundy, at whose court Louis, with a small retinue, is a guest. Charles, in a furious rage, accuses the king of being privy to the sacrilege and has him treated as a prisoner.

Characters

Principal characters in bold

Quentin Durward, a Scottish cadet

Ludovic Lesley, Le Balafré ('scarred'), his maternal uncle

King Louis XI of France, first seen as Maitre Pierre

Tristan l'Hermite, his provost-marshal

Petit-André, Tristan's assistant

Dame Perrette, hostess of 'The Fleur de Lys'

Isabelle, Countess of Croye, first seen as Dame Perrette's servant Jacqueline

Lady Hameline, her aunt

Lord Crawford, commander of Scottish archers

Count de Dunois, grand huntsman

Louis, Duke of Orléans, the future Louis XII

Cardinal Jean Balue

The Bishop of Auxerre

Olivier le Dain, the court barber

Princess Anne of Beaujeau and Princess Joan, the king's daughters

Philippe de Crèvecœur d'Esquerdes, Count of Burgundy

The Countess, his wife

Toison d'Or, his herald

William de la Marck, the freebooting 'Boar of the Ardennes'

Chapter summary

Volume One

Introduction: In the course of an extended residence in France the Author is inspired by the library and family papers in the Chateau de Hautlieu to produce the narration that follows.

Ch. 1 The Contrast: The calculating Louis XI and the impulsive Charles the Bold of Burgundy are set against each other.

Ch. 2 The Wanderer: Quentin Durward, a Scottish archer in search of mercenary employment in France, encounters Maitre Pierre and a companion; after attending a hunting-mass they approach the royal castle of Plessis.

Ch. 3 The Castle: Maitre Pierre conducts Quentin past the castle to an inn.

Ch. 4 The Dejeuner: Maitre Pierre and Quentin discuss the archer's employment over breakfast. Quentin asks the innkeeper about Maitre Pierre's identity, but he is evasive. In his bedroom Quentin hears a young woman nearby singing 'County Guy' to her lute.

Ch. 5 The Man-at-Arms: Quentin and his uncle Ludovic Lesley (Le Balafré), serving in Louis's Scots Guards, catch up with family news. Quentin and Balafré debate whether it is preferable to serve Louis or Charles.

Ch. 6 The Bohemians: Quentin feels disappointed by Balafré's narrow-mindedness. He is threatened with execution by Louis's provost-marshal Tristan l'Hermite (Maitre Pierre's companion) and his assistant Petit-André for cutting down a hanged gypsy, but he is rescued by a detachment of the Guards under Balafré.

Ch. 7 The Enrolment: Quentin is enlisted into the Guards by their commander Lord Crawford, who says that Isabelle of Croye and her aunt Lady Hameline have arrived to claim Louis's protection after Isabelle's rejection of her guardian Charles's proposal that she marry his favourite Campo-basso.

Ch. 8 The Envoy: At Court Louis, whom Quentin recognises as Maitre Pierre, attempts to mollify the Burgundian envoy Count Crevecœur who has demanded the return of the Croyes.

Reception

The reviews of Quentin Durward were mostly favourable, rating it among the best of the Waverley Novels, though there were a few dissenting voices. Particularly appreciated were the witty Introduction, the contrasting depictions of Louis and Charles, the striking incidents and descriptions, the control of the plot (though some thought it thin), and the vivid presentation of an interesting and unfamiliar period. The most common adverse criticisms were that historical analysis was too prominent, threatening to overpower the fiction, and that the female characters were weak. Sales in Britain were initially rather slow, perhaps because it came too quickly after Peveril of the Peak, but it was an immediate hit on the Continent.

Adaptations

1956 Full color comic book adaptation Quentin Durward by Gaylord DuBois for Dell Comics

1953 comic book adaptation in Thriller Picture Library № 48

1955 movie The Adventures of Quentin Durward, starring Robert Taylor

1971 TV series Quentin Durward

1988 Soviet movie The Adventures of Quentin Durward, The Archer of The King's Guard

an illustrated novel drawn by the Portuguese artist Fernando Bento and first published in the Fifties in the boy's journal Cavaleiro Andante

an opera by François-Auguste Gevaert (1858) on a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré

On Media

The book can be found in the videogame Atomic Heart around the world.