Rob Roy

Rob Roy is an 1817 historical novel by Scottish historian and playwright Sir Walter Scott. It is known as one of his three “Waverly Novels,” books for which he did not claim authorship until after they were widely known, using instead the inscription “by the author of Waverley.” It is narrated by the son of an English trader, Frank Osbaldistone, who breaks ties with his family as a young man over irreconcilable differences in religious belief and life outlook. Spurned, his father, William Osbaldistone, sends him to live with his uncle and cousins, exchanging him for one of the cousins, a boy named Rashleigh. Rashleigh turns out to be a nuisance for William, while Frank becomes entangled in the business exploits of the Scottish outlaw and folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor. The novel explores themes of national identity, morality (especially moral ambiguity), intergenerational conflict, and free will.

At the beginning of the novel, Frank Osbaldistone has just been called back from France, where he was supposed to be learning the ins and outs of William’s merchant business. William sends Frank, along with some money, to the home of Sir Hildebrant Osbaldistone, his uncle, in the north of England. He sends for one of Sir Hildebrand’s sons to take up Frank’s position. While traveling to Sir Hildebrand’s, Frank meets a fellow traveler, Morris, who carries a huge amount of money. They stop at a town inn where they meet Mr. Campbell. Unknown to him, the man is Rob Roy, the Scottish rogue, in disguise. The two men leave the following morning; a highwayman robs Morris as they reach the edge of town. Frank makes it to his uncle’s and meets his cousin, Diana Vernon. Diana warns Frank that his male cousins are all dangerous fools, especially Rashleigh.

Almost immediately, Frank and his cousins mutually conclude that they dislike each other. One evening, when Rashleigh becomes particularly belligerent and drunk, Frank hits him, paradoxically forging a tenuous friendship. Frank learns that Morris has accused him of highway robbery. Rob Roy appears in court to help exonerate Frank. Rashleigh leaves to take Frank’s place in William’s business, and Frank agrees to tutor Diana. Frank is a Presbyterian and Diana is a Catholic, but they nonetheless develop affection for each other. Meanwhile, Frank receives word that Rashleigh has already absconded to Scotland to embezzle money from William and his partner, Mr. Tresham.



Frank journeys to Glasgow to stop Rashleigh from stealing his father’s money. He is joined by Sir Hildebrand’s gardener, Andrew Fairservice. As soon as they arrive, they go to church, where a man whispers to Frank that he is in danger. He asks him to meet on a bridge at midnight. Frank meets him, then accompanies him to a prison, where he discovers Mr. Owen, William’s clerk. Owen is in prison because he has been accused of crimes by two traders in business with William, MacFin and MacVittie. Frank finally learns that Campbell is Rob Roy. After the meeting, Frank sees MacVittie, Rashleigh, and Morris meeting. He confronts Rashleigh in private and they nearly cross swords. Rob Roy stops them from fighting, proclaiming that they are both his friends. From Rashleigh and Rob Roy’s words, Frank deduces that Rob Roy tricked Morris into thinking Frank robbed him.

Frank joins Andrew to find Rob Roy, but they are arrested en route. Rob Roy’s wife, Helen, intercepts them with a party of Scotsmen and orders for Morris to be killed. Meanwhile, Rob Roy is captured, but quickly escapes into the river and swims to safety.

Given the chaos breaking out between the English and the Scots, Frank fears that he will never see Diana again. He encounters her riding through a forest, alongside her father, Sir Frederick Vernon, who has been exiled from Scotland. Diana hands Frank some documents obtained from Rashleigh that exonerate William and Mr. Tresham, securing their fortune.



At the novel’s end, the Jacobite revolt of 1715 begins. Rashleigh changes sides and fights for King George. Sir Hildebrand writes his will, including Frank instead of Rashleigh for his betrayal. He is soon captured by royals and dies in prison. After his four other sons perish, Frank inherits his estate. He makes his way to Osbaldistone Hall to formally claim the estate. Rashleigh appears with an arrest warrant for Diana and Sir Hildebrand but is stopped by Rob Roy, who kills him in a duel. Frank takes control of Osbaldistone Hall. William at first disapproves of his marriage to Diana, but eventually gives his blessing and attends their happy wedding. A fast-paced and chaotic novel, Rob Roy vividly depicts the forms of strife and happiness that were unique to eighteenth-century England and Scotland. Though a revolt breaks out at its very end, its morally redeemable characters’ tensions resolve across national and political boundaries.