Waverley
by Walter Scott
Waverley is Walter Scott's first novel, published anonymously in three volumes by Archibald Constable in Edinburgh on 7 July 1814, with Longman issuing it in London that month. A young English officer is drawn into the 1745 Jacobite rising. The first 1,000 copies sold out in two days.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First published
- Archibald Constable and Co., Edinburgh, 1814
- Series
- Waverley Novels
Waverley by Walter Scott was first published in 1814. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- DeWolfe, Fiske1829 Hardback · Waverley Novels 1 I own Waverley, DeWolfe, Fiske 1829 Log in to want this
- Cadell1830 Hardback · Waverley Novels 1 I own Waverley, Cadell 1830 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Setting and characters
- Set in
- Scotland
- Genre
- picaresque novel, Bildungsroman, historical fiction
Read next
- Followed by
- Guy Mannering
In print
- Editions recorded
- 12 on Open Library, 10 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 22 languages
- Free to read
- Project Gutenberg (out of copyright in the US)
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of Waverley are there?
We track 2 editions of Waverley. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was Waverley first published?
Waverley by Walter Scott was first published in 1814.
What should I read after Waverley?
In order, it is followed by Guy Mannering, according to Wikidata.
Can I read Waverley for free?
Yes: the text is out of copyright in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg. Collectors still pay for the first edition, which is the physical object, not the words.
Where these facts come from
- Waverley (novel), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Waverley, Walter Scott Digital Archive, University of Edinburgh (walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 22 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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