The write stuff? Scott is too boring to name a street after him, teacher claims
HE is known as the father of historical novels and his work is loved around the world.
There is a monument to the literary achievements of Sir Walter Scott in Edinburgh – and now Fife Council wants to name a road after him in the village of Saline, where he often stayed.
However, a retired English teacher is campaigning against the plan, branding the author of works including Ivanhoe and Rob Roy ‘boring’.
Colin Stuart also claims Scott ‘despised’ ordinary working people and says that to name a street in the former mining community Sir Walter Scott Wynd is an ‘insult’.
In a letter of objection to Saline and Steelend Community Council, Mr Stuart wrote: ‘Set aside that he is the most tedious, boring, long-winded writer in Scottish history, he also despised the common people of Scotland, unless they were properly humble and knew their place.’
Mr Stuart, who is understood to have taught English at Queen Anne High School in the nearby town of Dunfermline, added: ‘He was no people’s champion! If anything Scott would have been against the working people of Saline. He only ever visited the area a couple of times.’
Mr Stuart claims in his letter that it would be ‘more appropriate’ to honour ‘those who have been good servants to their community’.
He suggests Annie S Swan, whom he describes as ‘an incredibly popular novelist in the 20th century’ who ‘lived in the village for many years’. Other residents suggested more time and money be spent on more important matters.
One, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Frankly there are much bigger issues in Saline – like the lack of play parks. In true Fife Council fashion they’ve not listened to what the village needs.’
Community council chairman David Chisholm said: ‘When I saw Mr Stuart I was really impressed by his knowledge of Walter Scott and his knowledge of political history.’
However, Robert Irvine, senior lecturer in Edinburgh University’s English literature department, said: ‘Anyone who thinks of Scott as a kind of cartoon villain of Scottish culture clearly has not read the novels.’