Rob Roy is a novel, in essence, that casts history as the world of conspiracy and the theater of illusion. When Rob Roy went on sale on December 31st, 1817, it sold beyond all expectation. By the time Scott sat down to write The Heart of Midlothian, two weeks later, the entire first edition of 10,000 copies had already sold out.

Scott's Rob Roy is a dark tale indeed, a story of political intrigue that features mysterious plots, spies, and secret coming and goings. It's a novel, in essence, that casts history as the world of conspiracy and the theater of illusion.