Harold the Dauntless

According to J. G. Lockhart Scott began Harold the Dauntless soon after completing The Bridal of Triermain, that is early in 1813, keeping it before him 'as a congenial plaything, to be taken up whenever the coach brought no proof-sheets to jog him as to serious matters'. Its progress was remarkably erratic. In October 1815 Scott sent Canto 2 to James Ballantyne; on the 21st he is 'while the humour hits going on with Harold the Dauntless'; on 2 November the first canto at least has been, or is in the course of being, printed; and on 22 December Scott says it is nearly finished. But by 16 May 1816 it is still 'in the state of the Bear and Fiddle' and he is planning to resume it shortly. It is not till 14 November 1816 that another claim that it is nearly complete corresponded with reality: on the 22nd Scott informs Morritt that he is finishing it. Sending a copy hot from the press on 31 January 1817 he explains to Lady Louisa Stuart: 'I once thought I should have made it something clever, but it turned vapid upon my imagination; and I finished it at last with hurry and impatience'.