First published in 1816 in the aftermath of Waterloo, The Antiquary deals with the problem of how to understand the past in order to enable the future. It displays Scott's matchless skill at painting the social panorama and in creating vivid characters, from the beggar Edie Ochiltree to the Antiquary himself. The text is based on Scott's own final, authorized version, the 'Magnum Opus' edition of 1829.