"The Fair Maid of Perth" (1828) by Walter Scott belongs among his best historical novels of the Scottish cycle. The struggle of the heir of Robert III for the heart of the simple townswoman Catherine unfolds against the backdrop of Scotland’s life in the 14th century. The rivalry of Catherine’s suitors and the clash of interests among different clans are skillfully woven into the complex and harmonious fabric of the novel, creating the kind of drama typical of Scott—so appealing to his contemporaries and still resonating with today’s reader.