Professor Sam McKinstry Lecture
Wednesday 21 October 2009
"Sir Walter Scott , money and the credit crunch of 1825"
This lecture by Professor Sam McKinstry of UWS Business School, sets Scott’s literary works in the context of the Industrial Revolution, and relates their production to Scott’s cash flow requirements for building Abbotsford, intended as a dynastic home, as well as to his business involvements.
The UK financial crash of 1825 led to a crisis for Scott, resulting in his bankruptcy. Parallels were drawn in the lecture between this earlier ‘credit crunch’ and the one we are experiencing today, providing an opportunity to re-examine the allegation that Scott was financially careless and wrote mainly for money, rather than for artistic reasons.
