The New Student's Reference Work/Talisman, The

Tal′isman, The, a novel by Scott, was published with The Betrothed in June of 1825, and written in the true spirit of old romance. Most of its incidents are fictitious, though the ideals of the crusading times are made to live again. The spirit of the Holy Land vies with that of the Scottish border. The action takes place in Palestine, the title being derived from an amulet or charmed stone with which Saladin cures King Richard Cœur de Leon in his illness. This he afterwards presents to Sir Kenneth, the hero, finally discovered to be the prince royal of Scotland on his marriage with Edith the sister of Richard. The Talisman has always been a favorite with the young. It glows with bright impossibilities, even to a fault.