The longest of Scott’s novels, this story revolves around Sir Geoffrey Peveril, an old Cavalier, and Major Bridgenorth, a zealous Puritan who are neighboring landowners in Derbyshire during the frenzy of the alleged Popish Plot to depose Charles II in 1678. Their grown children, Julian and Alice, are desperately in love but thwarted because Julian and his father are accused of participating in the plot. The memorable cast of characters are interwoven seamlessly into the action of real historical events, saturated with political intrigue and drama.