
The popularity of the historical novels of Sir Walter Scott (a contemporary and favourable reviewer of Jane Austen) gave rise to costumed balls to which guests would come dressed as characters from his novels (his first in 1814 entitled ‘Waverley’) and groups of friends would try and costume to the same theme for the opening quadrille. Soon any historical dress was acceptable and Waverley balls were even being held in Australia and New Zealand.








