For a few years after this period he did comparatively little in the way of editorial work, but his odd moments were occupied in writing about history, travels, and antiquities.[6] In 1820 Scott wrote the _Lives of the Novelists_, which appeared the next year in Ballantyne's _Novelists' Library_.

By this time he had begun, with _Ivanhoe_, to strike out from the Scottish field in which all his first novels had been placed.

The martial pomp prominent in this novel reflects the eager interest with which he was at that time following his son's opening career in the army; just as _Marmion_, written by the young quartermaster of the Edinburgh Light Horse, also expresses the military ardor which was so natural to Scott, and which reminds us of his remark that in those days a regiment of dragoons was tramping through his head day and night.

Probably we might trace many a reason for his literary preoccupations at special times besides those that he has himself commented upon.

In the case of the critical work, however, the matter was usually determined for him by circumstances of a much less intimate sort, such as the appeal of an editor or the appearance of a book which excited his special interest.
When Scott was obliged to make as much money as possible he wrote novels and histories rather than criticism.