Although the story is more familiar today as 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian' it was originally published under the title of 'Tales of my Landlord' [Library reference H.S.83-86].
Jedediah Cleishbotham, a supposed schoolmaster and parish-clerk from Gandercleugh, along with his fellow schoolmaster, Peter Pattieson, gathered the stories from the innkeeper of the Wallace Inn before editing and publishing them. This allowed Scott to remain anonymous as the true author of the work.
'The Heart of Mid-Lothian' was published in four volumes as part of the Tales series. It was initially supposed to be a three-volume work, with a different story making up the fourth volume, but Scott ultimately changed his mind.