Ivanhoe (Unabriged)

By Sir Walter Scott

Ivanhoe is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott. Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the English nobility was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favor with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king, Richard I of England. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by the Duke of Austria on his way back, was believed to still be in the arms of his captors. The legendary Robin Hood, initially under the name of Locksley, is also a character in the story, as are his "merry men". The character that Scott gave to Robin Hood in Ivanhoe helped shape the modern notion of this figure as a cheery noble outlaw.

Other major characters include Ivanhoe's intractable father, Cedric, one of the few remaining Saxon lords; various Knights Templar, most notable of which is Brian de Bois-Guilbert, primary rival of the protagonist; and a number of churchmen; the loyal serfs Gurth the swineherd and the jester Wamba, whose observations punctuate much of the action; and the Jewish moneylender, Isaac of York, who is equally passionate about his people and his daughter, Rebecca. The book was written and published during a period of increasing struggle for emancipation of the Jews in England, and there are frequent references to injustice against them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Jun 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9783736802902

Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott was born in Scotland in 1771 and achieved international fame with his work. In 1813 he was offered the position of Poet Laureate, but turned it down. Scott mainly wrote poetry before trying his hand at novels. His first novel, Waverley, was published anonymously, as were many novels that he wrote later, despite the fact that his identity became widely known.

Reviews for Ivanhoe (Unabriged)

[nx74defiant · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Slow, difficult read.

[craiglucas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great Classic story. The ending was a bit of a let down, as it seemed a bit rushed. The language used thoughout was overly wordy and difficult to read. It would be great if modernised.

[lunanshee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scott’s classic epic following the adventures of a disinherited knight who fights to restore Richard the Lion Heart to his throne and to regain his own honor. Battles, intrigue and romance abound in this heroic tale. Surprisingly easy to read and quite enjoyable. Ivanhoe reads like a fast-paced ballad and, although it is a long story, the action is evenly spread throughout. I would recommend this classic to anyone who enjoys an epic tale about knights, Templars, friars, lords, ladies and kings. Popular folk heroes Robin Hood, the Black Knight and Friar Tuck also make cameo appearances.

[thorold_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ivanhoe is one of those books that is so much a part of our culture it's almost redundant to read it, like David Copperfield, The great Gatsby, or whatever. Every book, film, or TV series of the last 190 years that has anything to do with medieval England, knights, jousting, castles, Templars, crusaders, Robin Hood, Richard Coeur de Lion, or whatever has to engage in some way with Ivanhoe: whether it builds on Scott's version of the events or debunks it. Picking holes is easy. Scott rearranged historical events to match his story, and generally used whatever interesting ideas he could pick up from medieval and antiquarian texts, without worrying too much about which century they referred to. But that's hardly the point: it's a glorious romp through medieval England, and we're there to enjoy ourselves, not to be pedantic. Knights are bold, Normans nasty, priests devious, and Robin Hood and his men are prepared to take on all comers if there's the chance of a good fight followed by a feast under the trysting tree. Volume one has a tournament as its climax; in volume two the evil baron's castle is besieged; and in volume three there is a trial by combat. What more could you want from a story?Scott's technique is rather Shakespearean - the "important" characters come on with a flourish of trumpets and do their stuff, but it's only in their dialogues with minor characters that we really get to know them. Ivanhoe himself is rather elusive as a hero - we only meet him rather briefly at the beginning and end of the book, and he's unconscious for just about the whole of volume two. The swineherd Gurth, the jester Wamba, and the superb Friar Tuck are the really interesting, memorable characters, who help us to work through the moral dilemmas of the plot. What's surprising about the book, if we remember it as just an adventure story, is that there are real moral dilemmas confronting the characters. Even in the trial scene, where the reader might expect little more than a show trial, Scott gives free rein to his inner lawyer, and we work systematically through the legal basis for the trial, the motivations of accuser and accused, and the testimonies of the witnesses. Even though we know the result has been pre-cooked, all the characters involved are reminded that they have a moral choice to make. This also comes out strikingly in the relations between the two women and their abductors. Neither de Bracy nor de Bois-Guilbert is quite sure what to do next when the maiden he has captured puts up a spirited resistance: we get to see the situation from the villains' point of view for a little bit and even feel sorry for them when they try to repent their crimes and win the hearts of their victims.An underlying theme of the whole book is the "Norman Yoke" idea: England in the 12th century still feels like an occupied country. The language divide is foregrounded to draw our attention to this. In the opening sequence, Wamba reminds us that Saxon pigs, sheep and cows become Norman pork, mutton and beef when they end up on someone else's plate. Scott probably wasn't aware that these distinctions only became firmly established in the 18th century, but it's an effective and memorable image. Cedric, the crusty Saxon thane who refuses to speak French or even move more than three steps from his table to greet a Norman guest, is a dignified but faintly ridiculous symbol of the old ways - Scott was surely thinking of the Scottish chieftains he depicts in his earlier Jacobite novels, refusing to acknowledge the Hannoverians and drinking to the king "over the water".Uncomfortable for the modern reader is Scott's treatment of the Jewish characters, Isaac and Rebecca. Rebecca is great, a feisty heroine who gains independence and self-sufficiency from her exclusion from English society (apart from herself, the Jewish community in Ivanhoe consists exclusively of old men). Isaac, however, comes over as someone who has stepped straight out of The merchant of Venice. Scott goes to some lengths to present them as human beings with normal human motives and emotions ("Hath not a Jew eyes...?"), and to show us that the prejudices of the time against Jews are either unfounded or self-fulfilling (e.g. Jews that are seen as miserly because the only profession we allow them to follow is banking). However, he clearly doesn't like Jews himself, and reinforces the stereotypes in between undermining them.As Thackeray, and many others since, have said, we feel at the end of the book that Ivanhoe married the wrong girl. Rebecca was probably well out of it - it's nice to imagine that she will meet someone more interesting and intelligent than the Silent Knight in the livelier atmosphere of Moorish Spain. Thackeray, of course, kills off Rowena in his sequel, and has Rebecca convert to Christianity so that she can marry Ivanhoe.

[tadad_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Knights, adventure, intrigue—it's got it all.

[teenbookreviews · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scott’s classic epic following the adventures of a disinherited knight who fights to restore Richard the Lion Heart to his throne and to regain his own honor. Battles, intrigue and romance abound in this heroic tale. Surprisingly easy to read and quite enjoyable. Ivanhoe reads like a fast-paced ballad and, although it is a long story, the action is evenly spread throughout. I would recommend this classic to anyone who enjoys an epic tale about knights, Templars, friars, lords, ladies and kings. Popular folk heroes Robin Hood, the Black Knight and Friar Tuck also make cameo appearances.

[jaygheiser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable rollicking adventure with damsels in distress, Robin Hood & Merry Men, Richard Lionheart

[kirstie3m · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An exciting rollicking adventure, expertly written. Highly recommended.

[robinamelia · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Filling in the void while waiting for Martin's Dance with Dragons, I thought this classic novel of chivalry and Robin Hood would fit the bill. Certainly, it did offer more tournaments and jousting. But to my surprise, the plot revolved around Christian anti-semitism, an issue, it seems, I cannot escape. Condemning it more directly than his model, Shakespeare, did in Merchant of Venice, nonetheless, he can only hope to create sympathy for a Jew(ess) by making her the most beautiful, heroic and selfless creature to ever walk the earth. Since no real Jews can measure up, apparently this book so central to the English literary canon has not accomplished much in combating the endemic British dislike of the Jews. Perhaps because it dealt with attitudes so prevalent in the world today, I found the book at times painful to read, even though I suspected correctly that all would end (relatively) well. Dense with description and a narrative voice at times intrusive to contemporary readers, the book still deserves to be read.

[bhenry11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My version of this book was abridged for a middle-school audience, and published in 1936 as part of the Heath Golden Key Series. That said, it was still 464 pages long and written in early 19th-century English purporting to be Middle English. What that means is that it sometimes takes Scott three paragraphs or longer to have a character say "No thank you, I'm not hungry." Ivanhoe is a stupendous work of historical fiction, mixing the best romantic chivalrous pursuits of knights, fair maidens, and swashbuckling peasants and outlaws with double-crosses and villainy straight out of an Errol Flynn movie (until you realize that Hollywood in all likelihood stole their greatest plot devices from Scott and the rest of the canon). It's a love story full of virtue, love, friendship, trust in combat, ambition, and, most unsettling, anti-semitism. In fact, it was very hard for me to get past the rampant anti-semitism in the writing and dialogue, even between the good guys (Richard the Lion-hearted, Robin Hood, and Ivanhoe).The story gets a little weak towards the conclusion — the fate of Athelstane comes to mind, as does the unsatisfying end to Brian de Bois-Guilbert, the Knight Templar — but that's okay. It's a page-turner of a classic, full of funny-named helpers (Gurth, Wamba), knights in disguise, and virtuous women.Recommended.

[zumbanista · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting read for me as Ivanhoe is often credited as the progenitor of the historical fiction genre, which I enjoy. I didn't love it, but was happy to have read it. Some of the issues I had were:Some, but not all, parts of the story were a little tame. I think this might be because in our era we've become inured to violence which is much more graphic and widely accepted in books, TV, movies and video games.I was glad to read this on my Kindle so I had instant access to a dictionary and Google. Many of the words I looked up were not found. I wasn't sure if this was because of the language during Scott's era or if he tried to use medieval language. My Googling ended up slowing down my reading as I became sidetracked learning about the Normans, Crusades, the Plantagents and many other interesting bits of research.The anti-semetism and role of women was very thought provoking and quite a contrast from our current era.I was unsure Scott's narrative method entirely worked for me:Example 1: using a third party to describe action (Rebecca's retelling of the assault on the castle)Example 2: slowing down the progress of the story to go back and fill in parts of prior events of some of the characters.I didn't think the "Merry Men" were adequately identified and Richard the Lion Heart was too saintly.On the plus side:The Tournament and battle scenes were very well written and engaging.The twisty resurrection was innovative.It's quite a complex plot, and understandable in spite of the archaic language.All in all, it deserves its place in classic literature, but perhaps not a "wow" for me.

[bookson23rd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

IVANHOE, by Sir Walter Scott, is a great little story set in Medieval England. The title character is the disowned son of Cedric the Saxon and in the beginning of the story Ivanhoe is returning to his home ground, hiding his identity behind a knight’s helmet.
There is plenty of action with lists (knights fighting each other as entertainment), kidnappings, rescues, damsels in distress, arson, feasting, and the storming of castles. In fact, the storming of the castle was one of the best parts.
At first the style in which the characters speak took some getting used to. I liked the humor and wit of Wamba the Jester. I disliked the anti-climatic ending and think that the fate of Brian de Bois-Guilbert was a cop-out. Still, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in Medieval times.

[hamburgerclan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Now I know why bookstores have different sections for fiction and literature. Just before reading this, I read The Ivanhoe Gambit, which is based on Ivanhoe. I thought Gambit to be a good book. But it is quite pale in comparison to Ivanhoe itself. The plot, the characters and the descriptions of the setting have much more depth than the same in Mr. Hawke's work. I was half tempted to believe that I was meeting real people in 12th Century England. (Of course, I should also point out that Ivanhoe is a much longer book...) Anyway, the tale centers on Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight who has returned from a crusade in the Holy Land. His father has disowned him, because he dared to love the noble Rowena against the old man's wishes. His nation is under the power of Prince John, the dishonest brother of King Richard, who is looking to seize the throne for himself and who would not welcome Wilfred, a loyal follower of the King. What follows is a masterful tale of chivalry, politics and romance played out by realistic characters. The 18th century English of the book is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely worth the effort to read. It's a book for which I'll have to find space on my shelf.--J.

[atimco-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ah, Ivanhoe. You have it all: beautiful ladies, brave and desperate knights, daring feats in the lists, breaking lances and shattered spears, courtesy and gentility and even Robin Hood. You have all the beauty of the chivalric age... and all its ugliness, too. The bigotry of the Norman toward the Saxon is eclipsed only by the virulent anti-Semitism of the period, when reviling and even killing Jews was considered praiseworthy service to God. The story is well known: Ivanhoe, a young Saxon knight, has been disinherited by his father Cedric for daring to love his ward Rowena, whom Cedric desires to marry Athelstane, descendant of the last Saxon kings in England. In his brother Richard's absence in the Holy Land, Prince John is scheming to take the throne. Three of his strongest supporters, Bois-Guilbert, De Bracy, and Front-de-Boeuf, become involved in a kidnapping scheme to carry off Rowena as well as a young and beautiful Jewess, Rebecca, whose father Isaac of York is John's moneylender. My favorite character is Rebecca, hands down. She is supposed to be secondary to the lovely and regal Rowena, but even Scott admits that Rebecca is more interesting. Poor Rowena... she has a great moment in her defiance of De Bracy, so imperious and dignified and unbending. I was even thinking of using that passage to argue for her not being such a wimp as she is usually colored, but then Scott completely undermines her courage by saying that she only exercises it because she is so used to getting her own way in Cedric's household and couldn't imagine anyone not giving way to her wishes. When De Bracy proves a firmer man than her guardian, Rowena takes refuge in her only remaining defense: a flood of tears that routs him from the room, if not from his purpose. After that collapse, Scott mercifully does not allow her to be further tested... because she might just crumple under the pressure — !But not so with Rebecca. She is made of sterner stuff, and the scenes of her defiance toward Bois-Guilbert are thrilling to read. Who can read of her courage and not root for her, even while wishing she would bend just a little so she could survive? But then she wouldn't be Rebecca, would she? I thought the minor character of Ulrica was fascinating... a sort of precursor to the mad Bertha of Jane Eyre. There are several striking likenesses: a woman used for her beauty, insane, who sets fire to the castle of her imprisonment for revenge and perishes the night of the conflagration. Although, Ulrica wasn't locked in the attic and she is perhaps a shade more complex than the simply insane Bertha, because of her willing compliance in her degradation. In any case, it's masterful what Scott is able to do with even the minor characters. Speaking of whom, how about Wamba? Is he not the best fool ever? I don't understand why people think classic novels are dry. Scott evinces quite a wit and sense of humor with the humble jester of Cedric's household. Athelstane is another character who amuses me, with his stolid passion for food and drink while Cedric is trying to urge him to think on higher things. Haha!Ivanhoe himself is not much characterized in the story. He is very honorable and mighty in battle, faithful to a fault but not entirely free of the prejudices of his time and rank. He shows mercy to the despised Jew Isaac of York, but there is contempt mixed with his care. And I didn't much like how after his marriage to Rowena, his thoughts wandered to Rebecca "more frequently than the fair descendant of Alfred might altogether have approved." I guess that's fairly realistic though. And the villains... they don't make them like this nowadays! They are mighty men, competent, strong, honorable according to their code, and not easily thrown off. There is almost something admirable about them... and that's what makes them such splendid villains. Selfish, proud, and wrongheaded as he is, Brian Bois-Guilbert nevertheless retains a vestige of attraction and fascination. He does nothing halfheartedly. Maurice De Bracy is another villain I couldn't quite hate; he's foolish, but there is something warm and pleasant about him. At least he escaped the heavier fate of his two partners in crime, Bois-Guilbert and Front-de-Boeuf. Overall, Ivanhoe is a thrilling read, for all its intricate language and sentence structure. The characters, the romance, the humor... it's the complete package. Literary fun in the world of chivalry doesn't get much better. Recommended!

[helenliz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you let yourself go with the flow and read this as a romance, not a history, it works really well. Scott has some scintillating characters in here: Rebecca with her grand ideals and moral stance, Brian de Bois-Guilbert who is so conflicted that he knows what he'd doing makes no sense - but continues to do it anyway, Ulrica and her troubled past, emeshed with Front-du-Boeuf and faithful fool Wamba - was ever a fool so wise? Compared to this multi-faceted cast, the romantic lead of Ivanhoe & Rowena are, to be honest, a bit wet. Ivanhoe is so terribly good, loyal, honest, caring etc that he doesn't seem to have any colour at all, while Rowena has one moment of crisis which she starts OK with defiance, but then goes entirely to pieces when she's not treated as the little princess. It all gets a little odd when we have King Richard meeting Robin Hood, (clearly the source of numerous film ideas - it really didn't happen!) and the disguises are of the literary "lets put glasses on & hide in plain sight" style - they somehow fool the occupants of the novel, but the reader has a pretty good idea who they really are.There's a lot to complain of in this - the way that history is slightly distorted to make a good tale (the joust described is later than setting, the clothing earlier), but somehow it does all work together to make a vivid scene. It's got enough action and interesting happenings to keep you reading on and I had a whale of a time reading it.

[reneh-2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was far too slow for me. The story is good, but the language is too old for me. I had trouble finishing it. Eventually I did.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this novel we see warriors returning from the Crusades, a love story, and the trial of a young Jewess for witchcraft. This book's dated wording does not make it a particularly fun read for 21st century readers. Lady Rowena is supposed to be the leading lady of the book, but Rebecca, the Jewess, is a far more interesting character. Richard the Lionhearted plays a role in the book as well. I wanted to abandon this lengthy tome in many places, but I forced myself to keep plugging along.

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The iconic novel of knights in shining armor and damsels in distress, honor and glory in early Norman England. The language is a bit stilted but today's standard, but the book is good as the classic that it is.

[doingdewey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For the modern reader, there are many complaints that could lodged against the writing in Ivanhoe (first published in the early 1800′s). Both the beginning of the book and every new character or location inspire several paragraphs of exposition. At first, I found these very detailed descriptions made it harder for me to picture the whole person or scene being described. The language was a little hard to deal with at first, with an archaic feel that reminded me most of Shakespeare out of anything I’ve read. The footnotes never explained anything of use and phrases of Latin or French were rarely translated. Finally, the author frequently breaks the fourth wall to explain to readers his choice of historical details and so on.All of that said, this book also reminded me of Shakespeare in that I got used to all of those quirks that bothered me originally. Even at the beginning it was possible to follow the archaic language and appreciate the author’s use of word-play in jests (also reminiscent of Shakespeare). In fact, as time passed and I became involved in the story, I liked the atmosphere of the archaic language. It almost felt like a bard could be reciting this story of epic chivalry and adventure. I loved how excessively honorable the good guys were and how excessively unscrupulous the bad guys were. I’m not sure how to describe it better than by referring you to any experience you have with the story of Robin Hood, because Ivanhoe is clearly the inspiration for that light-hearted approach to an adventure story. So, while this was neither the most historically accurate nor the best written historical fiction I’ve ever read, it was definitely some of the most fun.

[jrissman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ivanhoe (published 1820) is a novel set in late 1100s Britain, before the rifts caused by the Norman (northern French) conquest in 1066 had time to heal. Although I had initially thought that Ivanhoe was a late addition to the Arthurian legendarium, this is incorrect: King Arthur and his knights ruled in the early 500s, more than six centuries prior to Ivanhoe. The late 1100s were an era of fervent Christianity, contemporaneous with the Third Crusade (led by King Richard the Lionheart) and the legend of the outlaw Robin Hood.Ivanhoe is a very slow-paced novel. It spends a great deal of time describing the appearance of each character, and their speech is invariably long-winded and flowery, even at times when it seems like brevity would be necessary. During action or tense scenes, the dialogue almost feels like an aside in a play, where most actors pause the scene and allow one actor to express her thoughts, with time "frozen" in the background. The slow pace of action and sheer number of words required for anyone to say anything or get anything done really drags the book down."Ivanhoe" is unusual in that it does not have any character one could meaningfully call "the protagonist." Certainly Ivanhoe, for whom the book is named, could not be it- he gets remarkably little "screen time." In fact, the narrative camera follows a great many characters, giving them all modest portions of time, a style reminiscent of that used by George R. R. Martin in his Song of Ice and Fire series. But unlike Martin's series, the storyline of "Ivanhoe" has a clearly defined and manageable scope, set in a relatively small geographic area containing forests, a few castles, and a monastery.The book is even more unusual in that its most important focus is the experience of Jewish people in late 1100s England, a society remarkably hostile to them. The most sympathetic characters in the novel are an old Jewish moneylender, Isaac of York, and his beautiful daughter, Rebecca. While one might criticize Isaac's portrayal as playing into old stereotypes of Jewish people (particularly a love of money), it is hard to know what Jewish people were really like so long ago, and Isaac at least appears to help explain why 1100s English society held some of the views that it held toward Jews. Rebecca does not play into these stereotypes at all. She is a passive but heroic figure who is proud of her Jewish heritage. Though people might disagree over the extent to which Scott reinforces or breaks down stereotypes, it seems clear that Scott was vastly ahead of writers and thinkers who came more than 100 years after him in promoting the equal rights, understanding, and acceptance of Jewish people in society.Characters are typically entirely good or entirely evil, and they often fit stereotypes (the clever jester; the handsome, youthful knight who excels in combat; the greedy, evil knight; the religious zealot who leads a cult-like order; etc.) None of them are all that interesting, except for the pair of Jewish characters, and the other characters insofar as they interact with the Jews and what this reveals about them.The book has three main action scenes: a tournament, storming a castle, and a trial by combat. Unfortunately, action writing is not Scott's forte. The actual events are short and sparsely described; even during a battle, the focus remains on the feelings of the characters present, rather than their actions or the strategic aspects of the fight.In the end, the book was interesting, but was not worth the time I spent on it. I'd only recommend it for true aficionados of older stories set in the Middle Ages, or those who want to know more about the life, times, and court politics of England following the Norman Conquest. If your goal is simply entertainment, you can probably find a more fun novel elsewhere.

[auntieknickers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Long before I read this book (in 9th-grade English, if I recall correctly), I was familiar with bits of the story from the TV series -- who of my generation can forget "Ivanhoe-oe, Ivanhoe!" As someone with an almost lifelong interest in Scotland, I wonder why the only book of Scott's I've read is this one, which has an English setting? It's a ripping yarn with some depth to it, especially as it treats of the different cultures coexisting in medieval England -- Normans, Saxons, Jews.

[john5918 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I find myself re-reading this classic story again and again. It strikes a chord deep down in the emotions, although I'm not sure where and why. I love the "disinherited knight", and I suppose it's reassuring to see justice triumph in the end. Yet it is not simplistic and there are lots of strands in the story. The motif of local people living under a foreign invader is still topical in so many parts of the world.

[mattmcg_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Rarely-mitigated crap.Like listening to a man with Tourette's (who nevertheless knows only pleasant words) as he relates a half-remembered dull secondhand story. The Stephen King of (a)historical romances. By that I mean that there is a real story somewhere beneath this great mountain of bloviation. Sir Walter Scott would have been well served by a brutal editor.

[vidalia11_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm listening to the Ivanhoe audiobook in my car, and it's quite entertaining. Perhaps hearing it is more enjoyable than reading it. For me, the language is beautiful to hear.

[prof_brazen_guff_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A great tale, but marred by the staggeringly turgid language. I really struggled to make it to the end.

[surreality_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Plot: At times a little hard to follow, and the subplots make it difficult to keep in mind exactly what is happening when and where. The plot moves very slowly but constantly. Characters: Characterization isn't the book's strongest suit. Often stereotypes are employed, though there are notable exceptions. The inclusion of Robin Hood and his merry men feels a bit off. The women are surprisingly layered, though they do fall under the damsel type. Style: Too many words. By far. The style is almost archaic at times and makes the story sound like a medieval knight's tale. Good for the atmosphere, but it makes reading rather difficult and exhausting at times. The book tries to be a historical novel, but there is too much fiction in it for that. Plus: much swashbuckling, interesting portrayal of England during the 12th century. Minus: The style can at times make it almost unreadable. Summary: a classic, but not on the absolute must-read-list

[cyderry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This historical fiction adventure story may have been sensational in the early 19th century but history has been told far better in the 20th century so the book doesn't really hold up well.This tale of Normans vs. Saxons in the reign of Richard the Lionheart also showed the social division of the Christians vs. Jews. Broken into three sections, we see Ivanhoe at the tournament as a disinherited knight, the captivity of the major characters and the trial of the Jewess, Rebecca, for sorcery. The story was entertaining but not sensational.

[lisamaria_c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There was a time when Walter Scott was seen as the great novelist of his age--far superior to Jane Austen. Donizetti used one of Scott's novels for the basis of Lucia de Lammermoor. Mark Twain decried Scott's influence on Southern American culture with his "sham chivalries" Twain blamed for the American Civil War. Well, these days while Austen is triumphant, hardly anyone reads Scott anymore. Ivanhoe is the novel you'd most likely still find on shelves, its readership possibly kept alive by the film adaptations. While I wouldn't reverse the judgement of history--Austen is one of my favorite authors and in comparison Scott feels shallow--I did find this great fun when I discovered this in my teens. The history part of the historical fiction? Well, there are lots of ahistorical and anachronistic touches. By the time of King Richard I, I doubt the Anglo Saxons still kept a distinctive culture or dreamed of ever ousting the Normans, or even thought of the Plantagenets as a foreign dynasty. (Even if Richard the Lionheart didn't speak English or spend much of his reign in England.) And Robin Hood is legend, not history. I'd also say that the main characters we're supposed to be most enamored with--Ivanhoe and Rowena--seem rather bland to me. But ah, then there's Rebecca! Although one could see some anti-Semitic stereotypes in her father Isaac, if for nothing else, Scott should be given credit for creating such a strong, appealing Jewish heroine at a time when Anti-semitism was still rampant in English fiction. And I love the villain, Brian Bois-Guilbert, who isn't painted completely black but has, shall we say, some interesting qualities. And well, it's simply fun to read this--not in my opinion dry at all. It's a fun romp through history--as long as you don't ask it to be too historical.

[miguelnunonave · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A youth novel, a heroic knight, romanticised Middle-Ages (a favourite theme in the 1800's). A classic, though you should have "outread" it in your early 20's at the latest. Otherwise, go on and stick to comic books and video games.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sir Walter Scott is credited with having invented the historical novel, and his Waverley series of books were the first critical and commercially successful stories to feature fictional characters alongside historical figures, and participating in actual events.In Ivanhoe he revisited that formula, featuring a vivid cast of fictional characters interacting with King John and his Norman barons in England in 1194. The basic story is fairly straightforward, almost to the point of being predictable (though that might not have been the case in 1820): having been disowned and disinherited by his ferociously Saxon father for pledging loyalty to the Norman king, Richard I (of Lionheart fame), Wilfred of Ivanhoe leaves England to join the ill-fated Third Crusade where he covers himself in glory, battling valiantly against the Saracen. He returns to England, travelling in disguise to a major tournament in Ashby de la Zouch where, fighting incognito under the alias The Disinherited Knight, he emerges victorious on the first day after humiliating a host of proud but ineffectual Norman Barons. On the second day he fares almost as well, though the show is stolen by another anonymous knight clad in black armour who, having vanquished more Norman barons, disappears into the crowd, rather like the Lone Rnager leaving confusion in his wake as people ask, 'Who was that masked man?'There are, however, a host of other complications to the plot, and Scott manages to keep the reader's attention firmly riveted to the book. He captures the feel of the Middle Ages, and even the plethora of details about the technicalities of armour, horseback warfare and estate management in the twelfth century fail to deflect the reader's interest. Given that this was published very early on in the history of the novel as a popular art form it seems surprisingly up to date. I had started reading it with a certain trepidation, and perhaps more from a sense of duty than with the expectation of much enjoyment, but it proved to be most entertaining.