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Ivanhoe (Penguin Popular Classics) (Paperback)

by Walter Scott (Author) "IN that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater..." (more)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (26 Jul 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140620508
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140620504
  • Product Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 184,236 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #14 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > S > Scott, Sir Walter
    #90 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Historical

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Product Description

Product Description

Banished from England for seeking to marry against his father’s wishes, Ivanhoe joins Richard the Lion Heart on a crusade in the Holy Land. On his return, his passionate desire is to be reunited with the beautiful but forbidden lady Rowena, but he soon finds himself playing a more dangerous game as he is drawn into a bitter power struggle between the noble King Richard and his evil and scheming brother John. The first of Scott’s novels to address a purely English subject, Ivanhoe is set in a highly romanticized medieval world of tournaments and sieges, chivalry and adventure where dispossessed Saxons are pitted against their Norman overlords, and where the historical and fictional seamlessly merge.


About the Author

Walter Scott (1771-1832) was an extremely influential novelist, establishing the form of the historical novel and the short story. He wrote both dramas and novels, including The Antiquary and The Tale of Old Mortality.
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First Sentence
IN that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
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4.4 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable and surprising read and a classic tale, 20 Jul 2004
For a couple of years after I got my copy of this book, it sat, getting dusty, on my shelf. Having heard great things about this classic novel, I found that every time I tried to start reading it, I would give up after only a few pages, defeated by the style of writing and by the slow beginning to the story.

However, one day I managed to get past the first twenty pages or so, and once I had done so I found myself hooked into this tale of Saxon versus Norman, heroes, battles and castles under siege...

Ivanhoe has been banished from the family home after falling for his father's ward, the Saxon princess Rowena. Ivanhoe's father has plans for Rowena to marry another man, Athelstane, in order to unite the Saxon people and, he hopes, help to make them a force to be reckoned with - capable of taking on the Normans. As the novel begins, Ivanhoe has returned, in disguise, to his homeland, hoping to somehow win Rowena as his bride...

What follows is a genuinely enjoyable story. "Ivanhoe" certainly is not the boring book it is sometimes suggested to be - yep, it was surprising to me, too! There is a tremendous amount of action involved in a fast-moving plot, and the characters - of both sexes, and from all backgrounds, are exceptionally well-drawn. The most prominent woman in the novel, Rebecca, despite being a female character in an historical novel, doesn't just sit around waiting to be rescued etc! - she is strong and intelligent and also very likeable.

"Ivanhoe" is notable as one of the first books written in the English language to deal with the issue of racism and it is very sensitively handled here. The book is also a cracking good read, a novel which surprised me - not only with its scope and depth, but also by how much I enjoyed it once I had given it a chance. I really got caught up in the story and the writing, against my expectations, and for me, it is a 5-star book - entertaining and a true classic.

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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb romantic adventure, 31 Jul 2001
By A Customer
The works of Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland's greatest literary sons, are famous for their action and romance. It can only be said that this fame is very well deserved. "Ivanhoe" is a truly absorbing novel, and a fabulous romantic fairy tale. Scott's descriptive abilities are such that the reader can almost visualise the action as it unfolds, and, notwithstanding that the story is pure fantasy, it cannot help but captivate. There are a few small annoyances, such as the dissapointingly minor role of the title character and some niggling historical assumptions, but these are only minor imperfections. The concept of chivalry has the power to excite the imagination, and this breathtaking novel plainly shows that Sir Walter Scott has that power as well.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Romance Novel, 20 Nov 2007
During the early 19th century in Great Britain, the Scottish historian Walter Scott wrote this fascinating romance novel of his time. Scott's intention for the novel was in response to the recurring events and activities in Great Britain and to preserve his Scottish heritage and culture. Scott's "Ivanhoe" revealed a story of a Saxon knight, Ivanhoe, who showed courage and heroism, and he became very loyal to the Norman king, Richard the Lionhearted, during the high civil unrest and hatred between the Saxon and Norman people in England. The significant question that is interesting and essential to one's mind from the novel is what purpose does the author Walter Scott had for his readers.

One thing that got me curious is why would Scott entitle his book after one of the minor characters. Ivanhoe was a knight who been tending to his injures throughout the main part of the book but it is not the character himself that is the main focus. Rather, it is what the character Ivanhoe represented in the story, such as his role and his actions as a knight that is significant. Since Ivanhoe became loyal to the Norman King, he portrayed a way for the Saxon people to live in the Norman community without being conquered or harassed by the Norman knights or people and to ease or to get rid of the hatred between the Saxon and the Norman people. The impression that comes to one's mind is that the character Ivanhoe was the only good knight in the novel since other knights seem to be very arrogant, rude, and vile. And he is represented as a best example of chivalry, which Ivanhoe had shown to be the vital spirit of an ideal knight. The reason that the author uses the character of Ivanhoe as a title for his romance novel instead of "The Return of King Richard" or "The Black Night" was to have a character that represented the pure spirit of a loyal knight or to have a character who become a link between the two worlds of the Middle Ages. It seems the author wished to re-establish the link between his native country of Scotland and the Country of England without a complete English domination of Scotland. An idea of "a link of two worlds" that Scott had was to preserve both cultures and to re-confirm the mutual respect of both cultures and their traditions.

During the Romantic period in which Sir Walter Scott had lived, "Ivanhoe" expressed the emotions and the moods of the Middle Ages that brings the readers into the world of unknown and unique. As a historian, Scott possessed a passionate fascination for the past, so he gives a detailed description of the medieval tradition and life in the Middle Ages. The author brings the readers to feel the believable narrative of hatred and tension between the Saxon and the Norman people. The emotions and the moods of the Middle Ages helped the readers of Ivanhoe to "see" the world of knights and thieves and corruption and injustice in which the novel revealed as unpredictable and satisfying to the readers. As a historian, Scott expressed the feeling of life in the Middle Age by using history, chivalry, and the traditions of ancient times.

One of themes in the novel was the civil unrest and the massive tension that were caused by the Norman arrogance, superior feelings, and injustice. Since the Norman people's influence of dominance and superiority spread throughout the land, Saxon people grew angry and felt resentment toward the Norman nobles. While the theme of high tension occurred in the novel, the character Ivanhoe is shown as a solution to end the tension.

As part of the Romantic Movement, Sir Scott used his historical knowledge to create his own fictional novel in which he wished to warn and to entertain his readers. Despite his use of historical inaccuracy in his "Ivanhoe," the author desired to use the famous historical individuals in his story to point out his indirect warning and to entertain his readers. In order to warn his readers about the situation and issues with the government, Scott portrayed the knights and unjust royalty in this book as the English government in Great Britain. He pointed out that they are corrupted and arrogant about preserving their nation and its history. Scott himself knew that learning from history can help the people of 19th century not to make the same mistakes or to have the repeated history of their nation. The impression that one can understand from the novel is that comprehending the history aspect of the book can help the readers to make a judgment or to make a change in the English government in such a way that they will not become corrupted or be power hungry.

The author's use of historical knowledge and wisdom with the indirect applied of warning and entertainment has turned his own fictional novel entitled Ivanhoe into a popular romance book of his time. As a historical romance author and a preserver of his Scottish culture, Sir Walter Scott can be considered admirably and honorably defender of his native country of Scotland during the Romantic period. And, "Ivanhoe" is such a fascinating read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The return of the king
Walter Scott is a much neglected writer who has fallen out of fashion, and I read this novel with little knowledge of Scott and no preconceptions about his writing. Read more
Published 7 months ago by The Big Pink One

5.0 out of 5 stars Ivanhoe: Templar Chivalry & Mystery Live On
SIR WALTER SCOTT'S IVANHOE is one of the most important literary works of all time. It is at once history and fiction, setting the precedent for all the historical novels that... Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Ivanhoe, with a little help from his friends
'Ivanhoe' was a more enjoyable read than I was anticipating. I liked the old English style of language. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2004 by Sally-Anne

3.0 out of 5 stars A good story
This book is quite simply a good story. The prose is not outstanding, but is simple and elegant and fit for the job allowing for the story to carry you away to a world of Richard... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2002 by scjackson3

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading
This book shows the talent scott had in his day. The descriptive prose flows well throughout the book, although in some parts you may loose track of where the story is taking you... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2002 by shadow_lander

5.0 out of 5 stars A great romance of Middle-Age chivalry
I have to admit that I've always been attracted by anything regardind the Middle Ages: true history, romances, fiction and music of course (in its simplest and earliest forms)... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 1999 by gaaw-pal

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