Ivanhoe (Oxford World's Classics): Amazon.co.uk: Walter Scott, Ian Duncan: Books

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More than a century after the Norman Conquest, England remains a colony of foreign warlords. The dissolute Prince John plots to seize his brother's crown, his barons terrorize the country, and the mysterious outlaw Robin Hood haunts the ancient greenwood. The secret return of King Richard and the disinherited Saxon knight, Ivanhoe, heralds the start of a splendid and tumultuous romance, featuring the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, the siege of Torquilstone, and the clash of wills between the wicked Templar Bois-Guilbert and the sublime Jewess Rebecca. In Ivanhoe Scott fashioned an imperial myth of national cultural identity that has shaped the popular imagination ever since its first appearance at the end of 1819. The most famous of Scottish novelists drew on the conventions of Gothic fiction, including its risky sexual and racial themes, to explore the violent origins and limits of English nationality. This edition uses the 1830 Magnum Opus text, corrected against the Interleaved Set, and incorporates readings from Scott's manuscript. The introduction examines the originality and cultural importance of Ivanhoe, and draws on current work by historians and cultural critics.

About the Author

Ian Duncan is Barbara and Carlisle Moore Professor of English at the University of Oregon

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THE Author of the Waverley Novels had hitherto proceeded in an unabated course of popularity, and might, in his peculiar district of literature, have been termed L'Enfant Gate* of success. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Romance Novel, 20 Nov 2007

By	Zadius Sky - See all my reviews

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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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Edinburgh Scot at the Court of King Richard, 21 Jun 2003

By	Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

“Ivanhoe” is Romanticism writ large. The author’s style is elegant and lucid - often very funny - and the interpolated poetry is fine, too. Dialogue, action and description are all well handled. Scott established the historical novel as a popular literary form, paving the way for Dumas, Fennimore Cooper and countless others since. Fennimore Cooper in particular, was directly inspired to take up writing by Scott’s enormous success.

Although he has been criticized for historical errors, Scott includes a wealth of authentic detail and he certainly stays far closer to the truth than Hollywood ever does. (Here’s a thought; why have we become ever more demanding of historical accuracy in our authors, yet able to accept the most glaring errors on the cinema screen?) The sensibilities reflected in this book are mostly those of a conservative gentleman and scholar of the nineteenth, rather than twelfth, century. In particular, the depiction of the Jewish characters and the master-servant relationships tells us as much about Victorian Britain as about medieval England. Nonetheless, it is in many ways a convincing portrait of life in the Middle Ages. Having lived in what is now the industrial wastescape of South Yorkshire, where much of the action of “Ivanhoe” takes place, I enjoyed Scott's vision of a still green and pleasant Merry England where deer roamed vast forests and knights went in search of adventure.

The varied cast of characters is one of the novel’s great strengths. The reader cares what happens to them because they are so real. Oddly, the eponymous hero plays a minor, albeit crucial, role in the tale and the putative heroine Rowena is overshadowed by the more interesting Rebecca.

Scott is best known however, for his storytelling skills. “Ivanhoe” has a terrific plot. At times, credibility is stretched a little too far for my taste. For example, characters rather too easily adopt disguises that fool even those who know them intimately. But you keep wanting to know what happens next, which is the essence of good plotting, and the story is blessedly free of the incredible coincidences that plagued eighteenth and nineteenth century English novels.

I think “A Tale of Two Cities” (despite what I call ‘the curse of the coincidence’), “Vanity Fair” and especially, “The Cloister and the Hearth” are all better examples of historical novels by Victorian British writers, but “Ivanhoe” is still well worth reading. Most editions include Scott’s introduction, spoof ‘dedication’ and copious notes. Modern readers may be tempted to skip these. They are well written but not essential to enjoying the novel itself. BEWARE; the introduction and the notes include spoilers. My advice is to read the novel first and then, if you enjoyed it, read those other sections. They do give some insight into the book’s genesis.

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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swashbucklin good fun, 11 Jan 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ivanhoe (Wordsworth Classics) (Paperback)

A great yarn, which keeps a rattling pace all the way through. I wish I'd read it when I was 12 or 13, but it was still brilliant ten years on. Scott manages to combine lengthy periods of eloquent description with pacy action sequences. What we are reading here is not an accurate picture of late twelfth century England, but nineteenth century Britain's romanticised vision of merry yeoman and scheming Normans. The characters are wonderful, except perhaps for the rather dull eponymous hero, and the passages describing the tournament and the siege are the stuff of classic strorytelling. Worthy of the 'Classic' tag.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read?
This novel by Sir Walter Scott is an enoyable one based in 12th century England. It has knights, damsels in distress and plenty of jousting. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Benjamin Snow

5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasure to read
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott, is set in England during the reign of King Richard , who is away on the Crusades to the Holy Land , leaving the administration of the country to his... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Gary Selikow

5.0 out of 5 stars A great romance of Middle-Ages 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 earlies forms) and... Read more

Published on 14 Oct 1999 by gaaw-pal

5.0 out of 5 stars Can be hard-going, but well worth it
This has to be one of the best classic romances ever written. Sure, it requires a fair bit of effort, but if you are willing to invest the time I think that you should get a lot... Read more

Published on 5 Feb 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't get it
This book has got to be the most boring filled book in the world. The descriptions of a persons clothing take many pages. You soon loose interest after the first chapter. Read more

Published on 7 Jan 1999

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Ivanhoe (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

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