Ivanhoe

Author: Sir Walter Scott

Publisher: Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc.

Pub. Date: 1961

ISBN: N/A

Pages: 1-376 (story); 377-417, appendices (small print)

Series: The Academy Classics (abridged and edited by J.C. Tressler)

Summary: A tale of chivalry, woodland bandits and treason. Set in England after the Normans have taken the throne. Prince John has usurped power from his brother, who is in Palestine fighting the Crusades. Meanwhile, Cedric of Rotherwood is trying to restore England to the Saxons and is unaware that his disinherited son has returned from Palestine in order to reunite with his father. Many adventures befall the characters as each attempts to fulfill his quest and put an end to the tyranny which has gripped England.

Major Characters:

Jews: Isaac of York, a moneylender
Rebecca, his daughter, a healer

Saxons: Cedric of Rotherwood, a thane
Wilfred of Ivanhoe, his son, a Crusader
Rowena, Cedric's ward
Athelstane of Coningsburg, a thane (friend of Cedric)
Wamba, Cedric's jester
Gurth, Cedric's swineherd
Robin Hood (Locksley), leader of a band of outlaws

Normans: Richard Coeur-de-Lion (richard Plantagenet), King of England
Prince John, his brother
Brian Bois-Guilbert, a Knight Templar, foe of Ivanhoe
Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, a baron
Waldemar Fitzurse, Prince John's advisor
Maurice de Bracy, accomplice of Prince John, leader of a band of free lances
Aymer, Prior of Jorvaulx Abbey

Comments: This is more of an adult book that is marketed for teenagers. Our parents probably had to read it in school. That does not mean teens won't like it, however. It is an excellent story for anyone who is into medieval history, or stories about knights such as King Arthur. Unfortunately it is written in an older version of English, so it can be difficult to read, but this edition comes with footnotes and appendices that help you better understand what is going on. There are a lot of references to Norman/Saxon relations and Christian/Jewish relations, so it helps if you know a little about medieval European history before you read it.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Level: 17+