Ivanhoe
Title page of 1st edition (1820).
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| Author | Sir Walter Scott |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Waverley Novels |
| Genre | Historical novel, chivalric romance |
| Publisher | A. Constable |
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Publication date
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1820 |
| Pages | 1,004, in three volumes |
| 823.7 | |
| Preceded by | Rob Roy |
| Followed by | Kenilworth |
Ivanhoe /ˈaɪvənˌhoʊ/ is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, first published in 1820 in three volumes and subtitled A Romance. At the time it was written it represented a shift by Scott away from fairly realistic novels set in Scotland in the comparatively recent past, to a somewhat fanciful depiction of mediaeval England. It has proved to be one of the best known and most influential of Scott's novels.
Ivanhoe is set in 12th century England, with colourful descriptions of tournaments, outlaws, witch trials and divisions between Jews and Christians. It has been credited for increasing interest in romance and medievalism; John Henry Newman claimed Scott "had first turned men's minds in the direction of the Middle Ages", while Carlyle and Ruskin made similar assertions of Scott's overwhelming influence over the revival, based primarily on the publication of this novel. It has also had an important influence on popular perceptions of Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart and King John.
There have been several adaptations for stage, film and television.
Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the nobility in England was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favour with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king Richard the Lionheart. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to their homes in Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by Leopold of Austria on his return journey to England, was believed to still be in captivity.
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Wikipedia