Ivanhoe (Penguin Popular Classics)

Ivanhoe is also of supreme relevance today: who could hope to understand the political & religious tensions of today without knowing something of the ancient tensions between Jews, Christians and Muslims described in Ivanhoe? Who would doubt that the history of the Holy Land is important to every man woman and child on the planet, still feeding the conflicts of our time.

Ivanhoe contains many historical inaccuracies. But in a very real sense it actually adds to the historical record. Many popular perceptions about chivalry, the crusades and other contemporary issues are drawn from this book rather than from the history books. Scott uses his unique imagination and his natural, almost casual deep understanding of history & chivalry to weave a monumental story out of the threads of history, informed speculation and imagination.

Most people's knowledge of the mysterious Knights Templar probably comes from Ivanhoe, perhaps because "historical" information about the order is so scarce. The persecution of the Knights Templar began on Friday the 13th of October 1307 and soon afterwards the Pope disbanded them. But the Order and its principles remained alive. The devoted Knights Templar continued their beloved Order without the Roman Catholic Church, in the cellars and subterranean caves of sympathetic towns in South East England after the Temple's leaders were arrested on Friday the 13th of October 1307. The current, independent Grand Preceptory of the Knights Templar is in Hertford, Hertfordshire.

It is almost seven centuries since the day the Templar order's persecution began but their legacy is alive in the politics and the popular imagination of today. The order recently requested a papal apology for their persecution, timing the request to precede and coincide with the 7th centenary of that fateful day.

Modern popular stories utilise the same powerful Templar mythology, symbolism and timing, to great effect. The Da Vinci Code, now a best-selling book & soon a blockbusting film; the film National Treasure, and other works draw heavily upon the myths and history surrounding the Templars. The influence of Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe cannot be ignored as a key source of imaginative and historical inspiration.


A very enjoyable and surprising read and a classic tale   July 20, 2004
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

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.


Ivanhoe, with a little help from his friends   June 25, 2004
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

'Ivanhoe' was a more enjoyable read than I was anticipating. I liked the old English style of language. The book is almost 200 years old and the events recounted in it took place even earlier: a few generations after the Battle of Hastings that was fought in 1066. The Saxons are an oppressed people in this period, under the boot-heel of the Norman invaders and usurpers. It's taking a long time for the two groups to integrate. There's a sharp culture clash. Heroes are needed if justice is to prevail. One would not be enough. Fortunately, there are quite a few around. Ivanhoe spends most of the time between his introduction and the end of the book incapacitated and is hardly referred to at all most of the time. He gets some good heroing done when he's conscious but for the rest of the time his allies have to do the business. He couldn't have accomplished so much without Rebecca, Gurth, Wamba, Cedric, Athelstane, The Black Knight and Locksley and his merry men.

There's more to this tale than just the Saxon/Norman power struggle. Scott paints a picture of racial disharmony with one much maligned people, in particular, receiving rough treatment at the hands of both Saxons and Normans. Even so, Rebecca, a Jewish woman emerges as a heroine - a strong willed, virtuous woman at a time when both her sex and her race were in a vulnerable position. She was accused of witchcraft on the flimsiest of pretexts and her guilt or innocence was not to be decided on anything to do with evidence. It was an age of unbridled prejudice. Scott is critical of the superstition, cruelty and hypocrisy.

So this is not just a romance. It's mainly a tale of politics, religion and derring-do. Scott's writing is witty and the story is engaging. It's a thoroughly enjoyable book. I recommend it.


A good story   October 15, 2002
 4 out of 13 found this review helpful

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 the Lion heart, knights templars and fair maidens. Thouroughly enjoyable.