Read Ivanhoe Literature Classics Series edition by Sir Walter Scott Literature Fiction eBooks
"Medieval England in the 12th century. The evil Prince John rules England in place of his brother, the noble Richard the Lionheart, who is being held in an Austrian prison by Duke Leopold of Austria, while returning from one of his Crusades. Under the avaricious and Machiavellian John, the Norman aristocrats are in constant conflict with the native Saxon people.
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott is set in these turbulent times. The eponymous hero, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, the son of a Saxon nobleman has been disinherited by his father for following King Richard into war. Ivanhoe is in love with his father's beautiful ward, Rowena, who is betrothed to a noble Saxon. Ivanhoe returns secretly to England and fights in a tournament disguised as a Knight. He wins the admiration and help of a mysterious Black Knight and together they vanquish their opponents. Meanwhile, Prince John and his nefarious coterie plot to usurp the throne, and Ivanhoe is unwittingly drawn into events that leave an indelible impact on his life.
This historical novel by a master of the genre was first published in 1820. Filled with memorable characters including the legendary Saxon hero, Robin Hood (called Robin of Locksley here) and his band of Merry Men, historical figures like King Richard, Prince John and the Knights Templar and many others, the story takes some exciting twists and turns before racing to its unexpected climax. There are magnificent depictions of jousting and knightly tournaments, court scenes, portrayals of Saxon and Norman politics all of which bring to life a most interesting period in English history.
Sir Walter Scott was famous for his Romantic novels, which in fact evoked great interest in the periods in which they were set. They also deal with conflicts between society and the individual, the ancient codes of honor and chivalry and are usually set in actual locations. Ivanhoe is set in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, with various castles and monuments being mentioned. Our idea of Robin Hood as a laughing outlaw who robs the rich to help the poor is also based on what Scott has depicted in Ivanhoe.
Several sequels have been attempted in later years, along with events and other works inspired by Ivanhoe. The novel has been adapted for film, television and stage since 1911 and has also been the basis of comics, animated films and video games.
The book is an exciting read for all ages, full of atmosphere and transports the reader back in time to an age of valor, courage, honor and swashbuckling gallantry!"
Read Ivanhoe Literature Classics Series edition by Sir Walter Scott Literature Fiction eBooks
"Ivanhoe has everything: knights in shining armor, damsels in distress to be rescued, dastardly villains, good King Richard, evil Prince John, castles, banquets, tournaments, sword fights, battles -- even Robin Hood makes an appearance! I admit that this has been one of my favorite novels since junior high school fifty-eight years ago, and this is the third copy I have owned, the previous two having fallen apart from being reread so often. A new copy would have felt out of place, so I ordered this used copy, printed in 1935. Some previous owner must have enjoyed it as much as I do, the margins being filled with pencil doodles of swords, battle axes, shields, and even cartoons of some of the characters. For me, they enhanced my enjoyment of the book."
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Ivanhoe Literature Classics Series edition by Sir Walter Scott Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews :
Ivanhoe Literature Classics Series edition by Sir Walter Scott Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
- A true classic, written in the early 1800's, but relevant as long as men wish good to triumph over evil. Scott's style takes breaking into, as it should considering the language's evolution over the last 200 years. But once you have, it's as rich a tapestry of medieval life as one can find anywhere.
This is the third time I've read the book, and I've probably seen the film a dozen times, and never seem to tire of it. This time, however, has had a special reward Instead of having to guess or refer to a dictionary to understand archaic words no longer used or whose meaning has changed over the centuries, reading it on a , with a readily available, built-in dictionary has made this a special treat. I recommend it without reservation. - I read Ivanhoe and Waverly about 20 years ago and wish that I could find my Penguin editions now this edition would seem to lack the many (many and detailed!) end notes (which, as I recall, Scott included with the work). Without same end notes, I believe this work lacks the appropriate (prescribed!) historical context and is uninterpretable.
- Don't get me wrong. I love IVANHOE. And in any case, Sir Walter Scott will not be harmed by my one star. The ONE STAR is for this unfortunate edition. First, it's on 8.5 x 11'' paper making this book enormous and ridiculously heavy. But that isn't the deal breaker, the lack of book design is.
Somebody dumped a royalty free book into a word processor, and spilled it clumsily onto a bunch of pages, using a sans serif font (really!!!!????)
It's impossible to read because of the leading and kerning. Buyer beware. - Written in 1819 by Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe is a novel that is, by some critics, credited with the revival of modern interest in the Middle Ages, and the principals of chivalry. But...that's probably not why you'd be interested in reading it. Ivanhoe contains a fascinating portrayal of the very gradual merging of the Saxon and Norman cultures after William the Conqueror prevailed at the Battle of Hastings. But, again, this probably isn't the reason that you might be induced to pick up a book you've often heard of, but never been tempted to read or listen to. Arguably, Ivanhoe's most admirable and intriguing character is a Rebecca, a young and beautiful Jewish woman. Scott leverages Rebecca's travails into a thoughtful and powerful exploration of the oppression of women, and the brutal discrimination against medieval Judaism. And....I'm guessing that's not why you'll make room on your "to be read" pile for an almost 200 year old novel.
But here's why you might want to take an "I'll read fifty pages, and if I don't like it, won't read the rest" approach to the tale of Ivanhoe it's an intelligent, rollicking, swash-buckling, humorous tale of beautiful damsels and men with sword arms like tree trunks, couched in semi-medieval language that is so lush that you'll find yourself going around for days afterwards talking like the yeoman of yore that lived with Robin of Locksley in Sherwood Forest. Get those fifty pages under your mental belt, and you won't put it down. Why? Because it has it all magnificent battles, truly good guys fighting truly bad guys, corrupt priests and abbots, arrogant noblemen, estranged fathers and sons, Robin Hood, Richard the Lionhearted, Knights Templar, the evil King John and his nefarious henchmen. But wait! More accusations of witchcraft, a Lazarus scene, mortal wounds, near mortal wounds, and hearts that break or burst from love and/or anguish. Ah, for a world when right makes might, instead of the 21st century might makes right. Oh for a century where bromances were based on shared adventure and combat rather than epic bouts of drinking or the mentality that the Jackass movies are based on.
Through all of the above, Sir Walter Scott's witty, careful, and exquisitely crafted sequences of dialogue give a glimpse of the beauty of human discourse (or, intercourse, as Scott refers to it) before we began to communicate in tweets, twitters, text messages, instant messages, and Facebook comments.
Ivanhoe, one should know, is barely about the character Ivanhoe. Though he is a fine young man of courage and honor, the plot swirls and thickens while Ivanhoe is largely indisposed for one reason or another. Although the book wouldn't have sold had it been named properly (it should have been called "Rebecca"), the reader will find the struggle between an ultravirile Knight Templar with dishonorable intentions and Rebecca, beautiful in mind, body, and soul more absorbing than Ivanhoe's own contribution to the plot.
So. Ivanhoe is an important novel, but beshrew that, kind sirs and ladies read it and dream of castles that have pennants on the battlements, Dark Knights that save the day, the clash of swords, the shattering of lances, fire-breathing war horses, and excellent archers that can split a wand at a hundred yards. To heck with you, Rhett Butler and your Southern Belles life for real men doesn't start until the clank of arrows bouncing off one's suit of armor in the full riot of battle reaches a crescendo, and Sheffield forged swords bounce off Spanish made suits of chainmail. Scarlett, step aside for Rebecca, the Jewish physician of legendary beauty, intelligence, and resolve that comes to Ivanhoe's aid. Sir Walter Scott knows how to create characters of heroic proportion, and the reader that takes the time to pick up Ivanhoe will reap the benefits of his ability to tell a tale for the ages. - Those who have seen the movie will see here how the movie took great liberty with this story by Sir Walter Scott. Lots of history, and an interesting story. Well worth reading this classic novel of England at the time of Richard I, Richard the Lion-hearted. Although they are not central to this story, it is interesting how the various familiar characters from the Robin Hood legend appear here --- Robin of Locksley, Alan-a-Dale, Friar Tuck, and the band of Outlaws. Good story and a classic novel! Rich in mediaeval history and the history of England in the days of Richard Plantagenet, his brother John (ultimately of Magna Carts fame), and the early days after the Norman conquest and battles with the Saxons.
- This version of the Ivanhoe book is very difficult to read (the paperback version with the burgundy and gold cover). The pages are 8.5"x11", single-spaced, with tiny fonts. Some pages have zero paragraph breaks, which are also single-spaced. As an adult, I find it extremely difficult to keep track of which line I am currently on, without marking each line as I read them. I purchased this book for a teen, who is completely put off by this layout. The publisher's name is not printed anywhere in, or on, the book.
- It's been a while since I've read this, but I wanted my own copy so I could revisit it at my leisure. It is a nice classic novel with the use of a lot of old English. If you want to expand your vocabulary with old words that many don't use anymore I would highly recommend it. If you are worried about what kind of content there is, it is clean with no language to really worry about.
- Ivanhoe has everything knights in shining armor, damsels in distress to be rescued, dastardly villains, good King Richard, evil Prince John, castles, banquets, tournaments, sword fights, battles -- even Robin Hood makes an appearance! I admit that this has been one of my favorite novels since junior high school fifty-eight years ago, and this is the third copy I have owned, the previous two having fallen apart from being reread so often. A new copy would have felt out of place, so I ordered this used copy, printed in 1935. Some previous owner must have enjoyed it as much as I do, the margins being filled with pencil doodles of swords, battle axes, shields, and even cartoons of some of the characters. For me, they enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
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