Ivanhoe (Penguin Classics)

Product Description "Ivanhoe" (1819) was the first of Scott's novels to adopt a purely English subject and was also his first attempt to combine history and romance, which later influenced Victorian medievalism. Set at the time of the Norman Conquest, "Ivanhoe" returns from the Crusades to claim his inheritance and the love of Rowena and becomes involved in the struggle between Richard Coeur de Lion and his Norman brother John. The gripping narrative is structured by a series of conflicts: Saxon versus Norman, Christian versus Jew, men versus women, played out against Scott's unflinching moral realism. About the Author Walter Scott (1771-1832) was born and educated in Edinburgh. He trained as a lawyer and later entered the printing business. He published several volumes of poetry and turned down the offer of the laureateship before concentrating on fiction. He is credited with establishing the form of the historical novel and the short story. Graham Tulloch is a Reader in English at Flinders University, South Australia. He has published several books on Scott. The Epitome Of The Chivalric Novel, Ivanhoe Sweeps Readers Into Medieval England And The Lives Of A Memorable Cast Of Characters. Ivanhoe, A Trusted Ally Of Richard-the-lion-hearted, Returns From The Crusades To Reclaim The Inheritance His Father Denied Him. Rebecca, A Vibrant, Beautiful Jewish Woman Is Defended By Ivanhoe Against A Charge Of Witchcraft -- But It Is Lady Rowena Who Is Ivanhoe's True Love. The Wicked Prince John Plots To Usurp England's Throne, But Two Of The Most Popular Heroes In All Of English Literature, Richard-the-lion-hearted And The Well-loved Famous Outlaw, Robin Hood, Team Up To Defeat The Normans And Reagain The Castle. The Success Of This Novel Lies With Scott's Skillful Blend Of Historic Reality, Chivalric Romance, And High Adventure. Walter Scott ; Edited With An Introduction By Graham Tulloch. First Published 1814. This Volume Based On The Edinburgh Edition Of The Wavery Novels. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [xxxvix]-xlii). "The epitome of the chivalric novel, Ivanhoe sweeps readers into Medieval England and the lives of a memorable cast of characters. Ivanhoe, a trusted ally of Richard-the-Lion-Hearted, returns from the Crusades to reclaim the inheritance his father denied him. Rebecca, a vibrant, beautiful Jewish woman is defended by Ivanhoe against a charge of witchcraft -- but it is Lady Rowena who is Ivanhoe's true love. The wicked Prince John plots to usurp England's throne, but two of the most popular heroes in all of English literature, Richard-the-Lion-Hearted and the well-loved famous outlaw, Robin Hood, team up to defeat the Normans and regain the castle. The success of this novel lies with Scott's skillful blend of historic reality, chivalric romance, and high adventure." -- (Source of summary not specified) The father of the historical novel, Sir Walter Scott invented a literary form that has remained popular for over one hundred and fifty years. Infusing his works with romance, action, and suspense, he brought long-gone eras back to life with splendor and spectacle.Set in England just after the Third Crusade, Ivanhoe is the tale of Wilfrid, a young Saxon knight, and his love for the royal princess Rowena. With his father against their union, Wilfrid embarks on a series of adventures to prove his worth, finding himself in conflict against the Normans and the Templars, and allied with such larger-than-life figures as Robin Hood and Richard the Lion Hearted. A timeless story of courage, chivalry, and courtly love, Ivanhoe is a grand epic, and its place in classical literature is assured.