Ivanhoe (Penguin Classics)

I was outraged to find the copy of Ivanhoe I received was in French

This story, set in the 12th century, is a job well and thoroughly done by Walter Scott. The words are quite intricate and require time and concentration to wade through, but it is very much worth it; the story itself is fantastic. Despite the words being lengthy, there is depth and, oftentimes, humor within them. Apart from the fascinating plot, societal problems are addressed, particularly anti-Semitism. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who has time and is interested in medieval England, as well as those who consider Robin Hood too light of a read.

Published in 1819, this is a classic tale of knighthood. It is one of the best chivalric novels ever published. It's set at the close of the 12th century. Deals with the Knights Templar.

Sir Walter Scott's tale of "Ivanhoe" is an enjoyable story, but it taxes the readers patience many times over. If you can bear with the very lengthy descriptions, and what has to be the driest, most boring first chapter of any book in Western Civilization, you will actually find yoursel drawn into the story. Two quick notes, you may want Cliff's Notes or an on-line equivalent to help keep straight as to who is who, and to help get a better understanding of the often arcane writing style. Second, this Signet classic version of the book really needs to be re-set for a more modern typeset. This book is still using the typeset from the 1962 printing, and it is very difficult on the eye. Most other classic books have since been re-set to a larger print to make it easier on the eye. "Ivanhoe" should not be an exception. (Note: other editions of "Ivanhoe" available in mass market form ARE available in an easier-to-read print, and the reader may want to consider them over this edition.)

Not to put too fine a point on it, but this book, by Sir Walter Scott, was the progenitor of what was to become a venerable tradition in English letters (and in other European literatures as well): the historical romance. There have been many after IVANHOE, and frequently with a finer eye to the period in which the tale is set (for IVANHOE contains quite a number of anachronisms -- even Scott acknowledged it), but few have done it quite as well as Scott. He uses an archaic English to give voice to his characters, but one which is readily absorbed because of the speed & quality of the tale. So, though these people certainly wouldn't really have spoken as he has them speaking, they yet sound as though they should have. Peopled by many 'stock' characters and situations, this tale was fresh in its time & still reads well today -- a testament to Scott's skills as a teller of tales and a sketcher of marvelously wrought characters. In this tale of the 'disinherited knight' returning home to find the world he left turned upside down, young Ivanhoe, after a stint with King Richard in the Holy Land, must fight the enemies of his king and kinsmen anew. Yet the hero is oddly sidelined for much of the tale as events swirl around him and the brilliantly evoked villain, Sir Brian de Bois Gilbert, in the pay of Prince John, struggles to win treasure and the beautiful Rebeccah, who yet has eyes only for Ivanhoe, a knight she can never hope to win herself. There's lots of action and coincidences galore here and Robin Hood makes more than a cameo appearance, as does the noble Richard. In sum, this one's great fun, a great tale, and the progenitor of a whole genre. All those which came after owe their form to it. Worth the price and the read.

20 years later (much evolved from my brain dead, high school student period ) I had a blast reading Ivanhoe. The descriptions are rich, the dialog snappy and often very witty (not to mention sarcastic and snide)......the story held my interest from the get go. Wamba the Jester is my hero! Highly recommended for more mature audiences, but I can see how a younger person (for example: average brain dead, high schoolers) would be completely bemused by the book.