
In Ivanhoe Scott fashioned an imperial myth of national cultural identity that has shaped the popular imagination ever since its first appearance at the end of 1819. With the secret return of King Richard and the disinherited Saxon knight Ivanhoe, Scott confronts his splendid and tumultuous romance, featuring the tournament at Ashby-de- la-Zouche, the siege of Torquilstone, and the clash of wills between the wicked Templar Bois-Guilbert and the sublime Rebecca. Based on the 1830 text of Ivanhoe, this is the first edition to make corrections against Scott's working materials and incorporates readings from Scott's own manuscript.
The return of King Richard the Lionheart to a fractured England sets the stage for a high-stakes struggle between Saxon heritage and Norman dominance. Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a disinherited knight, seeks to reclaim his birthright and honor while navigating a landscape defined by political instability and religious tension. He faces opposition from powerful Norman lords and the internal conflict of his own divided loyalties. The narrative employs a third-person omniscient perspective to capture the sweeping scale of medieval conflict, balancing personal honor with the broader fate of the English crown.
Readers and critics frequently discuss the work as a foundational text in the development of the historical novel genre. Discussion often centers on Scott's ability to blend authentic historical atmosphere with dramatic, fictionalized conflict. Many highlight the effectiveness of the tournament scenes and the siege sequences in maintaining narrative momentum throughout the text. While some modern readers find the prose density challenging, the book remains a primary reference point for understanding how 19th-century authors constructed national myths. The balance between character-driven romance and the broader political stakes continues to generate analysis regarding the author's portrayal of medieval social hierarchies.
Page Count:
624
Publication Date:
1996-06-27
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192831720
ISBN-13:
9780192831729
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