Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe takes place in 12th-century England, during the reign of King Richard I. The story is set against the backdrop of lingering tensions between the Normans, who conquered England in 1066, and the native Saxons. This conflict provides much of the political and social context for the events of the novel.

Most of the action occurs in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Key locations include Rotherwood, the home of the Saxon lord Cedric; the Castle of Torquilstone; and the town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, site of an important tournament. The dense forests of medieval England also feature prominently, serving as the domain of outlaws like Robin Hood.

Scott vividly depicts various aspects of medieval English society, from Norman castles and Saxon halls to monasteries and Templar preceptories. While he takes some liberties with historical accuracy, his richly-detailed portrayal of 12th-century England immerses readers in the sights, sounds, and social structures of the Middle Ages.

Characters

• Wilfred of Ivanhoe: The titular protagonist, a Saxon knight who has been disinherited by his father for supporting the Norman King Richard and falling in love with Rowena.
• Cedric of Rotherwood: Ivanhoe's father, a proud Saxon thane who dreams of restoring the Saxon monarchy.
• Lady Rowena: Cedric's beautiful ward and Ivanhoe's love interest, a descendant of Saxon royalty.
• Rebecca: A Jewish healer and the daughter of Isaac of York. She falls in love with Ivanhoe but knows their relationship is impossible.
• Brian de Bois-Guilbert: A powerful Templar knight who becomes obsessed with Rebecca.
• King Richard I: The rightful king of England, who has been away on the Crusades and returns in disguise as the Black Knight.
• Prince John: Richard's treacherous brother, who seeks to usurp the throne.
• Robin of Locksley: The legendary outlaw Robin Hood, who aids Ivanhoe and King Richard.
• Isaac of York: Rebecca's father, a wealthy Jewish moneylender.
• Friar Tuck: A member of Robin Hood's band disguised as a monk.
• Wamba: Cedric's loyal jester.
• Gurth: Cedric's swineherd who becomes devoted to Ivanhoe.
• Athelstane: A Saxon nobleman whom Cedric hopes will marry Rowena.
• Maurice de Bracy: A Norman knight who desires to marry Rowena.
• Reginald Front-de-Boeuf: A brutal Norman baron who owns Torquilstone Castle.
• Ulrica: An old Saxon woman seeking vengeance against Front-de-Boeuf.

Quick facts

• Ivanhoe was the first novel by Sir Walter Scott to be set in England rather than Scotland.
• The novel introduced Robin Hood as a major character into the Ivanhoe/Robin Hood mythology.
• Ivanhoe popularized interest in medieval chivalry and romanticism in 19th-century England.
• Scott wrote most of Ivanhoe while severely ill, dictating large portions to an amanuensis.
• Scott invented the name “Cedric” for the novel—it was originally meant to be “Cerdic,” but he misspelled it.
• The character of Rebecca was based on Rebecca Gratz, a Jewish woman Scott learned about from his friend Washington Irving.
• The character of Wamba the jester was likely inspired by Shakespeare's Fool characters.
• Scott took historical liberties in depicting intense Saxon-Norman conflict 130 years after the Norman conquest.
• The novel coined the famous archery phrase “splitting the arrow” during an archery contest.
• Ivanhoe was one of the most popular novels of the 19th century, selling more than 500,000 copies in Scott's lifetime.
• The novel has inspired countless adaptations across various media, including a lavish 1952 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Robert Taylor.

About the author

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was a towering figure of 19th-century British literature who pioneered the historical novel. Born in Edinburgh, Scott initially gained fame as a poet before turning to fiction with his 1814 novel Waverley. Over the next two decades, he produced a string of bestselling historical novels set in Scotland and England, including Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Heart of Midlothian.

Scott's vivid depictions of Scottish history and culture had a profound impact on how Scotland was perceived both at home and abroad. His romantic portrayals of Highland clans and Jacobite rebellions helped rehabilitate Scottish traditions that had been suppressed after the Battle of Culloden. At the same time, Scott was a Scottish Unionist who saw value in Scotland's partnership with England within Great Britain.

Scott was a prominent public figure who served as Clerk of Session in the Scottish courts. In 1818, he famously rediscovered the long-lost Scottish crown jewels in Edinburgh Castle. Scott's popularity as an author allowed him to purchase a large estate called Abbotsford, which he filled with historical artifacts and memorabilia. However, he was ruined financially in 1826 when a publishing firm he had invested in collapsed. Widely translated, Scott's novels inspired countless imitators across Europe and America as well as influenced great writers such as Alexandre Dumas and Leo Tolstoy.