Ivanhoe

By: Sir Walter Scott

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 19 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Sir Walter Scott's most popular novel, and the first of his works to be set in England, Ivanhoe was first published in 1819.

During the reign of Richard I, Wilfred of Ivanhoe earns his father's disapproval by falling in love with Rowena, his father's ward. His father had planned to wed her himself, and reestablish the Saxon line.

Ivanhoe serves with Richard I during the Crusades, while the King's brother attempts to take the throne for himself in his brother's absence. When Richard I and Ivanhoe return, a series of adventures takes place against the backdrop of a tournament where Knights Templar are entered into contests. Ivanhoe catches the eye of Rebecca, a beautiful and courageous Jew; he is taken prisoner, along with his father and hers, and Rowena as well; and they rely upon one Locksley (Robin Hood) and his band of outlaws to set them free. When Rebecca is subsequently charged with witchcraft, she asks Ivanhoe to champion her in a trial by combat. But have his affections shifted, or does he still love Rowena?

Sir Walter Scott's fanciful, vivid reinterpretation of medieval life makes for a successful novel that blends fact, myth, and romance.

(P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks. Originally published in England in 1819.

the narrarator was great.

enjoyed the book. was not familiar with Scott. very enjoyable language and loved the way the reader read each part different

Larger than life.

It would be easy to fall in with Cervantes and his negative view of chivalric epics. However, not having endured the travails of warfare and imprisonment as a slave, I can more easily appreciate the fancy of the "heroic" authors and their works.

Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott, provides the pageantry and action that you would expect from a great adventure. Knights in battles of honor, castle intrigue, ladies at court, and the outlaws of Sherwood Forest provide a colorful cast of characters for a well-told story.

Yet, Scott didn't attempt to mask the slavery and bigotry incumbent upon the times. Anti-Semitism is prevalent. Indentured servants depend upon the good nature of their masters for survival. This is a story all the better for its exhibition of the coarse customs of the time.

Frederick Davidson does an excellent job with the narration. He expertly creates a different voice for each character. He smoothly switches between narrative and dialogue, maintaining a comfortable pacing throughout this epic story.

Could have used a better narrator.

A good book that was badly read. Falsetto, breathy voices for the women. Harsh, brusque voices for the men. No feeling at all in the narration. Even when the words say the women are "in terror", their voices sound like they are carrying on an ordinary conversation. Just badly done.

Great story, and great reading

What a clever and often comical heroic tale. If you enjoy Robin Hood and the like ilk, you will very definitely enjoy listening to Ivanhoe.

One person mentioned that being unable to listen to it because of the anti-Semitism. However, had they listened, they would have recognized that the author was mocking the hypocrisy, false piety, and self-righteous pride of those who engaged in such wicked words and evil actions. It was a jest upon their characters, which sometimes made me laugh out loud.

I hope others of you enjoy it as much as I did.

Great Scott!

I didn’t realize that Ivanhoe concerns the rampant antisemitism of medieval Britain as much as it does chivalry and gallantry. How delightful that Wilfred of Ivanhoe rescues a Jewish heroine from a bigoted inquisitor! The historic-fantastic plot and complex characters in this novel are stupendous. The performance is sublime.

A great classic romance/adventure

This classic epic novel, written in 1819, was one I really enjoyed reading.

The story is set in medieval England. King Richard lies in prison in Europe on his voyage from the Crusades. Meanwhile, the Saxons and Normans are fighting over the remnant of England.

Ivanhoe, a disinherited son of a noble who was also on the Crusades, returns disguised as the Disinherited Knight. Together with the help of a mysterious Black Knight, they fight members of the Knight?s Templars, rescue the fair Rowena, whom Ivanhoe has fallen in love with, and perform other feats of heroism.

This is a great adventure novel: a disinherited knight who is forced to fight several times when the odds are against him in order to win his love. Many characters are featured as well, including Robin Hood and his merry men. Any reader with an interest in chivalry, medieval times, English royal history, or good ol? fight scenes will appreciate this novel.

The book does feature a character worth mentioning: Isaac is an elderly Jewish man, and he has a daughter, Rebecca, who falls in love with Ivanhoe. Though the anti-Semitic rhetoric by some of the villainous characters runs pretty thick at times (this does take place during the Crusades, after all), it?s pretty clear the author despises such treatment. In actuality, Rebecca turns out to be the strongest heroine of the novel.

It is clear why this book is still so popular. It?s a great story, with great heroes (and even better villains). You will really enjoy this book.

Frederick Davidson's voice is perfect for this role. He brings each of the many characters to life distinctly, and his depiction of the villains is especially good. I strongly recommend this recording

Swords and intrigues ; damsels and romance

Well, if tales of courtly romance, in castles with banners flying as knights and nobles sit to feast on grand displays of sumptuous victuals and various wines, ale's, sack; maiden's true and love bound young Knights along with treacherous usurpers, dis-honoured nobles, self seeking traitorous rogues you will love this story.

One item I find disconcerting is Ivanhoe, the hero and title of the tale is absent from most of the narrative.

He sustains an injury at a joust early in the story and is bed ridden mostly.

Richard cor de Leon reruns from the Crusades and features as a heroic champion at various intrigues but the story revolves primarily around four Saxon Devils who will do anything to advance their rank and fatten their coffers with silver an gold. They plot with evil King John to wrest "Merry England" from the Plantagenet line creating plots and schemes behind every castle casement to further Saxon tyranny.

There is a very interesting side story about Issac the Jew and his beautiful daughter reflective of the conditions " the chosen people" were treated and persecuted during this period.

It is bloody and heroic while romantic and desperate.

I love chivalry and Knights errant.

Rex the reader

Brilliant

a true classic that deserves to be read again and again for generations to come. the blending of Robin Hood mythology with original characters and story of Sir Walter Scott create a fun and familiar tale even if you have never read the book before

Good story but horrible narrator

I’ve been really enjoying the story but the narrator makes me grind my teeth. I can’t finish it.

Poor voice acting

One of the least enjoyable narrators I have listened to on Audible. His voice is grating, his cadence unnatural, and I couldn't warm up to it over the hours of listening. He poorly voices the characters such that it can be difficult to tell which character is speaking at times. He really only has 2 maybe 3 different voices in his repertoire. The story is great, but the narrator is a distraction.