Ivanhoe (AmazonClassics Edition)

By: Sir Walter Scott

Narrated by: Michael Page, Rory Barnett

In the wake of the Crusades, Wilfred of Ivanhoe vows to return Richard the Lion Heart to the throne. But the Saxon son’s allegiance to the Norman king, and his forbidden love for Lady Rowena, leave Ivanhoe disinherited from his father. To set his mission on course, he returns to England in disguise and quickly finds himself entrenched in an epic battle for power. As destinies entwine, Ivanhoe fights to restore the crown and marry his queen with help from the healer Rebecca; Robin Hood and his Merry Men; and the Black Knight, the Saxon’s mysterious ally.

This rousing epic of the Middle Ages is rich in pageantry and treachery and is, at its heart, a timeless star-crossed romance that gives readers a hero for the ages.

Revised edition: Previously published as Ivanhoe, this edition of Ivanhoe (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Public Domain (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Entertaining adventure within 19th century writing

Sir Walter Scott Scott is credited here with the first work of historical fiction. His work with 12th century England and the machinations of that period political and cultural diversities are enlightening and entertaining, more at some times than others. I found it almost boring during long stretches of description with 19th century lexicon that required on numerous occasions to stop, read the meaning in the endnotes or repeat it to get the meaning. I also found it curious that after about the first hundred pages Ivanhoe and Rowena all but disappear from the story for the next 250 pages. And in fact the Jewess Rebecca, daughter of Isaac of York, plays a much larger figure in the story line than Rowena and about as much as Ivanhoe himself. Nevertheless, it is an interesting and entertaining story. And the narration with character voices and inflection is superb.

Four Stars

In a brilliant move, customers are now forced to write reviews if they want to rate books. This is a waste of time both for me and for whoever reads this.