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 definitive version of the tale

While the words of Sir Walter Scott are the same from version to version, the reading of Frederick Davidson (a pseudonym for the late David Frederick Case), is the best in my opinion. This is also my favorite of Scott's novels.

silly

my disbelief was not suspended. The Jewish subplot may have been woke at the time but now is squirm worthy.

Sir Walter Scott writes romance very well

Ivanhoe is a historical novel full of romance and family feud. I am now going to listen to Waverly.

Adventure, chivalry, and medieval England.

Passionate devotion to Scott's masterpiece. Medieval knight's valorous quest unfolds into inescapable adventure. Fully executed.

satisfying classic

really enjoyed listening to this quintessential tale of chivalry. the.reader was okay though some of the character voices were a bit distracting.

Takes some getting used to

I liked the story and the telling, but can be difficult to get an idea of who is talking. A few times the narrator speaks from an 19th century point of view about the characters during the book. Over all I liked it and wish they had a better movie about it!

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.