Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe is a highly influential historical novel written by Sir Walter Scott.

Published in December 1819, it is one of the famous Waverley novels. The story is set in England during the Middle Ages in the year 1194. It explores the tension between different groups of people living in England. These include the Saxons and the Normans, as well as Jews and Christians. The novel is celebrated for bringing the spirit of medievalism back to life for many readers.

The plot centers on Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight. Wilfred is in conflict with his father, Cedric of Rotherwood. This disagreement exists because Wilfred supports the Norman King Richard the Lionheart. The story begins after the Third Crusade has ended. King Richard is believed to be a prisoner of Leopold of Austria. The narrative moves through several dramatic stages, including a grand tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle. It also involves a siege at Torquilstone castle and a trial by combat.

During the tournament, a mysterious knight appears under the name "Desdichado." This name is Spanish and means "Disinherited" to the Saxon characters. This knight wins a jousting match against the Templar Brian de Bois-Guilbert. He is later revealed to be Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who has returned from the Crusades. The tournament also features feats of archery by the outlaw Robin of Locksley. Following the tournament, the characters face new dangers in the forests and castles. Rebecca, a skilled physician, plays a vital role in tending to the wounded Ivanhoe.

Walter Scott used extensive research to build this historical world. He relied on the work of antiquarian Joseph Strutt to learn about English customs. Strutt wrote books on the manners, dress, and sports of the English people. Scott also studied historians like Robert Henry and Sharon Turner. These scholars provided a foundation regarding the history of Great Britain and the Anglo-Saxons. He even looked at medieval sources like the Templar Rule. He drew inspiration from the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and the romance Richard Coeur de Lion.

Writing the novel was a difficult process for Scott due to his health. In June 1819, he suffered from severe stomach pains. Because of this pain, he had to dictate much of the story. He used two men, John Ballantyne and William Laidlaw, as amanuenses. An amanuensis is a person who writes down what another person says. Scott was able to use a pen again for the second half of the manuscript. He finished the entire work in early November 1819.

The publication of Ivanhoe was a major commercial event. It was released in three volumes by Archibald Constable in Edinburgh. The first edition was published on December 20, 1819, in Edinburgh. It was issued in London on December 29 by Hurst, Robinson and Co. The initial print run consisted of 10,000 copies. At the time, the cost was £1 10s, which is about £149 in modern purchasing power. Like previous Waverley novels, the author's name was not listed on the original publication.

Ivanhoe had a massive impact on how people viewed history and literature. Many thinkers, including Thomas Carlyle and John Ruskin, credited the book with inspiring interest in the Middle Ages. John Henry Newman noted that Scott turned men's minds toward that era. The novel also shaped popular ideas about historical figures. People's perceptions of King Richard the Lionheart and Robin Hood were influenced by Scott's descriptions. Even today, the book remains a significant part of the literary study of historical romance.