Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe is a historical novel written by Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet Sir Walter Scott, published in 1820 and set in 12th-century England. It is appreciated for increasing interest in romance and medievalism.


Ivanhoe is a story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families when the nobility in England was overwhelmingly Norman. The main character is Wilfred Ivanhoe, a knight and son of Cedric the Saxon, who is out of favor with his father for his devotion to the Norman king Richard I. The story takes place in 1194 after the failure of the Third Crusade. The legendary Robin Hood under the name Locksley as well as his merry men are characters in this novel.


Ivanhoe includes many of the elements of the Romance genre, including the quest, a chivalric setting, and the overthrowing of a corrupt social order in order to bring on a time of happiness.