Ivanhoe by A Romance by Walter Scott

This document presents excerpts from Walter Scott's novel, Ivanhoe, first published in 1819, along with supplementary materials from a 2005 Barnes & Noble Classics edition, including an introduction and explanatory notes. The text explores the historical context of the novel, set in 1194 England during King Richard's captivity, highlighting the tensions between the ruling Normans and the subjugated Saxons, and the widespread persecution of Jews. Readers are introduced to key characters like Cedric the Saxon, his thralls Gurth and Wamba, the mysterious Disinherited Knight, and Rebecca, the Jewish healer, through vivid descriptions and dialogue that reveal the social dynamics, chivalric ideals, and prejudices of the era. The narrative follows these characters through events like a tournament at Ashby and a siege of Torquilstone Castle, culminating in the resolution of personal and political conflicts as King Richard returns and reconciliation begins between the Norman and Saxon peoples.