Ivanhoe: A Romance

by Walter Scott

"Ivanhoe: A Romance" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in December 1819. Set in 1194 England, it tells the story of Saxon knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe, disinherited for his loyalty to Norman King Richard the Lionheart and forbidden love for Lady Rowena. The novel weaves together tournaments, outlaws, and deep divisions between Jews and Christians, Normans and Saxons. Scott's vivid portrayal of medieval England sparked widespread fascination with chivalry and the Middle Ages, influencing how generations would imagine figures like Richard the Lionheart and Robin Hood.