Public reader discussion about Ivanhoe in the WeRead Catalog by Walter Scott.
By looks_velvet
My favorite oath from Alan Scott was the one where he talks about shining his light on the dark stuff, like the darkness can’t handle it, and then it ends with “THE GREEN LANTERN.” I just really like how dramatic it is.
By EstivageFable
I really wanted a Jack Russell Terrier after seeing the show, but my mom was like “nope, those dogs never stop barking.” I guess I didn’t get my own wishbone to pretend I’m Sherlock Holmes either. :(
By CafeSleepy90
Sir Dick 😏 not gonna lie, I’m a little into it.
By nightMarble
I did a British lit class back in 8th grade a while ago, and I was fine with most of the Dickens-y stuff. But when we finally got to *Ivanhoe*, I just tapped out and straight up stopped reading it. I remember it feeling like such a drag. I was only 14, but my attention actually was getting held by the Shakespeare stuff, so I don’t really think it was just immaturity or anything. Has anyone else found it super, super boring? And would it be worth trying again now that I’m not basically a middle schooler anymore?
By bookworm_hare1989
Nah, to me Ivanhoe feels like the big, flashy example of that 19th-century “romantic medieval” vibe. It’s got all the color and adventure and chivalry and romance and heroic stuff, but it doesn’t really line up with how the Middle Ages actually were, historically. Like, the whole Norman vs Saxon divide that’s drawn so sharply in the story doesn’t really match what we see for that time. And Richard comes off super romanticized in a way that would’ve felt familiar to 1800s English readers—honestly, it feels like it might’ve even resonated with some 1300s folks too. Plus Robin Hood shows up as a big deal, and he’s basically almost certainly not a real historical person, definitely not the charming green-clad hero you get here. So yeah, I don’t think you can treat much of it as historical fact. The only bits that feel safe are that Prince John and King Richard were real, and that England is a real place.
By focusDesk
I understand Twain was into satire, but the piece here (the one being looked at by the modern writer) makes it sound like Scott was basically an overly romantic dreamer—like his books helped push this “good old days” idea, and that somehow fed into the whole social vibe and mindset of the American aristocracy. I’m sure there’s some exaggeration going on, but I can’t tell if there’s actually something real behind it. And if Scott isn’t the only one at fault, what about the bigger literary stuff happening around then? Like, did popular writing actually have a hand in shaping the Southern character?
By Lake_Frog
I’m 17 and I mostly just want books that are actually interesting and don’t drag because of the writing style. I’m really into medieval stuff too, so if there are any really good fiction or nonfiction books set around that, I’d love suggestions. I’ve read TGG, Dorian Gray, Dracula, 1984, Catcher in the Rye, and Animal Farm so far.
By LoneSparrow
I get that Ivanhoe kind of nailed down a lot of the usual Robin Hood stuff—like tying him into Richard and John—but I’m not sure how famous Robin Hood, as a culture-hero figure, already was before the book came out. And I don’t know how much of his lasting fame you can really blame on this story. The intro also makes it sound like medieval England wasn’t all that popular as a setting for fiction back then. That said, it’s a little hard to tell because the introduction has this kind of wink-wink, ironic vibe, and Scott himself also did a lot to make Rob Roy famous, so I’m not sure how straightforward any of this is.
By page_misty
Well, guess it’s a Binny’s now.
By NoahReads
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By CarefulKey14
I’ve heard of Walter Scott, but the reviews seem kind of mixed. Is he actually worth reading, and if yes, what books should I start with?
By Bottle66
If you’re into knights and all that chivalry stuff, you should give this one a try: https://www.audible.com/pd/Ivanhoe-Audiobook/B002V5B8OY Even though it’s labeled as part of a series, I think it works fine on its own. There’s jousting, a few damsels in distress, and a bunch of the classic stuff like that. It was published back in 1819, and yeah, it’s not totally perfect on the history side, but I still see why people like it so much now. I’m planning to share some good finds from the Plus/free catalog for anyone who’s low on credits. If anyone else wants to throw in their favorites too, that’d be awesome.
By Jade_Bird9
Such a good find. This was one of the first novels I ever read, and I still love it.
By bronzepanda
I’m really into early 1800s stuff, so I keep getting Scott shoved at me. I tried searching around and couldn’t really find much about him, so I was curious what people actually think of his work and where he lands between late-1700s lit and 1800s lit. I also know he doesn’t seem as highly regarded as he once was, and I get that this kind of discussion is mostly more 20th-century here, but I figured I’d ask anyway.
By coral-yard
Just finished the 1997 miniseries version of *Ivanhoe*, and I’m pretty sure it stays close to Sir Walter Scott’s book. The Knights Templar show up a lot near the end, too—especially Christopher Lee as Lucas de Beaumanoir. I kept getting these “wait, this feels like *Children of the Light*” moments: the military-monks vibe, the all-white uniforms, the intense, holier-than-thou attitude, always convinced demons are everywhere, hunting witches, pushing people into confessions, burning folks, doing whatever they want like they don’t even answer to anyone, and basically threatening anyone with secular power. And Beaumanoir himself felt like he could be Asunawa in some other timeline. I know the Knights Templar are usually mentioned as an influence on *Children of the Light*, but was Scott’s *Ivanhoe* itself a big part of that too?
By neutronsaddle
I picked up Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott during one of those cold-day book binges, and I was really happy to see the Robin Hood stuff pop up. Now I can’t help but wonder who else has written about those characters, and what people usually consider the best books or adventures about that famous thief.
By HarmonyMaple6981
I got pulled in right away by all the history stuff—like the descriptions of real people and places—and the whole forbidden love vibe and tension between groups. The tournament was fun, and I did like the way Richard and Robin Hood get revealed slowly, even though honestly that part went over my head a bit. That said, I’m kind of torn. I like that Ivanhoe isn’t the main spotlight in his own story, but I wish Rowena had a little more backbone and wasn’t so passive. Also… I can’t tell if the antisemitism is meant to show how awful and hypocritical people are now and then, or if it was just considered normal for Scott’s time. And I still don’t think Ivanhoe and Rebecca are the perfect pairing. It feels like he and Rowena are really in love for their whole lives—banished for her, goes to war for her, wins the joust for her, all that—so it doesn’t seem like a quick “thanks for healing me” situation. I do hope Rebecca actually found happiness outside all that and didn’t just end up alone and old somewhere. I really admire her for standing her ground against de Bois-Guillbert, though I thought he was more interesting than some of the other characters. He’s a kidnapper and a total hypocrite and way too proud, but he’s also the only one who doesn’t care about Rebecca’s religion. Against my better judgment, I found myself hoping for him at the end, and I feel like Scott kind of treated him unfairly. Would love to hear what other people think—I don’t really have anyone else to talk to about books.
By DuneFrozen
How does this stack up against Project Gutenberg?
By SnowSecret
I’ll be honest, when I saw “Professor Ian Duncan” I genuinely thought I’d wandered into the wrong place.
By VelvetBookworm
For me, the books by him (Dumas), Dickens, and Jane Austen are way easier to go back to than most other classic authors, and they’re just more vivid—whether it’s the way the story moves, how the characters feel, the dialogue, or the whole atmosphere. I’ve got a soft spot for Kenilworth, Guy Mannering, the Jacobite trilogy (Waverley, Redgauntlet, Rob Roy), Ivanhoe, Old Mortality, and The Antiquary—they’re probably some of my favorite novels ever.