Ivanhoe door sir Walter Scott

Book: Ivanhoe
Author: Sir Walter Scott
Publisher: Priory Books, Bridlington
Number of pages: 213

The story of Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott takes place in the 12th century.

Ivanhoe is the son of a Saxon nobleman. Because of his love for Rowena, he is disinherited by his father. He then goes on crusade with Richard I. After some time he returns to England. He fights in a tournament with Norman knights. The Norman knights are enemies of king Richard. Ivanhoe fights without showing his face so that no one can recognise him. He wins every fight. But at the end of the tournament he is seriously injured. The daughter of a rich Jew, who is at this tournament takes care of him.

After the tournament the Norman knights kidnap a group of Saxons and other people. Ivanhoe’s father, Rowena, the Jew and his daughter and Ivanhoe himself are in this group. Ivanhoe’s father, sir Cedric, does not know that the brave knight is his son, and does not know that the Jew’s daughter, Rebecca is looking after his son.

After some time friends of Cedric and supporters of King Richard free the Saxons, but Rebecca remains a prisoner. The Normans say that Rebecca is a witch. She is to be burnt alive unless a brave knight is willing to fight for her. At the last minute Ivanhoe comes to fight for her. Ivanhoe fights and wins, and so saves her life. King Richard returns to England. Prince John, Richard’s brother, and his Norman friends no longer have power. Ivanhoe is now a hero; he is allowed to marry Rowena. All is well again, except for……. except for Rebecca and her father. Jews are hated in England and Rebecca is sad because she is also in love with Ivanhoe. So Rebecca and her father decide to leave England.

How much time to read this book: - 2 weeks (an hour at a time);

How much time to write this report: - 1 hour

My opinion of this book: - I found this book difficult to read. The sentences are long and there many difficult words in this book. Because of this I did not understand everything. - I also find this book too long and boring. The author tells a lot about how people dress, about what people do and think. He also tells a lot about the history of England at the time of king Richard. This makes the book boring if you not interested in this. - This is not a good book to read for a book report. It might be a good film/video to look at.

I find it difficult to find good English books to read which are not too difficult. When we were in England in October I bought some books but now I find that some are too childish and some are too difficult. I would have liked to read something of the Brönte’s because we went to visit the house of the Brönte’s and I saw the way they lived, but their books are much too difficult.