Ivanhoe (1819)

In some ways this is a hard read 'Children's Literature': In my childhood the required standard of English was such that this book's text was the reading level for junior school, I suspect now the content would challenge many at Secondary education: Ivanhoe is a tale suitable for children & has all that is needed for a thoroughly adventurous delve into a somewhat fictional past - there's clear good & bad characters & activities, and some thoughtful reference to the plight of the Jewish community (some things have hardly changed at all) within Christian England which has resonated down the ages. However, originally sold as a 'Romance' the story of Ivanhoe is in significant part also the tale of 2 strong women, Rowena & Rebecca who find common cause & experience trials & tribulations that Ivanhoe sees them through at considerable cost to all concerned. A great early 19th Century British novel. ( )

A real page turner. ( )

I was surprised to find Robin Hood in this story!! I must admit I didn't know he as a part of this THe language made reading the book a bit challenging. I kept my dictionary close by and found the read enjoyable. Lots of knights in shining armour along with damsels in distress. Good fun. ( )

This was one of my SantaThing pressies a couple of years ago that I didn't get round to reading until now. For a book titled Ivanhoe, the eponymous hero was a bit bland and absent, although having said that, I think he was one of the few characters in the book that didn't actively annoy me. I found Rebecca pretty much the only character in the book who wasn't flat as a piece of cardboard: she got to be brave, kind and complicated. And it shock me how casually racist and anti-semitic the book was in many places. ( )

DNF at page 104

*sees that in the first 100 pages 70 of them consist of descriptions*

Thanks for the offer but this time I'll pass 😅