Ivanhoe, set in post-Norman Conquest England, depicts a time of great tension between the Saxons and Normans. Four generations after the conquest, these two peoples remain divided, even refusing to speak each other’s languages. At this time, King Richard the Lionheart has been captured and imprisoned during his return from the Crusades, while his treacherous brother, Prince John, takes the throne, allowing Norman nobles to abuse their power, seizing Saxon lands and oppressing the Saxon nobility.

At the heart of this story is Cedric of Rotherwood, a fierce Saxon noble loyal to his people’s cause, who disinherits his son, Ivanhoe, for fighting alongside Richard in the Crusades. Additionally, Ivanhoe has fallen in love with Lady Rowena, Cedric’s ward, whom Cedric intends to marry off to Athelstane, a descendant of an ancient Saxon royal line, in the hope of restoring Saxon kingship.

As Ivanhoe secretly returns to England in disguise, the story unfolds with jousts, battles, and unexpected alliances. This classic novel by Walter Scott is a compelling mix of adventure, honor, and romance, transporting readers to a time of political and emotional divides, and offering a critique of the struggle for power and social oppression.

With a dynamic plot and complex characters, Ivanhoe is a must-read for historical fiction fans, capturing the tension and drama of medieval England.