
More than a century after the Norman Conquest England remains a colony of foreign warlords The dissolute Prince John plots to seize his brother's crown his barons terrorize the country & the mysterious outlaw Robin Hood haunts the ancient greenwood The secret return of King Richard & the disinherited Saxon knight Ivanhoe heralds the start of a splendid & tumultuous romance featuring the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouche the siege of Torquilstone & the clash of wills between the wicked Templar Bois-Guilbert & the sublime Jewess Rebecca In Ivanhoe Scott fashioned an imperial myth of national cultural identity that has shaped the popular imagination ever since its first appearance at the end of 1819 The most famous of Scottish novelists drew on the conventions of Gothic fiction including its risky sexual & racial themes to explore the violent origins & limits of English nationality This edition uses the 1830 Magnum Opus text corrected against the Interleaved Set & incorporates readings from Scott's manuscript The introduction examines the originality & cultural importance of Ivanhoe & draws on current work by historians & cultural critics ABOUT THE SERIES For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more