Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Book Review: Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott


It's one of the first “historical-fiction” novels. It's poetry in prose and prose in poetry (or it would be if such a thing were possible). It's stirring and romantic and totally epic. It's...Ivanhoe.

Even before this reading, Scott was not unknown to me. I had read both his The Lady of the Lake and The Talisman and I had seen (most) of the 90's Ivanhoe mini-series. Yet I nearly put Ivanhoe aside. The speech of the characters was simply too outrageous, I said. Scott the poet had waxed too enthusiastic in his prose. I would pick it up only to toss it fitfully aside and that only to look at it with my face wrinkled up in indecision. In such manner I worked through the first 100 pages or so. And then something happened—I could not put it down! I tried, but the excitement within the story was intense. Each intense (or humorous, as the case might be) scene swirled to further intensity as the stakes the characters fought for mounted in tension and power. Strangely enough, it was not the troubles of the hero that kept me reading, it was the others. It was the rough yet nobly minded Cedric; the simple (or should the word be level?) minded Athelstane (you have to love Athelstane :)); the chivalrous Black Knight; the also level-headed (with the perfect touch of wit for spice) Locksley. It was the brave and hilarious De Bracy, the courageous Rebecca and finally...Brian Bois-Guilbert.

Cedric begins on rather an unwieldy note. In other words, I couldn’t bear him. However, through the story his nature begins to unfold and you begin to see him for the true noble he is. Indeed, such were my feelings for him that by the end I wished I could give him a big squeezing hug as I give my father (except that I think that Cedric would not appreciate it as much as my father).

De Bracy. I know he is technically on the side of the wicked Prince John, but honestly, if Scott wanted us to love the hero, he should not have created such charming and not-exactly-evil villains. And De Bracy is every wit that, for with all his ambition and mad schemes he does have some sense of honor and he is a brave and skillful knight. Finally, he has humor and light-spirits even in slightly unpleasant circumstances, which Ivanhoe does not. Altogether I like him very much indeed!

Brian Bois-Guilbert aka The Templar. Where do I begin…? His character is incredibly complex and incredibly fascinating. Though the book may be called Ivanhoe, it is Bois-Guilbert who sweeps the story before him and takes hold of the imagination with all the questions raised of a soul tortured by both his past and present. Of all the characters in the story Rebecca was the only one whose quiet strength was the equal of the intense flame of his. The one thing which his incredibly strong nature attempts to break unheeded. Or rather, in the attempt, it is broken itself and the proud Templar finds himself shaken in all the power he held within his hitherto unmoving hand. Ah—and then the end. Trust to Scott to make a hopelessly tied-up situation, with only one way out—and that only for the hero and none for his adversary! However, it was the only way…or at least the only way to finish it with honor for everybody and without ending it in ridiculous improbability. Scott never sways you to think that any of the evil Bois-Guilbert does is good and his ending is a just retribution for his actions. Yet it hurts. Scott had invested so much into his character and though I knew what must be his end, it was painful when the time came and—I admit—I cried.

I have not touched on the many others that make this story memorable, too: Rowena, the Black Knight, Friar Tuck, Wamba, Isaac the Jew—even the named hero of the piece, Ivanhoe. I don't know if I did it on purpose or if it just happened that way, but I think it's turned out perfectly. Those characters are all good and I relish the reading of them, but it is in the bitter and grieved and complex that Scott's brilliance shines and it is for that—in both his writing and his characters—that I love this story.

19 comments:

  1. Eeeep! I was so excited to see this post!

    Ivanhoe. It's truly incredible, no?:)

    YES. BRIAN BOIS-GUILLBERT. He may or may not have tied with Rebecaa for my favorite character. I just love how Sir Walter Scott fleshed out those two's characters.

    Great review:D

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    1. Arwen,
      Thank you muchly. :)

      I could not agree with you more. Ivanhoe is one of the very best!

      YES! Brian Bois-Guilbert is simply one of THE most AMAZING AND HEART-BREAKING characters ever. I just watched the Anthony Andrews version and though he does not look exactly the way he does in the book, it was so horribly tragic seeing all of his tortured feelings played out on his face and when he asks Rebecca to forgive and then the end... you can imagine what a tear-drenched, sobbing condition I was left in! :) Do you have a favorite film version of the story?

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    2. Sorry this is such a late reply:-/

      Oh my word, he's just such an incredible character. Wow. Okay, so, I haven't actually watched an entire movie adaptation YET, but I do plan to, eventually, especially the Anthony Andrews version. I've seen clips from that one and it looked great:)

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    3. Olivia,
      Can I just say how much I have been enjoying this conversation? It's so crazy fun to find someone else who relishes this story, too. :)

      Yes, do do see it! The AA version is just so beautiful and Bois-Guilbert... I can still hardly talk coherently about him. :) I remember thinking he was very well done in the 90's mini-series, too. BUT there were several bad scenes that we had to skip in there, too (and the entire film is a little more gruesome than the others) so I recommend it with more reservations.

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    4. Oh, me too! I'm just totally in love with this book, and I'm glad to find someone else who is, too;)

      I really want to see it! But it's not available through my library system and I can't find it on YouTube or something like that:'( I haven't given up yet, though! I've also put the 1997 miniseries on hold, but it's disappointing that it'll be a bit gruesome:-P By "bad" do you mean inappropriate? *cough* 'Cause that'd be awkward...

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    5. Olivia,
      All right. So let me see if I can explain this... We were watching as a family on a laptop and it was actually moved during some scenes, so I may not have a clear image of them all, but I do know that there is a scene with the Grand Master talking to Rebecca before she is to be burned at the stake and that he goes into *ahem* extreme detail about what will happen when she is. Besides that, though, I'm not sure. Sorry I couldn't be of more help and, honestly, if you watch it I would love to read your review! :)

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    6. Okay, thanks! No, that was helpful! I'll watch it and see what I think, and yes, I'll most likely review it;)

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  2. I really need to reread this. I liked it a lot the only time I read it, back in 1999, and I like the miniseries with Anthony Andrews too (I think it's much better than the Elizabeth Taylor). It's on my to-read list!

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    1. Hamlette,
      Yes, you do need to reread this. ;) I actually just watched both the Elizabeth Taylor and Anthony Andrews versions. The Taylor version (in good old classic fashion) changes the story around a bit more than the Andrews one, but I loved them both so MUCH! However, the latter one was so heart-breaking (in a good way, of course,) that I don't think I will be able to watch it again very soon. :)

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    2. Actually, I plan to reread it this year, as part of my Robin Hood year-long binge :-)

      There's another version with Ciaran Hinds as de Bois-Guilbert that I really really want to see. I have it on good authority that it is also excellent.

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    3. Hamlette,
      My family saw most of the mini-series long long ago and though there were some really gross/indecent parts we skipped, Heidi and I both recollect thinking (and in fact, still DO think!!!) that Bois-Guilbert was absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

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    4. Yes, I've heard it's a bit more adult than the Anthony Andrews version.

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    5. BTW, I've tagged you over on my blog, here. Play if you want to!

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    6. Hamlette,
      Thanks! And yes, I decided to play and I had such a good time doing it! :)

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  3. I tried commenting on this a few days ago, but I don't think it went through.....-sigh-
    Well, all I wanted to say was that if I wasn't interested in giving Ivanhoe another try I certainly am now! I've seen the Elizabeth Taylor version of it, but I never knew there was an Anthony Andrews version as well.....I'll have to try that after I read the book. :)
    I thought there was a Robin Hood book by Sir Walter Scott but after googling it, I realized Robin Hood is in Ivanhoe (am I correct?). Now the book sounds even better! :)

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    1. Natalie,
      I know -- wily comments. :)

      Ah, I'm so glad! And yes, the Andrews version is INCREDIBLE! I actually have a review for that one, too (I have been very busy when it comes to Ivanhoe :)), but it might be a bit before I can post it. :)

      Robin Hood is very much a main character in the book. He is actually my favorite version of a "book" Robin Hood and his character in the Andrews version is just the same! :)

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    2. Oh, I'm glad! I can't wait for your review of it!

      And yay! Robin Hood. I REALLY can't wait to read it now! :)

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  4. I'm glad to see so much love for this book, I think it's really under-appreciated. I agree with your assessment, and this was a great review. I think that the Elizabeth Taylor version is the only one I've seen, but it was a long time ago. I recall enjoying it.

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    1. Rebekah,
      Thank you! It does seem like a rather "controversial" book and I'm glad you agree with my thoughts upon it.

      Have a lovely evening!!

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