Tracey’s Comments (group member since Jul 17, 2016)

Tracey’s comments from the Sir Walter Scott Appreciation group.

Scott studied a lot on chivalry of the time and it shows in a lot of Ivanhoe. However, Scott had the Knights; Bois-Guilbert, De Bracy and Front-de-Bouef all display non chivalrous behaviour whereas Cedric's followers, his jester and swineherd, the most. Interesting? Was Scott saying chivalry is more to do with the heart than the taking of an oath?

The mad Ulrica is a startling character being juxtaposed to Rebecca who more than ever appears as a true saint. Again, what is Scott saying?

The tournament and it's outcome.

The disinherited knight is of course Wilfred of Ivanhoe, cast off by his father for falling in love with the Lady Rowena. Does his father's reaction make sense?

Yes if you consider the great oppression of the Saxon people and how his father rightly felt that with a strong king-queen at the head the country may rally to fight for their independence. Scott understood that the more possible leaders there are, the more you divide the people. Cedric misunderstood however that Wilfred was a more popular choice than Athelstane, making the opposite mistake of Isabel in The Magnificent Ambersons...he undervalued his son's virtues.

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the first 11 chapters and have noticed the pace is faster than the other Scott novels I have read. There has been a lot of action so far.
Unfortunately, the reaction of the Saxons a..."

Yes it is. The Jews were totally expelled from England in the Edict of Expulsion, a royal decree issued by King Edward I of England on 18 July 1290, expelling all Jews from the Kingdom of England. The expulsion edict remained in force for the rest of the Middle Ages. The edict was not an isolated incident, but the culmination of over 200 years of increased persecution.
Not until 1856 were Jews given equal rights in England. Scott did a very brave thing making Rebecca, a Jewess, the heroine of the story. Another of the great reasons to love Scott.

Scott's depiction of Issac of York is very stereotypical and yet his depiction of his daughter, Rebecca, was a brave move at a time when Jews were still seen as less than Christians. Since Christians were not allowed to loan money for interest and this was the only profession open to Jews, then this image of being money greedy was forced upon them. Maybe Scott wanted to balance the view of Jews and made in Rebecca one of the finest heroines in literature as will be seen later in the book.

I have finished the first 11 chapters and here are my thoughts.

Scott's writing is great and the story interesting if not always historically accurate. He mentions marriages between Saxon and Norman which were very very rare. Also, King Richard only was in England for 10 months out of his 10 year reign and spent his time there exacting increased taxes from the people to fund his crusades. He was a giant of a man who was known as the Lion Heart but he really was not that beloved of the people. However, Scott's portrayal of John is pretty accurate except that he probably died of dysentery and not a 'surfeit of peaches.'

The castle of Athelstane:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/vi...

I lived very close to this and worked at a pharmacy in Conisbrough.

One of the most important things to know to understanding Ivanhoe is how the Norman Invasion of 1066 effected the Anglo-Saxon and Briton people. For almost 300 years afterwards, Norman French was the 'acceptable' language and Normans and Saxons did not intermarry. In several places the Normans, to prove a point, sallied out from their castles and wiped out the local population, men, women children. In others they were treated little better than slaves. The Romans and the Anglo-Saxons did not do this. They integrated with the people after initial struggles. They also allowed some sovereignty to local chiefs/kings.
Ivanhoe is at it's core a story of an oppressed people struggling to keep their identity, their beliefs and customs, language and freedom. Even to this day, British people have a dislike of the Norman invaders and maybe it is this that has caused the people to fight so hard to never be invaded again. A nation has a long memory as seen by all the unrest and discontent throughout the world. The US would do well to read history and learn from it...sadly it seems we are doomed to keep repeating.

Just a little aside. I lived near to where most of this book is set.

This was the first book by Scott that I read and made me fall in love with his writing. We will be reading this in August and Rosemarie will be the leader.

Lori wrote: "He doesn't have his own wikipedia page and I can't find any other information about him, or whether Brenhilda was based on his real wife or another historical woman."

Thanks for looking into that.

Thoughts on the Crusaders and their motives and behaviour according to the novel.

Anyone read The Alexiad and if so how does the story compare to it?

Anyone interested in reading it? I am so let me know if you would like to buddy read it.

Lori wrote: "This is one of the parts that made me cringe a bit as being implausible. That and the part with Count Robert and the [spoilers removed] (not sure if that part is in this section)."

I agree. I think Scott was having a weird moment.

Lori wrote: "She is an interesting character and their relationship is interesting. Nice to see that Count Robert appreciates a strong woman."

Is any of this based on truth? Was there a count Robert of Paris?

Thoughts on the Royal family:
Emperor Alexius
Empress Irene
Princess Anna

Ok, I was enjoying the story until the part of the orangutan. What do you think of this story line?

Thoughts on Count Robert and his countess

Well I am whipping through the book. Interesting time period and history.

1. What do you think of the Emperor's orders on how to deal with the crusaders?

Lori wrote: "I liked this one a lot too, although it was one of Scott's later novels - and as his mind was starting to "go," there are plot holes and some parts that are overly implausible.

I don't have time t..."

Yes Hereward is introduced as is the Royal family; Alexius, Irene and their daughter Anna Comnena.

Post here

Byzantium Emperor, Alexius Comnenus was a very important and influential Emperor in the history of Constantinople. The article below has a lot of great information. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with some of the key points as this will greatly aid in your understanding and enjoyment of this book.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/...

Also an excellent article on the Varangian guards:

http://www.soldiers-of-misfortune.com...

This book is not scheduled to be read until August, but I in my enthusiasm ordered it from my library and it has already arrived. Not wanting to return it before I finish it I have started it. It is a beautiful 1897 edition and just holding it alone is a pleasure.

The story begins in Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Alexius Comnenus, who ascended the throne in 1060. There are 34 chapters. To read it over 4 weeks: 9 chapters/week or over 8 weeks approx. 5 chapters/week