IvanhoeIvanhoe
Score Classic
What it's about
Just after the Third Crusade, young Saxon knight Wilfrid loves the royal princess Rowena against his father's wishes, and sets out on adventures to prove himself, against the Normans and the Templars.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's by Sir Walter Scott, the father of the historical novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Once and Future King
The BetrothedGood to know
It's a classic historical adventure.
By the numbers
- Readers9 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #118 of the 124 historical novels we rank
- #239 of the 246 romances we rank
- #891 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2911 of the 3,056 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
If you like this, read next
I Capture the Castle
Washington Square
A Northern Light
The Notebook
Pride and Prejudice
Lonesome DoveExplore the best-of lists
All 47 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Ivanhoe worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,911 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 55.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Ivanhoe about?
Just after the Third Crusade, young Saxon knight Wilfrid loves the royal princess Rowena against his father's wishes, and sets out on adventures to prove himself, against the Normans and the Templars.
How long does it take to read Ivanhoe?
About 13 hours (528 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Ivanhoe?
If you liked it, try The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, The Once and Future King by T. H. White or The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni.