1820 3 vols IVANHOE Walter Scott FIRST Edition + ISSUE

Three volumes bound in original publisher's boards with the half titles and the adverts at the rear of volume III.

First Edition. First Issue (with mispagination of 159 in volume 1)

A lovely set of his most important and famous work, in the scarce first issue in original publishers binding in great condition.

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, (1771 – 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time.

Ivanhoe is a novel by Sir Walter Scott. It was written in 1819 and set in 12th century England. Ivanhoe is sometimes given credit for helping to increase popular interest in the Middle Ages in 19th century Europe and America.

Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the English nobility was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favour with his father owing to his courting the Lady Rowena and for his allegiance to the Norman king Richard I of England. The story is set in 1194, after the end of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by the Duke of Saxony, on his way back, was still supposed to be in the arms of his captors. The legendary Robin Hood, initially under the name of Locksley, is also a character in the story, as are his 'merry men,' including Friar Tuck and, less so, Alan-a-Dale. (Little John is merely mentioned.) The character that Scott gave to Robin Hood in Ivanhoe helped shape the modern notion of this figure as a cheery noble outlaw.

Other major characters include Ivanhoe's intractable Saxon father Cedric, a descendant of the Saxon King Harold Godwinson; various Knights Templar and churchmen; the loyal serfs Gurth the swineherd and the jester Wamba, whose observations punctuate much of the action; and the Jewish moneylender, Isaac of York, equally passionate of money and his daughter, Rebecca. The book was written and published during a period of increasing struggle for Emancipation of the Jews in England, and there are frequent references to injustice against them.

CONDITION