Ivanhoe

[KEV67]

I have started reading. First I read a fictious letter by the author, purporting to be another author, outlining his reasoning for writing the book. Then I read the introduction. Often I avoid reading the introduction, because they give away spoilers, but this introduction was by Walter Scott himself. He said he did not want to write only Scottish novels, so he was branching out into an English one. He said it was trickier, because the wild men of Scotland were still in living memory, while England had been a civilised country a long time. I am only two chapter in, but, so far, I do not think it is as good as Waverley. 

[KEV67]

Only chapter 3, but, so far, not up to his usual high standard. I hope it improves. At the moment it reads like one of Ernie Wise's plays.

[KEV67]

I am getting into it a bit more. It still seems somewhat far fetched. I wonder if it was true anyone passing by could just rock up to a nobleman's manor and be fed and sheltered at no cost for the night.

[KEV67]

All this description of Jewish money-lending, and the meeting of a gang of robbers similar to Robin Hood and his merry men, reminded me of something I read years ago. I cannot remember the book, but the author said if Robin Hood ever lived it would be more likely to be in the reign of Edward I, after his expulsion of the Jews from England. There are no Robin Hood tales of Jewish money-lenders being robbed.