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Ivanhoe

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Ivanhoe

By: Sir Walter Scott
Narrated by: James Cosmo
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About this listen

This is one of Sir Walter Scott's greatest adventures, set amongst the roaring battles of the struggle between the Normans and the Saxons for control of medieval England. It deals with the rivalry between King Richard the Lion-Heart and his brother, John.

We follow the adventures, skirmishes and romances of the hero, Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight loyal to King Richard, as he attempts to survive the England of King John alongside the disguised Richard and, of course, Robin Hood.

Author Sir Walter Scott, first Baronet (1771-1832), was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet. His father was a lawyer who had brought himself from the family's rural background into legal eminence in Edinburgh, married a well-born girl and was very anxious that his children should continue his process of advancement for the Scott family.

Scott himself was an early victim of polio, only just surviving by dint of being sent back to what remained of the family seat to live with his grandmother. It was she who introduced him to Scottish folklore and ballads, which were to be so influential in his writing career, with novels such as Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.

Public Domain (P)2007 Silksoundbooks Limited Classics Royalty Heartfelt England Middle Ages Survival Highlander
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I'm a big fan of Cosmo's acting, but this reading was a bit stilted. Some breathing exercises and longer phrasing required.

James Cosmo's Ivanhoe

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I haven't read this book for upwards of 60 years but Scott.has the beating of modern authors still! The narration is excellent and Jimmy Cosmo has the characters to perfection.

Love ,Swords and Lance(with a few arrows for luck)

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Essentially the original game of thrones - trial by combat, knights in disguise etc minus the magic. The reader is very good but watch out if you want to learn the correct pronunciation - dais, trysting, bier - are all mispronounced (obscure admittedly but not that obscure) and this slightly ruins the fun.

Well read but some words mispronounced

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Not the easiest story to get into (written 200 years ago) but it's the narration that makes it accessible and engaging

Highly recommended

Great narration

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Tried to listen, but there were no hooks in storyline nor characters nor description. Just not one for me.

Sorry, I couldn't finish it

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