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Sir Walter Scott's Birthday
“For he that does good, having the unlimited power to do evil, deserves praise not only for the good which he performs, but for the evil which he forbears.”
~ Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, 1819
A medieval-coloured tartan for brave knights and their fair ladies ... or for any unabashed historical fiction novel reader! Often hailed as the father of the historical novel, Sir Walter Scott revolutionized the genre by blending historical events with fictional narratives. His works, such as Waverley, Ivanhoe, and Rob Roy, brought historical settings to life, making them accessible and engaging to readers, sparking the 19th century's burgeoning interest in romance and medievalism. First published in 1819, Ivanhoe is a vivid, though somewhat fanciful, portrayal of 12th-century England. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who has fallen out of favor with his father due to his allegiance to the Norman King Richard the Lionheart. Besides the main characters, this story also features legendary characters such as Robin Hood—appearing under his alias, the Earl of Locksley—and his merry men, including Friar Tuck and Allan-a-Dale! Scott drew the novel's title and the name of his hero from the real village of Ivinghoe in East Buckinghamshire, England and is set the story across the landscapes of southern Yorkshire, northwest Leicestershire, and northern Nottinghamshire. And interestingly, Ivanhoe is also credited with popularizing the Scottish phrase "caught red-handed," referring to someone caught in the act of committing a crime, with origins in bloody deeds like poaching or murder! 🖤 🤎 ❤️ 🧡 💛 🖤 📙 ✍️ 👑
August 15th is the birthday of famed novelist, Sir Walter Scott. There are several official tartans associated with this Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet.
The Ivanhoe tartan, by Carol A.L. Martin, was inspired "by the novel by the same name by Sir Walter Scott about a knight in Saxon England in 1194 - a rather dark period of history."
Ivanhoe, first published in 1820 in three volumes and subtitled "A Romance," is set in 12th century England, and has been credited for increasing interest in romance and medievalism.
Ivanhoe is the story of one of the few remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the nobility in England was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favour with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king Richard the Lionheart. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to their homes in Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by Leopold of Austria on his return journey to England, was believed to be still in captivity.
Other major characters include Ivanhoe's intractable father, Cedric, one of the few remaining Saxon lords; various Knights Templar, most notable of which is Brian de Bois-Guilbert, Ivanhoe's main rival; a number of clergymen; the loyal serfs Gurth the swineherd and the jester Wamba, whose observations punctuate much of the action; and the Jewish moneylender, Isaac of York (who is equally passionate about his people), and his beautiful daughter, Rebecca. The book was written and published during a period of increasing struggle for the emancipation of the Jews in England, and there are frequent references to injustices against them.
The novel generated a new name in English – Cedric. The original Saxon name had been Cerdic but Sir Walter misspelled it – an example of metathesis.
For more about the novel, click the painting of "The Queen of the Tournament: Ivanhoe" by Frank William Warwick Topham (1838 - 1924).