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Ivanhoe

marianna mayer walter scott john rush

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At the dawn of the Middle Ages, a gripping tale of chivalry and suspense emerges. Two distinguished knights -- one Saxon, one Norman -- have returned from the Crusades. Though they fought on the same side, they now have a score to settle. What begins as a joust between two rivals quickly escalates into clanwide mayhem and a fast-paced series of battles for revenge, honor, and love.
Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe was one of the first great historical novels of western literature. At last, this extraordinary work has been brought to life as a lavishly illustrated storybook. Marianna Mayer's inspired adaptation combined with magnificent oil paintings by John Rush create an essential introduction to the classic. This exquisitely designed page-turning volume is perfect for anyone with a passion for adventure.

56 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7,2004

This edition

Format
56 pages, Hardcover
Published
October 7, 2004 by Chronicle Books
ISBN
9781587172489
ASIN
1587172488
Language
English

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About the author

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marianna mayer

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Marianna Mayer lives in Roxbury, Connecticut.
"I see folktales and myths as humankind's first stories," says Marianna Mayer. "They are a kind of collective dreaming, filled with timeless symbols and images we can all relate to, regardless of age or culture. And, much as an oyster must be disturbed by a grain of sand in order for the pearl to be created, I often choose to retell stories in which I find unresolved fragments that are somehow perplexing to me."

Though widely known as a children's book writer, Marianna Mayer's early education focused on visual art. "It seems to me there was never a time when I didn't want to be an artist, " she says. "I liked to tell stories with pictures and compose music. My sister and I put on plays made up from my stories. And then I decided to start writing a book, at the age of nine." She published her first book at the age of nineteen. After college, she studied painting at the Art Students League in New York City. Her experiences as an artist provided many images that she began to incorporate into writing. Gradually, she shifted to the written word as a medium of expression. She explains, "I began to feel more freedom when using words as my paints and plots as my canvases.

"While in the midst of a writing project, I live so much in my mind that what takes place in my imagination becomes quite real to me. I try to become part of the culture of a particular tale as much as possible. While working on Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave, for example, I read all I could about Russia. What I learned about Slavic mythology helped to deepen my understanding of the story. I listened to Russian music, ate Russian food (which I love!), and tried in other small ways to enter into the essence of that culture."

"My writing is deeply personal. First and foremost I write for the child who still lives within me. Then to the child in others, whether that child resides in a young person or an adult. I'm striving to reach out to that spirit of wonder within us all. The stories I was told as a child, those half-remembered folktales and myths, have become the foundation for what I continue to work on in my books. The sense of hope that books instilled in me as a child saw me through many difficult times. Because of this, I choose characters who face overwhelming odds but triumph through courage and perseverance. Similarly, myth allows a child to believe in his or her own dreams and can instill a boundless hope for the future."

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 30 votes)
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13(43%)
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30 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
emerald-coast
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Normally I don't believe in abridging classics (I see it as "dumbing them down"), but this adaptation serves as an introduction to Sir Walter Scott's novel rather than a replacement for it. Plus it's full of breathtakingly beautiful pictures. Highly recommended for middle-grade kids who are old enough to appreciate the plot without being ready yet for the complexity of Scott's language.
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sagafox
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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It is a beauty to flip thru, thanx to fabulous illustrations by John Rush!
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shiotanagisa1515
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Anni fa' presi questo libro tra gli scaffali di un' impolverata biblioteca più per la copertina che per il contenuto in sé. Mi devo ricredere. Un poema epico di quelli che si studiano al liceo letto con calma e curiosità può sorprendere. Le gesta di cavalieri erranti al tempo di Riccardo cuor di leone e Robin Hood possono ancora emozionare un ragazzo del ventunesimo secolo. Lettura un po' più pesante del solito che però non deve spaventare vista in ottica di un romanzo ottocentesco.
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Quiet_Opinion
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Shortened retelling of Ivanhoe with really good editing and great illustrations. I used this to prepare my kids for heavier reading, because really, the first time I cracked the original novel open, I thought my head would spin from the sentence structures alone. Learned to read and love the original, and used this children's version to ease the kids in. Now they love the original too!
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Figva
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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What is the mark of a great book? One that inspires you to seek out and read other great books!

I am currently reading another utterly fantastic book (stay tuned to hear all about it in a couple of days), and it inspired me to get up early this morning and pick up this beautifully illustrated abridged version of the classic tale, Ivanhoe.

This retelling adapted by Marianna Mayer was wonderful and as I said previously, beautifully illustrated..I've had it on my shelf for years since my oldest did a long stint in reading about knights, etc... but I'd never picked it up on my own.

Now that I have, I may just be inspired to read Ivanhoe in its entirety one day,.

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Tsujikicksass
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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I read this recently and can fully attest to why it is a CLASSIC! What a wonderfully crafted tale. I would say that it is a little hard to get into, but once the cadence of the language is in your head, it is a wonderful story. I can't believe it took me this long to read it. Highly recommend!
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Turkot123
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Nice quick overview of the story. I'd like to read the full book sometime.
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