Rebecca of Ivanhoe
The prose and pageantry of Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe serve as an inspiring backstory for this newly imagined sequel to the continuing adventures of Rebecca. This current novel picks up the threads of Rebecca’s life after she is rescued by Ivanhoe. As a Jewish healer, she and her father, Isaac, a trader in spices and other wares, flee England and head towards Spain in search of a safer place to live and practice their occupations and their faith. They land in Cordoba, where Isaac’s brother and his family live. Spain in the late 12th century, however, proves just as perilous as England, if not more so, to Jewish communities, which are often scapegoated by both Christians and Muslims who are fighting each other for control of the warring Spanish kingdoms. Rebecca must traverse multiple hurdles that require moving from city to city to escape violence and recrimination. Meanwhile, she becomes romantically involved with a Spanish Jewish man and forms attachments to other Jewish people who are operating at the highest spheres of influence in the communities in which she finds herself.
A compelling tale of one woman’s quest for survival and the opportunity to live life to its fullest, this novel will draw readers in with its fast-paced plot. Written in a simple and direct style, it will most likely be much easier for modern day readers to grasp than the original classic novel that it flows from. It still retains the heart of the original, however, with its emphasis on peril, adventure, and romance. It also brings to life the setting of Spain in the 1190s with all its terrors but also its humanity. Recommended for all fans of the world of Ivanhoe.
