A fictional story of one of the last Saxon noble families in medieval England when most of the nobles lines were Norman. Ivanhoe is returning from the Crusades and must readjust to life in England where his King has been captured by the Austrians and outlaws due to the tyrannical reign of Prince John are running rampant. The modern story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men owes many ideas to this novel and as well concepts such as the Knights Templar and corrupt clergy all give us a rich background to read and study this work.