Ivanhoe is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, first published in 1820. Set in 12th-century England, it follows the adventures of the Saxon knight Ivanhoe, who is out to win the hand of Lady Rowena and restore the honour of his family. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters, including the Jewish moneylender Isaac of York, the Norman knight Brian de Bois-Guilbert, and the outlaw Robin Hood. The novel is set against a backdrop of the conflict between the Saxons and the Normans, and is a classic example of the genre of historical fiction.