The author of Ivanhoe is Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish historical novelist, poet, and playwright. He was born in 1771 and is widely regarded as the inventor of the historical novel. His works are set in a variety of historical periods, from the Middle Ages to the Napoleonic era. He is best known for his novels Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Heart of Midlothian. He was knighted in 1820 and died in 1832.