The novel Ivanhoe was written by the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott. Scott was born in 1771 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 19th century. He wrote a number of historical novels, including Ivanhoe, which was published in 1819. The novel is set in 12th-century England and follows the adventures of the Saxon knight Ivanhoe. It is considered to be one of the first historical novels and has been adapted into numerous films, television series, and plays.