Sir Walter Scott Appreciation discussion

How is the book so far?

The tournament and it's outcome.

The disinherited knight is of course Wilfred of Ivanhoe, cast off by his father for falling in love with the Lady Rowena. Does his father's reaction make sense?

Yes if you consider the great oppression of the Saxon people and how his father rightly felt that with a strong king-queen at the head the country may rally to fight for their independence. Scott understood that the more possible leaders there are, the more you divide the people. Cedric misunderstood however that Wilfred was a more popular choice than Athelstane, making the opposite mistake of Isabel in The Magnificent Ambersons...he undervalued his son's virtues.

Front de Boeuf has captured Cedric, Athelstane, Rowena, Rebecca, Isaac and the wounded knight. Things look especially bleak for Isaac in the dungeon.

Earlier, we met a very lusty hermit and the mysterious black knight joins him in his hermitage.
Locksley and his men have learned about the Normans disguised as outlaws.

The action is getting more intense. Who is the Black Knight? I am starting to get an idea, but can't make any prediction yet.