Ha, well, I haven't actually read either, so I had to rely on wikipedia summaries. I did try to read Ivanhoe once, but it was so boring I couldn't get past the first chapter. Granted, I was about ten at the time, so I'd probably make it farther today, but nothing I hear about the book really makes me want to give it a second chance.

Which still doesn't answer the question of: DID BEN REALLY CALL HANNIBAL A BEAUTIFUL SARACEN MAIDEN I NEED TO KNOW.