Average customer rating:
- History's best bits
- An excellent overview of early English history
- Thouroughly enjoyable as an audiobook! (A history teacher's review)
- as fun as history gets.
- Handy guide for non-Brits
|
Great Tales from English History: The Truth About King Arthur, Lady Godiva, Richard the Lionheart, and More
Robert Lacey
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Medieval
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside History Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Great Tales from English History (Book 2): Joan of Arc, the Princes in the Tower, Bloody Mary, Oliver Cromwell, Sir Isaac Newton, and More
-
Great Tales from English History (3): Captain Cook, Samuel Johnson, Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin, Edward the Abdicator, and More
-
The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium
-
The Story of Britain: From the Romans to the Present: A Narrative History
-
1215: The Year of Magna Carta
ASIN: 031610910X |
Book Description
From ancient times to the present day, the story of England has been laced with drama, intrigue, courage, and passion-a rich and vibrant narrative of heroes and villains, kings and rebels, artists and highwaymen, bishops and scientists.Now, in Great Tales from English History, Robert Lacey captures some of the most pivotal moments: the stories and extraordinary characters that helped shape a nation. This first volume begins in 7150 BC with the intriguing life and death of Cheddar Man and ends in 1381 with Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt.We meet the Greek navigator Pytheas, whose description of the woad-painted Celts yielded pretannik ('the land of the painted people'), which became the Latin word Britannia. We learn what the storytellers really meant when they described Lady Godiva's 'nakedness.'And we discover the truth behind the tales of King Arthur and the infamous Hobbehod, later to be known as 'Robin Hood.'
Download Description
From ancient times to the present day, the story of England has been laced with drama, intrigue, courage, and passion-a rich and vibrant narrative of heroes and villains, kings and rebels, artists and highwaymen, bishops and scientists. Now, in Great Tales from English History, Robert Lacey tells those remarkable stories as only a great writer can: combining impeccable accuracy with the timeless drama that has made these stories live for centuries.This volume begins in 7150 BC with the life and death of Cheddar Man and ends in 1381 with Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt. We meet the Greek navigator Pytheas, whose description of the woad-painted Celts yielded pretanniké ("the land of the painted people"), which became the Latin word Britannia. We learn what the storytellers really meant when they described Lady Godiva's "naked" ride through town. And we discover the truth behind the tales of King Arthur and the infamous Hobbehod, later known as Robin Hood.With insight, humor, and fascinating detail, Robert Lacey brings brilliantly to life the stories that made England. From Ethelred the Unready to Richard the Lionheart, the Venerable Bede to Piers the Ploughman, this is, quite simply, history as history should be told.
Customer Reviews:
History's best bits.......2007-10-10
A few days ago I finished Great Tales From English History by Robert Lacey. When I first saw this book I knew it had potential; to me, presentation has a lot to do with my overall love for a book and this one is beautiful. After checking it out from my library when I worked there, I found Mr. Lacey's writing to be exciting, interesting, and informative. A few weeks ago I set to reading the whole thing and I'm glad I did. The book presents short stories about moments from English history that you may or may not have heard of.
From the introduction: "Brief though each chapter is, Great Tales seeks to create a coherant, chronological picture of our island story, while following the guiding principle that all men and women have heroism inside them - along with generous and fascinating measures of incompetence, apathy, evil and lust." The book is also beautifully illustrated by Fred van Deelen and Mr. Lacey has included fantastic end notes and bibliographies that you can investigate if you find a particular subject interesting. If you have any interest in English history, pick this one up at your local library and you'll probably find yourself reading the short chapters in just a few minutes each. You'll not be dissapointed! (And if you finish this and want more, try Great Tales vol. 2 and Great Tales vol. 3).
An excellent overview of early English history.......2007-09-15
The first of three volumes, this narrative presents the history of the British Isles in a way that reminds one of how folktales must have once been told. The tales begin with Cheddar Man and end with the story of Wat Tyler, spanning the years of 7150 BC to 1381.
Lacey intersperses stories of famous royals with little known people, which makes this a truly unique book. I really like learning stories that explain various parts of the English culture.
I highly recommend this series!
Thouroughly enjoyable as an audiobook! (A history teacher's review).......2007-03-25
Robert Lacey has done something that many writers have failed to do (unfortunately) - he has written history in a fun, accessible, easy to grasp manner. After all, as Lacey points out in his introduction, the "history" and "story" come from the same Latin root word. Essentially, history should be the simple story of how things happened, to the best of the teller's knowledge.
Lacey's power as a storyteller is highlighted here in spades. He narrates his audiobook as well so there is the added bonus of hearing the author add nuance to the reading - essentially reading it the way he meant it to be heard.
The stories are short and entertaining. Only a couple of times in 5 hours and 45 minutes of listening did I find my attention wandering. This is a terrificly fun experience for any history lover. Full of interesting tidbits but not lacking in the larger themes or commentaries.
I am going to look for volumes 2 & 3 and hopefully he has written or is writing his volumes on Scotland and Ireland as well.
Bravo!
I give this one an enthusiastic A+.
as fun as history gets........2007-02-12
this book covers english history from 7150 BC up to 1381 AD, and is about as fun as history gets. short chapters touching on the big names and incidents, as well as some little known ones, fly by too fast owing to the lively writing that makes this a complete page-turner. I finished it in 2 days and immediatley picked up its successor volume. wonderful.
Handy guide for non-Brits.......2007-02-08
This volume and its two companions are a handy guide to major events and people in England's history. In this volume, Lacey skirts around some of the earliest events and people, not providing much in depth and ignoring even a mention of some facts that might help him be a little less dismissive of some of the stories. But once he gets to 1066 and the battle of Hastings, his details become much clearer, and he is a good help to non-Brits who might want to hone up on names and events with some but not too many details. The three volumes end in the 20th century, so you know it covers a lot in a small space (or three small spaces). The chapters are all short - two to six pages - and are a handy guide for non-Brits. Even Brits could use them as a refresher course.
Average customer rating:
|
Berengaria: In Search of Richard the Lionheart's Queen
Ann Trindade
Manufacturer: Four Courts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Irish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Medieval
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Women in History
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Medieval
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ireland
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1851824340 |
Customer Reviews:
Usufructuary?.......2007-05-19
What literate person who's grown up in a WASP culture hasn't heard of and admired the legendary King Richard the Lionheart? Perhaps the admiration even survived the portrayal of the sexually and emotionally tormented Prince Richard of The Lion in Winter. But, it was only as I escaped adolescence and took a deeper interest in English history that I eventually learned that Richard, as King, married a woman named Berengaria. All I ever knew, however, was that the lady was a royal princess of the Spanish kingdom of Navarre, that she was delivered to Richard in Sicily by his parent, Queen Mother Eleanor, that she travelled with her husband to the Holy Land on the Third Crusade, and that Richard died in 1199 without Berengaria giving birth to an heir. Not much, that. Thus, my interest was captured by the subtitle of BERENGARIA: IN SEARCH OF RICHARD THE LIONHEART'S QUEEN.
Unfortunately, author Ann Trindade can shed little light on her subject. The 198-page volume is sprinkled with too many admissions as to the paucity of relevant historical source material, even though the Bibliography runs to twelve pages in small type:
"Her date of birth is not known..." Page 20
"Berengaria ... is described as 'enigmatic' because so little detailed information of any kind has survived." Page 56
About the royal wedding, "No one mentioned what the bride was wearing." Page 87
Of Berengaria's sojourn in the Holy Land, "One inference which can be drawn from the silence of the chroniclers concerning Berengaria ... is that (she) behaved with impeccable propriety." Page 94
"Berengaria's absence from the principal accounts of the third crusade is frustrating and discouraging ..." Page 105
"The years between 1192, the departure from the Holy Land, and 1199, the year of Richard's death, remain the most obscure and ill-documented period of Berengaria's life." Page 107
"Almost nothing is known of her private life during (the) long years of widowhood." Page 177
Perhaps the most informative snippet is Trindade's description of Berengaria's tomb effigy at the abbey of Notre Dame de la Piete Dieu de l'Epau, which she founded, on the outskirts of Le Mans. Sadly, the author doesn't even include a full-length picture of the carved stone.
I finished the book knowing that Berengaria was a royal princess of the Spanish kingdom of Navarre, that she was delivered to Richard in Sicily by his parent, Queen Mother Eleanor, that she travelled with her husband to the Holy Land on the Third Crusade, that Richard died in 1199 without Berengaria giving birth to an heir, AND additionally, that she apparently stood like a lioness to maintain her dignity and marriage dowry against those who would cheat her of either after Richard's death, including kings John and Henry III of England and King Philip of France. Not much added value there.
It's a wonder the author expended the effort on so much research when it must've become apparent at some point that it would yield so little. It's as if, after striving strenuously to accumulate a pile of notes, Trindade thought, "Well, it's not the book I wanted to write, but I promised the publisher something to get into print, so ..."
As a cursory narrative of the times, contemporary attitudes towards women, and certain historical personages (other than Berengaria herself), the book might rate 4 stars. Indeed, Trindade's observations about the controversy surrounding Richard's alleged homosexuality are insightful and informative. But, as an exercise "in search of Richard the Lionheart's queen", BERENGARIA is essentially unrewarding and pointless.
I did, however, run across a word that I've never seen used before - "usufructuary". At least I now know what it means and can toss it out at the next gathering around the office water cooler.
Book Description
On his long journey home from the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart--one of history’s most powerful and romantic figures--was ship-wrecked near Venice in the Adriatic Sea. Forced to make his way home by land through enemy countries, he traveled in disguise, but was eventually captured by Duke Leopold V of Austria, who in turn conveyed him to Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. Henry demanded a majestic ransom, and Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, raised the historic sum--one quarter of the entire wealth of England--and Richard was returned. But a peculiar legend followed him--that a troubadour named Blondel, a friend of Richard's, had journeyed across Europe singing a song he knew Richard would recognize in order to discover his secret place of imprisonment.
David Boyle recreates the drama of the Third Crusade and the dynamic power politics and personalities of the late 12th century in Europe, as well as the growing fascination with romance and chivalry embodied in the troubadour culture. An evocation of a pivotal era, The Troubadour’s Song is narrative history at its finest.
Customer Reviews:
Chivalry, Court Love, Music and an Imprisoned King.......2007-06-02
It reads like a fairy tale:
Once upon a time there was a king, famous for his courage and strength, who was imprisoned in a distant castle by his enemies. No one in his homeland knew where he was, that is, until a minstrel wandered beneath the tower where he was kept. Below the tower, the troubadour sang, and to his amazement, he heard the answering refrain from above. It was, of course, the lost king, and the troubadour hurried to let his people know where he was being kept so that he could be ransomed and returned to his homeland.
But there is a good chance that it may have actually happened. Author David Boyle explores both medieval legend and fact in his book, The Troubadour?s Song: The Capture and Ransom of Richard the Lionheart. I must say, it?s one of the best works of popular fiction that I have come across this year. I do admit to a certain preference to this time in history, full of glamour and exoticism, and a particular favorite of many historical novelists and researchers alike.
In this, Boyle starts with the legend of King Richard?s imprisonment and how he may have been discovered by a troubadour, by the name of Blondel. Beginning with the historical legend, he moves on to discussing the culture and rise of the troubadour culture, and how the Courts of Love helped to shape a rise in music, and the idea of codified rule of behavior between men and women. King Richard had been raised in this culture of music and art, learning music and being no mean poet himself, all under the approving and watchful eye of his mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II of England. But lest anyone think that Richard was a dainty man, he was also a fearsome warrior, quick tempered and prideful, and loved to make war. And when his mother was replaced, as it were, by one of her husband?s mistresses, Richard took it as an excuse to raise a rebellion against his father.
Richard lost, but he would eventually survive his father to become King of England and master of the Angevin empire that his parents had built. And now, he intended to fulfill his vow and go on Crusade to the Holy Land and retake Jerusalem from the Muslims. His ally in this was the French King, Philip Augustus, who had helped him before in his rebellions, and may have been his lover.
Boyle goes in depth into the victories and failures of Richard?s crusade, providing an excellent analysis of what happened and when, and most importantly, why, along with giving some more insight into Richard?s shadowy queen, Berengaria of Navarre. But it was on the return trip from the Holy Land where the historical record gets murky. A minor German prince, Leopold of Austria, had been mortally insulted by Richard at a siege, and when Richard was discovered in disguise traveling in Leopold?s domain, it was an opportunity too good to pass up. He immediately had Richard arrested, and demanded an outrageous ransom ? the equivalent of nearly two billion dollars today.
It?s popular history at its best, Boyle?s writing is clear and free of jargon, told in a sprightly, slightly humourous style. He takes on such varied topics as the question of whether Richard was a homosexual or bisexual, the role of chivalry between opponents on a battlefield, medieval music, the plotting between Richard?s brother John and Philip Augustus and more than a dozen other topics. One interesting tangent that Boyle takes is the role of Robin Hood and King Richard, and indeed, the entire myth of King Richard ? and wicked Prince John ? a topic that will change many readers attitudes towards these characters. What works here is that the narrative is smooth and keeps from getting too tangled up in trivia, which is usually the problem with reading about history.
To help the reader along, there is an insert of photographs, taken mostly from manuscripts and tombs, and the usual bibliography and notes. Skimming through these, I found quite a few books and sources that are going to encourage me in future research.
This book takes several nights, provides plenty of entertainment and questions, and was pretty much overlooked when it was first published. For anyone interested in the middle ages, and particularly the real Richard the Lionheart, this is a must-read book. It?s entertaining, full of colour and life and certain not to disappoint.
Recommended
Subtitle is the key to the book.......2006-05-07
This book by David Boyle proves to be a superb work of history regarding the capture and ransom of King Richard I of England. Its a well written, easy to read and superbly research book that dealt with the details around Richard's captured, methods of his ransom and his dealing with his captors. Although it read like Richard's biography, the book gives a good detail study of this incident. It was interesting to know that inorder to ensure his final release, Richard pledged England to his captor, Henry VI of Holy Roman Empire. It was probably a pledge that he never meant to keep but for a brief moment of legel history, England was a province of Germany. Background material on Richard, especially his conducts during the Crusades and his dealing with various lords and rulers during the Third Crusade proves to be well presented and accurately gives the cause and effects behind his imprisonment.
The author also take pains to informed the readers of the type of the world, Richard lived in, the influence of music and men who write them like the troubadours. While the author get into the stories of these troubadours, especially one Blondal who were rumoured to found Richard's prison by singing under his castle cell, the author make it pretty clear to the reader where facts end and where the legend begin.
The book come highly recommended to anyone who happen to be interested in mediveal English history, especially in the personality of King Richard the Lion-Heart. A detail look at his captivity proves to be highly informative and interesting.
Rich in detail and a true pleasure to read.......2006-03-24
This book is one of those that is all too rarely found - the history is well-researched and very detailed and yet the style is smooth and engaging, making it both informative and a pleasure to read at the same time. The keenness of Boyle's interest in both the period - the late 12th century with its crusades, chivalry, courtly love and troubadours - and in the core event itself - the capture and ransom of Richard the Lionheart - comes through in the way in which he brings it all to life, immersing the reader to the extent that we feel we are there as witnesses.
One thing I felt Boyle did particularly well was pointing out where he was relating known historical fact and where he was filling in gaps with informed speculation, showing the various possibilities and why he felt a particular one might be the most likely. For example, very little is actually known about Blondel, the legendary troubadour of the title, but Boyle shows what is known and also what can be deduced or speculated based on it. He also does the same for Robin Hood, another legendary figure tied to the story of Richard's absence and return to England.
Another thing Boyle does well is giving the reader a sense of the personalities of the dominant figures of the period and its events, and showing how much the strengths and weakness of their personalities affected how things turned out. Richard's charisma, persuasiveness and calm in the face of adversity come out vividly in the parts where he is a prisoner of Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor, and put on trial for alleged crimes connected to his conduct of the crusade. By sheer presence and oratory, Richard wins over the German princes summoned to be his judges, not only winning his acquittal but also going on to form new alliances and trade deals for England, all while still a prisoner. His playful and winning nature comes out in how he dealt with his guards. Richard's reputation as a fearsome warrior was such that when he was captured, orders were given that he be guarded by four knights with swords drawn at all times. But within a matter of weeks, Richard so charmed his guards that he was constantly getting them drunk and engaging them in wrestling contests. At the same time, Boyle shows how Richard's ego and his inability to resist grand gestures were ultimately responsible for his being noticed and captured. It's rather difficult to travel incognito disguised as a merchant while at the same time insisting on giving expensive jeweled rings to local nobles and granting kingly bequests to build or restore cathedrals.
Other personalities are also brought out in vivid detail. Eleanor of Acquitaine, Richard's mother, in her 70's at the time but still a lioness in her own right, taking charge of the raising of the ransom and of the negotiations to free her son. The vacillating Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, never truly certain of what he should do with his valuable but equally dangerous prisoner. Leopold of Austria, whose personal bitterness against Richard over his treatment at the siege of Acre led to his imprisoning of Richard when was forced by fate to attempt to cross through his lands on his return to England. And Philip Augustus, the King of France, a close friend in Richard's youth only to become his enemy in adulthood.
The book is rich in anecdotes relating to the events. Among my favorite was when Longchamp, Richard's unpopular Chancellor in England, tries to flee the country disguised as a woman only to be caught at the port when a flirtatious fisherman starts feeling him up. Another was when Richard, finally released from captivity, sends a written message to his treacherous brother John, warning him "Look to yourself. The devil is loosed!" The book also goes into interesting side details, such as the difference between troubadours and minstrels (troubadours wrote songs, whereas minstrels only sang them), the limited methods of writing down music at the time (they had a way of recording the where the notes were on a scale but not the tempo of how they should be played or how long they should be held), the way in which the ransom, almost a quarter of England's wealth converted into silver, was raised and the magnitude of its effect on the economies of both England and Europe, and the fates of all of the major figures in the period after Richard's release (almost all of them were dead in less than five years).
All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys either history or a good read. It more than meets the mark in both.
A light read.......2005-10-19
I give this book 4 stars because it is an enjoyable, easy read. But it doesn't get very deep into anything. I am not sure why "the troubadour's song" got prime billing on the title. It isn't much of the book. There isn't much historical evidence concerning Blondel and anything he might have done concerning locating King Richard or his release. The author's discussion is interesting but only a very small part of the book. The author pulled together the whole story of Richard, his capture, the other major participants in the story, England's raising of the ransom, and even, the economic effect on England. All well told. But nothing particularly astounding or revealing. However, the author writes very well. The story moves along nicely and you have a pleasant time reading it. If you are only vaguely familiar with King Richard's capture and ransom and that sort of story would be interesting to you, this is a good book to relax with and enjoy. A final aspect of this book I really enjoyed was at the end when he tells you what happened to all the major participants after Richard is released.
Book Description
The clash between King Richard I ‘The Lionheart’ of England and Saladin has become legendary. Throughout the ages, military enthusiasts have been fascinated by the strategy of the resolute, heavily armed Anglo-Saxon army versus their more lightly armed opponents. Richard’s inability to recapture Jerusalem was disappointing, but it proved to the crusaders that Saladin was not invincible. This book describes the struggle that has evolved into a mythic campaign for the Holy City of Jerusalem, providing an in-depth look at the battle, the personalities involved and the tactics employed by each army.
Customer Reviews:
Good Overview.......2007-02-20
These small Osprey books on various historical events pack in a lot of information and present it in a very easy to understand language that the casual reader may find a good source for research.
David Nicolle is a good historical writer, speaking in plain English and keeping the reader interested. The material in this particular offering is well balanced. There are books that have focused on one side of the story, or the other. Nicolle very successfully attempts to keep both sides focused, discussing the pros and cons of each leader, giving each side to the story and a very well rounded look at the events.
However the book, because of its size, does not go into some of the finer details or "in depth" examination of events and situations that some might be looking for. To be honest, these books are not intended for that purpose. There are volumes out there that you can spend years going through. This book is meant as an overview of the topic and should be taken as such.
The battles do not go into as much detail as some of the other books put out by Osprey. The usual focus of these books is to look at a particular historical event or aspect and go into details. But in choosing a large historical event like The Third Crusade in such a small presentation, there will be a lot left out. The book focuses on a singular year, 1191, in which the whole Crusade came to a crashing close. While the lead up to this year is examined, the focus is more on the battles fought that year and how it brought about the end of that era. And even this is a lot to cover in such a small format.
Not to be left out are the graphics, photographs, maps and the artistic renderings of Christa Hook. These elements are included to keep the interest of the reader. There is a lot of photographs to go over, giving the reader an overview of the art, architecture landscape and battle fields of the time. Christa Hooks paintings give the book a feeling of action, and adds interest to the story.
The maps are valuable and in this book they have included what they label as "3D views" of the particular battlefields. While interesting, I didn't find it added anything to the overview of the battles. However, they are nice topographical additions to the book.
Going over this book, I would have to say this will appeal to the school aged reader who is looking to write a book report for school, or augment their studies of the Historical Crusades. It will even appeal to the casual reader who is curious, but not a serious student of the Crusades.
This is a good look at the cultures of the time, both the Crusaders as well as the forces of Saladin. Some of the key battles are examined. And it favors neither side. We are presented with a fair view of the events. A good overview and presentation of the material. medievalcrusadesbabe
Offers Cultural Perspectives, but less on military side.......2005-12-21
Dr. David Nicolle continues his survey of Medieval battles in Osprey Campaign #161, The Third Crusade 1191. Certainly the clash between two charismatic opponents - Saladin and Richard the Lionheart - make for an interesting subject and Nicolle handles it with admirable balance. However, Dr. Nicolle's primary interests lie in the cultural realm - particularly Islamic art and architecture - and readers seeking more detail on the military aspects of the campaign will find these matters covered in a more perfunctory manner. Furthermore, the graphic quality of this volume - the maps and the battle scenes - is somewhat less than in other Osprey volumes.
This volume includes five 2-D maps (the forces assemble, 1188-91; events in Cyprus, Syria and Palestine, 1188-91; the siege of Acre, 1191; the coastal march; and after Arsuf, 1191-92) and three 3-D BEV maps (initial movements on 7 September 1191; Richard's counterattack and later phases of the Battle of Arsuf). Unfortunately, the 2-D maps are far too complicated, with up to 36-37 events in several maps, and the 3-D maps are "zoomed out" too far to see any close-up detail of the Battle of Arsuf. A close up 2-D map showing the relative dispositions of each army would be more useful to the reader than maps that just show a bunch of blocks and arrows. Also, no individual units or formations are identified in the 3-D maps, unlike most Osprey volumes. The three battle scenes are: Richard's men tearing down the Duke Leopold's banner at Acre, the death of Ayaz al-Tawil and King Richard ordering the Crusader cavalry to halt at Arsuf. Frankly, these battle scenes are rather disappointing, being rather "primitive" and lacking in detail compared to the artwork that normally appears in this series.
Dr. Nicolle's introductory sections on opposing commanders, armies and plans are quite good, although readers unfamiliar with this era would be wise to read the earlier volume on the preceding Hattin campaign first. The only weakness in this material is the lack of any kind of order of battle or even the identification of any specific formations beyond generic nomenclature such as "the Damascus contingent." Surely some Crusader banners under Richard must have been identified? Although the main focus of the volume is on the struggle between Saladin and Richard Lionheart, Dr. Nicolle also makes interesting observations about Sunni-Shia power-sharing arrangements in the 12th Century and politics in the rump Crusader states. The author also provides brief background on the death of Barbarossa before moving on to the siege of Acre and the Battle of Arsuf.
Although Dr. Nicolle's narrative about the Battle of Arsuf is quite coherent, it is difficult to follow actions on the 3-D maps. Nor does the author pay enough attention to Crusader logistics - which other sources note as having a major impact on the campaign. Furthermore, the author does not mention relative strengths and losses at Arsuf, although other sources do include estimates. Arsuf took some of the luster off Saladin's reputation but the Crusaders were not strong enough to regain Jerusalem - although Nicolle suggests that it might have been in their reach. The volume ends with an excellent bibliography and notes on the battlefield today. It is obvious that Dr. Nicolle is well-versed in the cultural aspects of his subject, if not the specific military details.
Amazon.com
Throughout the medieval era, the Holy Land was a fiercely contested battlefield, fought over by huge Muslim and Christian armies, by zealots and assassins. The Third Crusade, spanning five years at the end of the 12th century, was, writes James Reston Jr. in this absorbing account, "Holy War at its most virulent," overseen by two great leaders, the Kurdish sultan Salah ad-Din, or Saladin, and the English king Richard, forevermore known as Lionheart.
Writing with a keen sense of historical detail and drama, Reston traces the complex path by which Saladin and Richard came to face each other on the field of battle. The Crusades, he observes, began "as a measure to redirect the energies of warring European barons from their bloody, local disputes into a 'noble' quest to reclaim the Holy Land from the 'infidel'." Of the five Crusades over 200 years, only the first was successful, to the extent that the Christian armies were able to conquer their objective of Jerusalem. The Third Crusade, as Reston ably shows, was complicated by fierce rivalries among the Christian leaders, by a chain of military disasters that led to the destruction of an invading German army and its emperor, and by the dedication of an opposing Islamic army that shared both a goal and a language.
Saladin, Reston writes, was a brilliant leader and a merciful victor, but capable of costly errors; Richard was extraordinarily skilled at combat, but his lack of resolve cost him many battles, and, ultimately, Jerusalem. Richard returned to Europe, Saladin to Damascus. Neither leader has long to live, and the peace they made would soon be broken. James Reston's splendid book does them both honor while examining a conflict that has never really ended. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
Warriors of God is the rich and engaging account of the Third Crusade (1187-1192), a conflict that would shape world history for centuries and which can still be felt in the Middle East and throughout the world today. Acclaimed writer James Reston, Jr., offers a gripping narrative of the epic battle that left Jerusalem in Muslim hands until the twentieth century, bringing an objective perspective to the gallantry, greed, and religious fervor that fueled the bloody clash between Christians and Muslims.
As he recounts this rousing story, Reston brings to life the two legendary figures who led their armies against each other. He offers compelling portraits of Saladin, the wise and highly cultured leader who created a united empire, and Richard the Lionheart, the romantic personification of chivalry who emerges here in his full complexity and contradictions. From its riveting scenes of blood-soaked battles to its pageant of fascinating, larger-than-life characters,
Warriors of God is essential history, history that helps us understand today's world.
Customer Reviews:
When the facts become questionable........2007-10-09
I got a hold of this book to do some research for a story on Robin Hood that I am going to be writing to get some background information on the Third Crusades and on Richard himself. I thought this book was good until I got to the paragraph that concerned Robin Hood. If you've done your homework about Robin Hood, you would know that Robin Hood was described as a yeoman, not a disposed nobleman, and if you do your homework, most researchers on Robin Hood like to point out that the king mentioned in the Robin Hood tales is "our comely King Edward" with no defining number. That alone put the rest of the information in the book in question, if you ask me. There are some other things about the book I found questionable, but I will leave my review at that.
highly readable, but biased and light.......2007-05-18
The authors skill at the narrative style made this book a pleasure to read. While the writing style is the works greatest strength it is also its greatest weakness. By personalizing the third crusade in the actions of King Richard and Saladin the reader is drawn into the story. The book is not weighed down by the verbose language of a heavy academic work. Unfortunately the book lacks the intellectual weight to make up for its clean writing. At times I felt like I was reading a screenplay vice a historical work. The focus on dialogue and action at the expense of analysis caused the book to feel light and empty.
While it weaved a good tale, I felt like I was missing out on many of the details and nuances of the 3rd crusade. The author also seemed to have a distinct bias against the Christian forces. The Crusades always painted in a negative light, while the Islamic forces were brave and devout.
Well written history.......2007-03-02
James Reston is one of those rare historians who can also tell an extremely good story. He just sucks you into the life and times and has given me a fascination for the historical period in this book. I wish historians wrote this well all the time.
Warriors of God.......2007-01-11
While this is a historical analysis of activity surrounding the Third Crusade, it is very relevant to today. All readers will readily relate to the "War" in Iraq and other militant happenings in the Middle East. If political leaders become more sensitive to these historical events and their causes, we could achieve peace now.
James Reston presents so much in a very easily read tome. His style is for anyone from those of us with casual interest to scholars of the period.
Saladin VS. Richard.......2006-12-13
This was an interesting book on one of the most famous military campaigns in medieval history: the Third Crusade. Two leaders -- Richard, king of England, and Saladin, sultan of a united Egypt and Syria -- waged war up and down the coastline of the Holy Land, both towering over their armies and their subjects in legend and reputation. Chock full of good stories, this book kept me entertained during the time it took to read it.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful stories.......2007-07-10
We have been reading about one a week for over a year. My girls love these stories! One of our rabbits ended up with the name "Boudacia" after we read her story.
At the beginning they might be more folklore than fact, but none the less they are wonderful. There are some great moral lessons to be learned from many of the stories.
After I bought the Yesterday's Classics I found an old hardback with great color pictures. It cost a bit, but what a treasure!
Highly recommend.
loved this book...........2006-09-07
I read this aloud last spring to my 3 boys, ages 10, 12, and 13. They all really enjoyed it and I enjoyed reading it.
The only (small) negative I could give it is that there are several spelling mistakes-mostly a missing letter in a word. I corrected that as we went along for the next time I read it aloud. It really wasn't a problem but I just thought I should point that out.
We are now reading the sequel about our own country (America) called "This Country of Ours" and enjoying that one as well. I can highly recommend both books, as well as "Fifty Famous Stories Retold" which is usually bought along with these two. That one is especially easy to narrate from as the stories are very short-often just 2 pages.
British History that is fun.......2006-04-15
This is a such a fun history of England. My children love reading this book. We read a couple of chapters aloud each week. We have just started our second time through.
The chapters are relatively short. For the most part, the book is organized chronologically by King (or Queen). Each chapter (or sometimes several chapters) hits the high points of each King or Queen's reign.
Make history come alive for your children by reading this book to them.
This is a nice softcover edition. Check out the publishers other books. You can pretty much assume it is going to be interesting to your children if they have published it. I have several of their books and every one has been a hit with our family.
Average customer rating:
- Lionheart Rules!
- In my opinion, the best book ever written!!!
|
Lionheart: A novel of Richard I, King of England
Martha Rofheart
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Historical
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0671432508 |
Customer Reviews:
Lionheart Rules!.......2003-04-06
This is the story of Richard the Lionheart as told by himself, his mistress Blondelza (fictional), Mercadier of Fouquenbrun-Knight, Queen Eleanor, Berengaria, Princess of Navarre later Richard's wife, and Alexander the Monk. Each person, who, by the way really existed (with the exception of Blondelza and other minor characters), has their own chapter or book in which they give their personal view of Richard and his life and how these events affected both of them.
The horrible, gruesome battles and seiges of the Crusade are well defined here. Almost too much so, however, it gives a more realistic picture of what both sides suffered in the name of God. Richard is portrayed here as a complex prince and ruler who tries to do the right thing but being human sometimes fails in that endeavor.
It is a very worthwhile read and there are many interesting viewpoints from the most common of people, traveling entertainers to the Queen of England, Eleanor. Each offers unique insights as to what life must have been like in medieval times. This novel is out-of-print but should be found, read and treasured.
In my opinion, the best book ever written!!!.......1999-06-05
I don't think there is anything about this book that I didn't like so it will be hard to get it all in a few sentences, but I will try. The way that each major charactor in the story is given an individual story to tell makes the book even better than it would have been otherwise. I love the way the author gave the wonderful true life of Richard I even more excitement by adding a few fictional characters. It is nice to finally read a fairly true story and not be bored to tears. Quite the opposite, I could not put it down the first time I read it. I have read it several times now and have laughed and cried every time all over again. I could never praise this book enough.......YOU MUST READ IT!!!!!!!
Average customer rating:
|
Richard The Lionheart: The Life Of A King And Crusader (Graphic Nonfiction)
David West , and
Jackie Gaff
Manufacturer: Rosen Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
General
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Sports & Recreation
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| School & Sports
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Teen Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1404202412 |
Book Description
Politician, military leader, crusader, and King of England, Richard the Lionheart has been the subject of Middle Ages' studies for centuries. His early years were marked by bitter rivalry with his father and brothers, but once crowned King in 1189, his primary ambition was to lead a crusade to the Holy Land to recapture the city of Jerusalem. Richard the Lionheart treats readers to a graphically stunning retelling of the King's battle against Saladin for control of the Holy Land, his subsequent imprisonment, and ultimate return to the throne.
Average customer rating:
|
Richard the Lionheart: King and Knight
Jean Flori
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| British
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Royalty
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Medieval
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0275993973 |
Book Description
Richard I, the Lionheart, remains forever (and perhaps wrongly) the mythical king of England who preferred to wage war than to rule over his empire. The familiar epithet conveys all the principal features of his indomitable character: courage, valor, prowess, the pursuit of glory, the thirst for fame, generosity in war and peace, a sense of honor combined with a sort of haughty dignity made up of both arrogance and pride. In this book, Jean Flori examines both Richard's role as prince and king in history, and also analyses the different and sometimes controversial elements which, for the chroniclers of his day, helped to make Richard a true model of chivalry. Among the questions addressed are: What influences formed his character and determined his behavior, real or assumed? Why did the image of Richard as a king who was also a knight so quickly and so soon supplant all others, creating a quasi-definitive point of reference? Why did Richard deliberately, it would appear, choose to present himself in this chivalric guise and disseminate this image of himself by what we would today call a media campaign, using all the methods then at his disposal, limited perhaps but by no means ineffective? Last but not least, what is the historical and ideological significance of the choice and, even more, success of this image, which has been adopted by history and disseminated by legend, an image based on historical accounts and documents in which history and legend are sometimes inextricably interwoven? The first part of the book takes a straightforward chronological approach to Richard's life, from his birth in 1157, through conflict with his father, Henry II, and his brothers, to his coronation and his years of crusading and fighting the French; culminating in his death in battle in 1199. The second part analyses Richard's image in relation to medieval chivalry.
Books:
- Hindsight: Boris Vallejo : His Photographic Art
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation
- Portraits: Talking with Artists at the Met, the Modern, the Louvre, and Elsewhere
- Sunflower Houses : Inspiration from the Garden - A Book for Children and Their Grown-Ups
- The City in History: Its Origins, Its Transformations, and Its Prospects
- The Art Student Survival Guide
- The Race to Save the Lord God Bird
- Lawyer: My Trials and Jubilations
- My Life With IBM
- Critical Analysis of Urban Policies and Their Impact on Urban Poverty Eradication: A Review of Tool
