Excerpts from possible real chronicles of the crusades where the most famous French medieval chronicler [and here narrator], Seneschal Jean de Joinville, breaks in once in awhile. Odd book--mixture of fiction and nonfiction. Jean doesn't become part of the action until King Louis's crusade--the Seventh--near the end. He exhibits absolutely no personality; his function is to tie the excerpts together. He does attribute the various excerpts to real-life chroniclers of that period, such as Anna Comnena, writing about her father. We are carried through the sweep of the crusades from beginning to end.

The 3rd Crusade was a major part. It was interesting how Richard of England happened to be captured by Leopold of Austria and why. Background of 4th Crusade: why Dandolo hated Constantinople. Jean interjects at various places such-and-such relative fought at such-and-such battle, also after telling a certain anecdote he doesn't swear as to its veracity. Saladin is presented as a model of chivalry and courtesy: template for his subsequent fictional treatment for the most part.

I felt 4th Crusade--Sack of Constantinople--one of the best parts. I didn't realize some men went home rather than attack other Christians. Afterwards, there was an a"Albigensian Crusade" and an Inquisition to root heretics out. Finishing up the last crusades seemed a bit rushed. The style took awhile to get used to, but the book on the whole was enjoyable. The structure of the book was an interesting concept. ( )

mislukte poging om in 1 roman het verhaal te vertellen van alle kruistochten. Saai leeswerk, maar wel historisch goed onderbouwd. Moeizame stijl. Opeenstapeling van bijeen gesprokkeld feitenmateriaal in een kunstmatig kader. ( )

This book is chronicle of the crusades. The author assumes the persona of a Seneschal of France, Jean de Joinville, who joins with St. Louis in a failed crusade to the Holy Land. The knight Jean, however, recounts the entire tale of the Crusades, from the initial preaching of Peter the hermit and the announcement of the first Crusade by Pope Urban in 1089, to the final fall of Acre and the routing of the knights Templar and Hospitaller from the Holy Land. The author, on the dust jacket, claims that all the conversations, the speeches, and the events are those recorded in medieval manuscripts, simply edited and put into order. The book certainly reads like an authentic medieval work, with pious asides such as "Now we see how the lord's work is done" with every anecdote, and wonder. The other remarkable part of the book is the constant, palpable brutality of Christians and Saracens, both of whom indulge in rape, torture, and beheadings at every chance. ( )