Review: Fascinating Story of the Third Crusade
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 15, 2014
This is a fascinating history of the Third Crusade as told by Geoffrey de Moissac to the Bishop of Tours.  While Geoffrey and the Bishop are fictional characters (as is Ernoul d'Auch, Geoffrey's squire) all of the other characters in the story are real persons. Also historically accurate  are the time line, events and locations.  We follow the Crusade as seen through the eyes of Geoffrey from the defeat of the Army of Jerusalem in 1187 to the peace treaty drawn up by Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, the leader of the Muslims, in 1193.During that time we are treated to the battles that took place, going into good detail concerning the strategies and tactics used. We go with Geoffrey from the defense of Tyre, to Rome and thence to France as he and a Papal legate seek to enlist crusaders to come to the Holy Land and free it from the Muslims.  King Richard I of England and King Phillip II of France and other European nobles  soon lead their armies to storm and free Acre and to fight their way to Jerusalem.This story is not only about the battles that took place. It also deals with the personalities and political intrigues involved. Jealousy between Richard and Phillip lead to rivalries as to who will get the honor of freeing Acre and who should be in charge of all the Crusader army.  Questions of morality are raised as are questions of strategy.  We see the difficulties in getting to the Holy Land and incidents that took place along the way. We see the sufferings the iron clad men face from the hot sun as well as from the sniping Saracen archers. This novel covers many diverse and interesting aspects.The one thing I find in error is the presence of William Marshal alongside King Richard during the crusade.  William Marshal was one of the most honorable and bravest of knights.  I imagine the author thought he deserved to be in the Holy Land. Marshal had gone on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem years earlier to keep a vow made to Henry the Younger.  When King Richard went on the crusade, Marshal stayed behind in England as a member of the regency council to protect and oversee Richard's realm.  But, that is an error that did not detract from my enjoyment of this excellent novel.