Helen J. Nicholson

Helen Nicholson's latest book provides a survey of women's involvement in the Crusades between the late eleventh and sixteenth centuries. Nicholson writes clearly and accessibly, and draws on a wide array of sources. While Women and the Crusades understandably focuses mostly on Christian women, Nicholson is also at pains to show how these events also shaped the lives of Jewish and Muslim women. This is a serviceable overview which I think will be of greatest use in demonstrating for the general reader that women truly were integral to a set of conflicts which are ever-present in popular culture and yet also widely misunderstood.… (mais)

Excellent overview of the Battle of Hattin and the siege and fall of Jerusalem. Also examined and compared and contrasted were the Saracen Faris and the Knights Templar as the warriors elite of the time period. Their training, equipment, tactics, and upbringing are presented. Accompanying these comparisons are first hand accounts of the time period describing both sides of the battle and of the troops themselves. The first hand accounts were extremely interesting. At the end of the book is a handy albeit small guide for traveling to and seeing the places examined in the book.… (mais)

An outstanding book. I've found that the most informative and engaging pieces to read on history are chronicles written during the events or shortly thereafter. This one was written by someone who was there and participated in the 3rd Crusade.
It is filled with accounts of battles and personal acts of bravery and combat. One also gets a better idea of what the average crusader/pilgrim suffered through to make such a monumental journey. The modern reader is struck by the enormous energy, money, and time spent on this campaign and the realization that it had been repeated many times over all over the world throughout history. It is almost difficult for one to wrap their brain around it.
A very good read, one of the best I've run across in a while, and I would recommend it to anyone. In fact, it should be a requisite for the serious student.… (mais)