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Lady Jane Grey's life was anything but normal. At a very young age, she was sent to court to be a lady-in-waiting to Catherine Parr, last Queen of Henry VIII. There, she became very close to Catherine and learned of the Reformed religion. She also learned the horrors of queenship, and became grateful of the fact she would never become one . . . or so she thought. After the death of Henry VIII, she became the ward of Thomas Seymour, uncle of the new king and brother of the Lord Protector. She was not an orphan. She was "bought" to pay off her father's gambling debts, and a chance at marriage to her cousin, King Edward VI. It was no wish of her's, but at least it brought her closer to her close friend, Catherine Parr, for Catherine married Thomas Seymour shortly after becoming a widow. The three of them lived happily and peacefully with an addition, Princess Elizabeth, half sister to the king and future Queen Elizabeth I. This bliss was shattered when Elizabeth and Thomas began a flirtation with one another, leading to the dismissal of Elizabeth and the heartbreak of Catherine. Soon after, the former queen died at childbirth and Thomas followed soon after, although not to sickness. He was executed as a traitor.

Jane left this troubled past and tried to begin again at Bradgate with her family. Here, she lived with her abusive mother, distant father, and frivolous sister. As with most noble families, they did not stay long there, but traveled around England. During this time, Jane fell in love with Edward Seymour, son of the Lord Protector. It was smiled upon by her parents and Jane was for a brief time happy. Then, the Lord Protector was executed for treason at the hands of the new Lord Protector, The Duke of Northumberland. Jane's hopes for marriage with Edward were dashed, and she was forced to marry Northumberland's son, Guildford Dudley. Although she tried, the marriage was not a happy one. It was then that her life changed drastically again.

A few weeks after marriage, Jane was pronounced Queen of England. Northumberland was able to get the dying King to name her as heir, even though she was only fourth in line. In doing so, it ensure England would remain Protestant and Northumberland in power, for was not Jane married to his son? Jane wasn't pleased by this turn of events, but since she thought it was God's will, she went along with it. Nine days later, the rightful heir, Mary I (later Bloody Mary), was able to take power. She became Queen, and Jane was sentenced to death. There was hope for Jane though. If Jane would convert to Catholicism, her life would be spared. With God's strength, Jane refused, and became a martyr and hero to us all at the tender age of 16.

As you can probably tell, I am obsessed with this great lady. She should be and example to us all. This book not only reinforces that, but it does so in a beautiful way. It is very well written, beautifully in fact. It helps make Jane's death to be not in vain!

This work of historical fiction recounts the story of Lady Jane Grey, whose greatest misfortune was to be the daughter of highly ambitious parents, as well as fifth in the line of succession to the throne of England upon the death of King Henry VIII in 1547. The first was Edward, only son of King Henry VIII. The second in the line of succession was Mary, the older daughter of King Henry VIII. The third was his other daughter, Elizabeth. The fourth was Lady Frances Grey, the Duchess of Suffolk, and mother to Lady Jane Grey. This book tells the story of this young woman and is set against a backdrop of treacherous sixteenth century court intrigues, power brokering, overreaching ambition, and religious upheaval.

Jane was cousin and friend to King Edward VI, son and successor to King Henry VIII, and there was talk of their marrying. When Edward, however, died at a young age, political jockeying by Lady Jane's ambitious, greedy parents, the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, and the treacherous and ruthless John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, set into motion a series of events that would result in Lady Jane marrying Guilford Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland's son, and being proclaimed Queen of England. It was a reign that was to last only nine days before Mary Tudor, daughter of Queen Catherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII and second in the line of succession, would reclaim her birthright and be declared Queen.

The story of Lady Jane Grey, an intelligent and pious young woman, is a tragic one, as she was merely a pawn for the ambitions of others, and for that she was called upon to pay the ultimate price. Those readers that like light historical fiction, such as that written by Philippa Gregory and Jean Plaidy, will, undoubtedly, enjoy learning more about this tragic young woman whose life was lived in the shadow of a crown.

Perhaps, as many reviewers seem to think, this book was not researched as much as it should have been. Perhaps there were historical errors in it. But who cares? Why shouldn''t the author make up some little details to spin a rich web of magical, real characters as she has? The author has taken bare facts and transformed them into an emotional, realistic tale about the tragic Nine Days Queen. We should not abuse her for it, we should admire her. The book s full of developed charcters and some close, realistic guesses. In short, I loved this book as much as any.

I first learned of Lady Jane Grey when I saw an ad for the movie (with Cary Elwes in it, whom I love)and just had to find out more about Jane Grey. I researched and researched and she has become one of my favorite people in history. It's amazing that such a young girl could have faced so many trials. When I read Coronation of Glory I absolutly loved it! I must agree with some reviewers, that this book isn't really a biography, but more of a historical fiction book. But, if you love Lady Jane and her story, then I think you'd love this book. After I read this book, I watched the movie LADY JANE (the one mentioned earlier) and wished that the movie was based on Coronation of Glory - I liked Jane loving Edward better than her loving Guildford...since it's more believable, since supposedly Jane didn't like Guildford at all. I've read this book twice and hope to find more books on Lady Jane that are just as good.

Wow, what can I say? This is an utterly amazing book and I couldn't put it down!! I am 16 myself, knowing hardly anyhing of Lady Jane Grey beforehand, but I found this a helpful book! The fact that a Lady so young could stand for God and die for him. The book is made more interesting by adding in the love story which is so sad, but happy! The emotions of the Lady herself were brought out so much that I feel differently about a lot of things now. I love the way that the author added in verses from the Bible and showed Lady Jane Grey's great faith even in standing up to the RC priest. The story, quite factual, as it was written hundreds of years after this period is a 'must read' to everyone and I wish that I, myself could be more like her in her hard, romantic and short life. So the facts involved in this book are accurate but brought to life by adding in her thoughts and personal life, as if written by her. It utterly transformed my thoughts towards God and how true he is!

I injured my knee around Labor Day and four months later I had minimal results with physical therapy and NSAIDs. My once active life had stopped, every activity I tried, even walking, aggravated my knee. I started on the Glucosomine and Chondrodin Sulphate program along with the vitamin supplements outlined in the book and had great results. After just a few weeks, I am able to hike and workout again. I feel better than I have in months! I know several friends on Glucosomine, but I felt better with the book outlining the dosage and other vitamins to compliment. I have not needed any NSAIDs since I started this therapy. I like that this program has almost no side effects and can help my injury without surgery. Try it for yourself, what do you have to lose but the pain?

I found this book an excellent presentation on glucosamine, chondroitin, the various surgical options, advice about exercise and diet (the importance of weight loss, etc). For me it seems to be working as advertised. I have osteoarthritus of the hip and knee and am seeing noticeable improvements. I have a friend that is a physical therapist and she has been using glucosamine/chondroitin and has noticed significant improvements in the use of her ankle and her ability to walk. Certainly glucosamine/chondroitin are not replacements for everthing as diet/weight loss are also extremely important. I recommend this book highly.

Much of this book is page filler, it advocates Glucosomine and Chondrodin Sulphate as its main "cure" and then talks about eating foods high in antioxidants (which is really old basic info that we can find in plenty of books and websites). It is also very repetative, I remember reading the same subject three times near the beginning (page filler.)

Although the book is helpful, especially for really ignorant newbies who hate the internet, it needs to be thinned out and the common knowledge parts taken out.

After reading this book by Dr. Theodosakis, I recommended it tomy grandmother and 35 year-old girlfriend, both of whom haveosteoarthritis. Not only has it lessened grandma's pain, but also her depression has largely lifted. My friend, who is a fellow registered nurse, was thrilled that she was able to stop taking acetaminophen following her second month of taking glucosamine and chondroitin. She believes the dietary changes she made after reading the book were also helpful toward making her body more supple, like a slinky. I was indeed surprised to find some negative comments written by readers. Perhaps they were victims of the many fraudulent products our there with insufficient quantities of glucosamine and chondroitin in them. I found Dr. Theo's website to be very helpful in learning more about specific good and bad products. I will continue to recommend this book to anyone and everyone who tells me that they suffer from arthritis. There is hope! END

This was followed by Maximizing the Arthritis Cure (1998) which I'll also report on here, treating both books as one. My initial reaction was, this is either a public service or a hustle. Written by three different laureled academics and obviously put together by committee, this first book was a big time best seller and demanded a sequel. Most of the diet advice was like something I had read twenty years ago. The exercise program ditto. The use of glucosamine and chondroitin was the real difference. In fact, the purpose of the book could be seen as legitimizing the use of these supplements in the treatment of osteoarthritis. People bought the book in the hope that it would help them with their pain. They also bought the book so that they would be motivated to try glucosamine and chondroitin. Many people understandably would not try the supplements without the seal of approval provided by an authoritative book like this. The question is-and it is the big question-is their program any good, or is it just another feel good pep talk fronting for another bogus approach? I was a little uncertain since the book jacket was red, white and blue, and we all know the quote about patriotism being "the last refuge of a scoundrel."

So I tried glucosamine and chondroitin and stayed fairly close to their overall program. Two years have passed and although I cannot say for certain, it is my belief that the supplements are valuable. At any rate, my arthritic knee is much improved.

In the follow-up book, the authors give information on other treatments.

I have to say that I think they've done a positive service in writing these two books. The information about healing in general and about prevention and about the positive effects of exercise and attitude are worthwhile. The authors may have made megabucks (or maybe they didn't), but I don't feel they ripped anybody off, on the contrary. I am happy to be positive even though I still think "cure" is probably too strong a word for what their program can do, although I only have my own experience to go on. Their reports of the double blind tests that have been conducted are good, but a long way from convincing proof that glucosamine and chrondoitin and exercises can cure osteoarthritis.

Rannulf Fitzwilliam is a Templar Knight who is in the Holy Land to serve the Holy Cross during the latter part of the Crusades. Rannulf used to live a wild, sinful life, and in order to repent from it, he has made vows to abstain from women, and to never harm another Christian. Struggling to contain his wild nature, he confronts relationships and situations with a hard, grim, stoicism. He is not particularly friendly or charming, and many of the other characters don't like him, either because he seems gruff and unknightly, or they are intimidated by his strength that threatens to usurp their important positions.

The character of Rannulf permeates the entire book; the story seems to drag at times, bogged down in a tense grimness. Yet, because of that, the reader feels the reality of the times. The people of the Holy Land, facing attack and death by Saladin's army, must have lived such a life, solemn and dark in the face of their destruction.

There are other interesting characters that contrast with Rannulf. The young Christian king of Jerusalem is rotting away with leprosy, yet he admirably endures this suffering to the end in order defend his city. His beautiful sister Sybilla is a forceful, independent woman, scheming to take her rightful place as queen when he dies, yet also desiring to serve and to save Jerusalem. She is Rannulf's greatest temptation to break his vows. Stephen, the red-haired knight has a secret and sinful affair with Ali, the nephew of Saladin.

The story ends with a heart-wrenching battle scene at the Battle of Hattin, in which, as history tells us, the Christians were disastrously defeated. The ending is grim, but powerful, and the reader realizes that this is a realistic immersion into a solemn period of history. The story is carried off with a subdued elegance of style.

Ridley Scott should have used this book for the basis of his movie Kingdom of Heaven, a story about the Christian Crusade to save Jerusalem from the Moslem army Saladin. Cecelia Holland's novel has a much more coherent plot than the one used by Scott. Her main character, the tough, gritty Ranulf Fitzwilliam, a Templar, is quite believable as the dark-haired, dark-eyed, man of steel. As a fanatical warrior/monk he wants no truck with women. In their presence he keeps his eyes on the ground and a growl in his voice. But in the course of events he reluctantly finds himself falling in love with the young Queen Sybilla. This unexpected romance blooms against the terrible reality of war.

Holland writes so well. She knows the intircacies of the historical period of which she writes. Her characters are diverse and well developed. And best of all she knows how to tell a darn good story.

This is one of the only historical fiction novels about Crusaders I've read that's any good. It's spare and brutal. Battle scenes are powerful, though the edgy, spiky, fierce characters and their interrelations are the real point here. As ever, Holland captures period mentalities well. The theme of same-sex relations is historically relevant to the Templars and is presented well here, without stereotyping. Only readers addicted to happy endings should avoid this wonderful book.

This book really stands up straight and rises head and shoulders above the current crop of novels. In fact, I can't ever remember being so engaged in a piece of writing in a long time. Briefly told, this quick but densely packed novel describes the time and events that led up to the 3rd Crusade, roughly the same time frame as the Hollywood movie "Kingdom of Heaven." Though, it must be said, the author of this work does not twist and bend history to fit a politically correct audience, as does the movie, which is to Holland's tremendous credit.

I will go further: I think this novel stands a good chance of being one of my all time favorites.

There is a skillful subtly to the author's writing, which allows her to dig down deep to the heart of a moment or character without beating the reader with a mace to get her point across. She seems to have a real respect for her readers' intelligence, which I found very rewarding. Take for one example, this brief scene that depicts a Knight Templar, new to the Crusades, discussing the "Saracens" with a hardened veteran:

"German said, `Out here, though you cannot see it, is the great highway that leads down ultimately to Mecca and to Cairo. During the time of the Muslims' pilgrimage, folk throng along as a city street sometimes.'

Stephen said, `The sandpigs go on pilgrimage? What---to devil shrines?" He laughed.

German smiled at him. "No, to Mecca.' His face smoothed out with amusement. `Such is your thought; they worship the devil?'

Stephen gave an uncertain shrug. `Whatever they worship, it's not the one true God. What's the difference?'

Still smiling, the Preceptor looked away, and Stephen though he saw him give a little shake of his head."

A less skilled writer, or one less confident in her reading public, might take numerous scenes or clumsy speeches to get the point of this brief passage across. With Holland, the reader never feels bludgeoned.

Another great strength of this novel is that the characters have a brutal depth and realism to them. They live and breath in a way that seems at times almost supernaturally realistic, and while I could identify with the characters, they never lost their medieval essence. So many modern historical novels simply plunk down 21st century people, with all the trendy phobias and cynicism, into historical settings (much non-fiction writing falls into this trap as well, ignoring that the Western men and women that fought in the Crusades had a religious life that is very difficult to imagine today).

Lastly, there is a powerful beauty to Holland's writing. There are scenes in the book, of the men in battle or in moments of pure grace, that have already stamped themselves on me with the clarity of a cherished memory. Holland's battle scenes are the finest I have ever read, so perfectly capturing the horrible chaos and crunch, sick adrenaline, and surging mortality of battle.

I've never read anything quite like it. --Mykal Banta

This is probably Cecela Holland finest work of historical fiction with a riveting cast of characters. Her central figure, the Templar Ranulf Fitzwilliam is a compelling character who will linger in your mind after you finish the book. Her protrayal of the Templars is reasonable accurate, and certainly the involvement of her main character in the central events of the time is not unbelievable. After all the Templars were the central figures of the time. Her tale of events leading to the fateful Battle of Hattin is execellent and I think she has placed the blame for the defeat there where it belongs -- squarely on the head of the Grand Master. The homosexuality among the Templars was no unknown and deserves to be mentioned. I believe her portrait of Saladin squares with the views of the those who fought him. After all this is a book whose viewpoint is that of the Templars, not the Arabs.

This is a copy of what I believe is the first translation of Tasso into English from 1600. Translated within roughly 50 years of the original the translator keeps the rhyme scheme of the Italian and in doing sacrifices accuracy of meaning. However, in comparing this work to several more recent translations I actually prefer this on a line by line basis as the more recent translations sacrifice poetics to keep meaning. The real problem with this edition is that it has no footnotes, no introduction, nothing but the translated text itself. If you do not know something about epic poetry, Virgil (who is often referenced or imitated by the poet), Tasso's personal history and the first crusade you will be lost and there is nothing here to help you.

The fame of Torquato Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata was known far and wide during the Renaissance but sadly, it is far from everyday reading today. This work, describing in twenty masterful cantos the taking of Jerusalem during the first crusade, is one of the masterpieces of epic poetry; in the same lofty realms as Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno.

The poem is largely fantasy, although it draws many of its characters from the historical record, along with some of the geography and a modicum of history. While the modern view of the crusades is that of a dark hour in church history, full of bigotry and inhumanity, Tasso paints it as a glorious adventure, in the full romantic, chivalric tradition. Surprisingly, however, he makes the characters of the Islamic defenders of Jerusalem very human, rendering them in a remarkably (for the time) sympathetic light. While the poem has strong religious overtones, it is clear that Soliman, Argante, Clorinda and Armida are all characters who are motivated by chivalry and love, and not necessarily by religion. The poem was written in the Renaissance, but it still contains numerous strong female characters. from Clorinda, the Muslim warrior princess who is slain by Tancred during a battle in which neither recognizes their lover, to Armida, the sorceress who steals Rinaldo away from the Christians in Circe-like fashion, loving him and hating him all at once.

The fantastical breathes throughout the poem, with enchanted woods that bleed when cut, secret fortresses, hermits with magical staffs, and the Islands of the Blessed. In spite of the wide-ranging plot, the depth of character and the integration of the story are modern in their effect. I literaly hung on every line and read it the way I might have read Tolkien in my youth. (Indeed, I suspect Tolkien may have used Tasso as source material). There is, of course, a vast wash of blood shed with helm-splitting, dismembering accounts of medieval combat, told as if it were a children's tale. The descriptions of siege warfare are rendered with an eye that seems to have been intimately familiar with the craft, each tower, tortoise and mangonel exquisitely described. The geography of the Holy Land and the coast of North Africa seem likewise familiar to the author, although he becomes a little confused beyond Gibraltar. There is a paen to Columbus, the discoverer of the New World, included as a prophecy in Canto Fifteen, but the New World seems to consist largely of heavenly islands. One disconcerting factor is that Tasso's patronage by the house of Este places repeated effusive passages concerning the house's future greatness in the mouths of the crusaders. This patronage is responsible for the central role played by Rinaldo, a scion of the house of Este.

The book itself is a fine trade paperback on high quality paper. The translation, by M. Esolen is at once high-sounding, noble and very readable. Each stanza is rhymed but there is little or no sense of hatchet-made versification. Esolen eschews the use of archaic language and inverted grammar for the sake of rhyme, delivering a steady cadence and dependable style that lend grace and dignity to the poem. Poetic translation can be tough but Esolen pulls this off nicely. I haven't read the original Italian so I can't speak to the veracity of the language but it reads very well in English. The book also contains brief notes on the translation, an introduction, presumably by the translator, the "Allegory of the Poem" presumably by Tasso - although the text does not say, and a terminal scholarly apparatus including a dramatis personae, extensive end notes, a bibliographic essay and an index.

I can not give too high a praise to this book. It is probably the most exciting and interesting piece of literature I have read from prior to the 17th century. I read it as I would a novel, racing forward to try to catch the plot. Now, after being left breathless, I feel the need to read it again, immediately; to savour its many heroic moods and revel in its beautiful metaphors. Alas, I have too much else to do, but I am sure that I will one day return and spend some enchanted time with Godfrey, Tancred, Clorinda and company.

I am perplexed at the negative reviews of this translation (if they were even about this translation). I find it remarkable. A verse translation of an epic in ottava rima is obviously a difficult thing, and I think that Esolen does a fantastic job. The poem itself, while horrendously inappropriate as a template for international relations in the twenty-first century, is a stunning accomplishment. Tasso's painterliness is first class, and his skill as an allegorist is sublime. In good Miltonian fashion he makes the evil and wayward figures the most appealing. As for the wizardry...Tasso is the best thing since Merlin.

Let's be clear on what I am reviewing...I am reviewing Jerusalem Delivered as published in hardcover by IndyPublish. This poem is also available in paperback as published by John Hopkins Univer. Press, and it is that version of the poem that first captured my attention. The John Hopkins paperback is a translation by A.M. Esolen and, in my humble opinion, it is magnificent in almost every way -- good introductory material on the original poet (Tasso) and the poem itself, great translation, good endnotes, nice packaging. The only draw back to the John Hopkins-published book is that it is a paperback, and after reading the poem I had to have a hardcover for my budding library. After months of searching I stumbled across the subject of this review...the IndyPublish hardcover version of Jerusalem Delivered. Where to start...? Firstly, the translation is (I think) that of Edward Fairfax, written in the late 1700s (perhaps...?). I prefer Esolen's, but the Fairfax is good. I get the feeling reading the Fairfax that the translator often tried too hard to force the rhymes, often employing punctuation to emphasize the rhymes and creating a very sing-song and, at times, tiring la-te-la-te-la-te-doe-doe. But, it is for the most part still a good read if you can break the sing-song cycle.

Unfortunately, the IndyPublish hardback comes with absolutely no notes, introductory or otherwise. The cast of characters in the poem is very large, the scenes and settings shift, the action ebbs and flows, ...I believe that in order to appreciate the Fairfax as presented by IndyPublish you must have prior and intimate knowledge of the poem (cast, scenes, settings, history, etc) prior to reading. Call me a simpleton (you don't really need to, it's just an expression), but I found the notes and introductory material essential to provide context and full appreciation for Tasso's accomplishment. Without the knowledge and context, a non-scholar like myself might find the Fairfax to be a somewhat interesting but confusing and very long poem written in Elizabethan English about many people mentioned by name with whom the reader is not familiar...the reader may appreciate the art, but would miss much of the fullness of the poem provided by ready access to commentary, etc.

Now, a comment about presentation. I am not familiar with IndyPublish but I visited their web page and, if I understand their mission, it might be a neat idea...and I can understand why this edition of Jerusalem Delivered might not as fancy-shmancy (ok, maybe I am a simpleton) as some other books. The outer appearance of the IndyPublish J.D. reminds me of an un-labeled Baptist hymnal...it is bland. But, hey, you don't buy books because of flashy covers (...do you?). What I found very detracting was the formatting of the text itself. For example, in canto 1 each 8-line stanza is center justified, for canto 2 each stanza is left justified, for canto 3 each is right justified, for canto 4 each is centered, and in canto 5 the stanzas alternate between center and left justified and the left-justified stanzas are not centered in the page. Folks, this poem has 20 cantos, each of about 100 to 130 stanzas...switching the formatting from canto to canto, even within some cantos, is extremely distracting...and, in my opinion, results in a product that looks amateurish, like somebody was trying out the new desktop publishing software and wanted to sample all of the justification options again and again and again and again. Keep your Dramamine handy, its a bumpy ride. Also, individual stanzas in some cantos are broken across pages...maybe the first two lines of a stanza on the bottom of one page and the next six lines at the top of the following page. These 8-line stanzas are each singular units, the building blocks of the poem...they should be left whole! Like individual movements in a symphony...didn't you hate flipping the album over when side 1 was done but the music continued no side 2? Or, how about when your 8-track tape faded and changed tracks right in the middle of your favorite song? Freebird was meant to be heard in its full 18-minute glory, can't we give Tasso the same respect?!?!

It is what it is. I suppose the fact that I wish it was something different is hardly Tasso's fault; nonetheless, I have mixed emotions regarding this poem.

First of all, let's be honest here: Jerusalem Delivered has a worldview which just about everyone reading today is going to find totally repulsive: Christians--good; Pagans--bad. Utterly and absolutely. True, Tasso's pagans (ie, Muslims) are occasionally praised, and his Christians sometimes stray, but really, let's not fool ourselves: this doesn't really amount to anything. Although Tasso's life was endlessly conflicted, here he is trying his hardest to write from a good, Christian viewpoint. I wasn't expecting the civilized urbanity of Ariosto or anything, but this is really a bit much. The climax of the poem, with Christians unapologetically slaughtering, pillaging, and raping (no, seriously--check book XIX, verse XXX)--all without a hint of disapprobation from Tasso--is pretty stomache-turning. You could *try* to argue that the scene is meant as some sort of subtle criticism in itself, but I really don't think you'll find any textual evidence for this. Contrast this with the sacking of Biserta in Orlando Furioso--surely that poem's darkest moment--and the difference becomes obvious. I realize that some people will dismiss my criticisms as nothing more than political correctness run amuck, and, ..., maybe it is, but I make no apologies. As a fairly serious reader, I'm accustomed to simply accepting things in literature that run totally counter to my own ideology, but being, alas, a mere human, there IS a limit. I want to stress that this only became irksome to me towards the poem's end, but it definitely affected my opinion of the work as a whole.

Even if one is capable of totally submerging one's own biased, twenty-first-century view, however, the fact remains that the poem is frequently...well, sort of boring. I think few would argue that, poetically, the best part of the poem, by quite some margin, is the account of Rinaldo's not-so-brutal imprisonment in Armida's bower. This is where Tasso really lets himself go, giving in, I think, to his real poetic instincts. Otherwhere, however, things get a bit less interesting. The battles, its true, have a certain icy, Homeric grandeur, but a little of that--even in Homer himself--goes a long way, and when the two teams aren't duking it out, we're made to deal with the characters, which can be trying. Like many writers, Tasso makes his villains much more interesting that his heroes: Argantes is surely one of the greatest epic villains ever, with his single-minded, unquenchable fury easily rivalling the Wrath of Achilles itself; Clorinda, in spite of a disheartening but inevitable last-minute change of heart, is one of your more badass woman warriors, if not quite up to the standards of Ariosto's Marfisa; and Armida is a femme fatale with few rivals. So that's all well and good, but the focus, unavoidably, is on the heroes. Let's cut to the chase: Godfrey is incredibly boring, in spite of a truly feeble effort by Anthony Esolen to defend him. And, while Rinaldo and Tancredie do have their own crises which elevate them a little above the pack, most of the Christian host is pretty faceless.

Still, all told, the poetry is enough to recommend Tasso. Because, occasional bouts of tedium notwithstanding, Tasso is a truly great poet. I'd even go so far as to say that--although I think I'd enjoy hanging out with Ariosto far more than with Tasso, and although Orlando Furioso is a far more enjoyable (and, let's face it, just plain BETTER) poem than Jerusalem Delivered--in terms of sheer poetical prowess, Tasso wins. Which is why it's so important to read his work in a good translation, which in turn is why it's essential to stay as far away from Anthony M. Esolen as possible. Your other, better, choice is Edward Fairfax's Elizabethan translation: Esolen may be more stricly faithful to the original, but he also has a tin ear, capturing only a middling portion of Tasso's sturm und drang. I suppose he would moderately acceptable if there was no other choice, but thankfully, there is: Fairfax's poetry is electifying, and well worth the time to search out. I'm a little baffled to see the high praise that Esolen is receiving from many (he should translate Ariosto? Please...as if there's a chance in hell he could do better than Barbara Reynolds). So, to put an end to this lunacy, I would like to end this review with a side-by-side comparison between the two. XVI, XIV.

Esolen:
Look at the chaste and modest little rose
sprung from the green in her virginity!
Half open and half hid; the less she shows,
the less she shows to men, the lovelier she.
Now she displays her bold and amorous
bosom, and now she wilts, and cannot be,
the same delight which was the longing of,
a thousand girls and a thousand lads in love.

Fairfax:
The gently-budding rose (quoth she) behold,
The first scant peeping forth with virgin beams
Half ope, half shut, her beauties doth up-fold
In their dear leaves, and less seen fairer seems,
And after spreads them forth more broad and bold,
Then languisheth and dies in last extremes:
For seems the same that decked bed and bow'r
Of many a lady late and paramour.

I certainly hope that settles that.

There Will Be Wolves by Karleen Bradford
Stars: ***1/2

This book is the 1992 winner of the Canadian Library Association Youg Adult Book Award.

Summary: The daughter of an apothecary and the owner of a secret book of healing arts, Urusla is determined to become a great heler - but her ambition makes her an outsider in the Holy Roman Empire. When she is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to burn at the stake, she is given one chance to save herself: she must march in the People's Crusade to the holy city of Jerusalem. Along with her father and her friend Bruno, Urusla joins thousands of other pilgrims on a harrowing journey, which will expose the dark side of the "glorious" Crusades, and change her life forever.

Taking place in 1096 AD, this could have been read for the Back to History challenge too. It's definitely the oldest time period I've ever read about. It was interesting to read about life back then, although not a lot of it was shown, mostly that of the apothecary, how they handled criminals and the Crusade.

As I've stated before, Historical Fiction is not really my Genre and since I know absolutely nothing about the Crusades and what they were about, I had a hard time following the book. The prologue tells the basic story of how the crusade came about but even when I'd read it 4 times in a row, really slowly, I still wasn't sure I understand what it was all about. I was confused mostly, I think, because they were (I think) trying to get rid of the Jews from Cologne (now ??) to Jerusalem, including Constantinople (Now Istanbul, Turkey) This was confusing to me because Jerusalem is the home of the Jews now.

Anyways, the story was well told, even when I was confused, I kept reading. I did have trouble putting it down a few times. Karleen Bradford did a good job of making us feel like we were indeed in the 11th century since the characters talked differently.
" I would see the dog again" meaning I would like to see the dog again.
"Good even, mistress" meaning Good Evening Mistress (not that we'd say Mistress at all today)

As I said, it was a good book and I'm sure a good introduction to the People's Crusade. It would have recieved four stars if I liked Historical Fiction more.

In the epic book There will be Wolves, Ursula always seems to have trouble around the corner; here are some things that happen. First at her hometown, Cologne, she finds a dog with a broken leg and heals it. She meets a man Bruno who helps carry the dog to her house. Oh, and later Ursula almost gets burnt, that's kind of important. People of the town accuse her of being a witch, and she can't prove herself guilty. Her father, Master Williams, convinces the Count to set her free. Next her house burns down and her only way of survival is on a "Holy Crusade". Master Williams is like the Counts maid, giving him medication mostly, and Master Williams doesn't care. Master Williams is old and forces Ursula on the Crusade with him, Bruno comes too. Half way through the story, about 80% of the crusaders are killed. Robbers and bandits come and kill Ursula's horses and rob Ursula of her supplies. Master Williams gets sick from doing all the things the Count demands him to do. Then, Ursula's group reach they're final destination to find a battle with the Turks. The Turks are warriors of Turkey. The Turks end up slaughtering the crusaders and kill the Count; Ursula is left with a dead father, who died from a bad sickness, Bruno and a dog. I wonder why the book is called There will be Wolves when there are actually no wolves in the book.

There are scores of childrens books out there that are well-written and engaging enough to be enjoyable and entertaining for adult readers as well: Harry Potter, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Robin McKinley's Beauty, etc. This book does not find itself among their ranks.

The premise is rather interesting: it follows the experiences of a young girl on the People's Crusade and is very concerned with the moral inconsistencies of the crusades. The crusaders are on a misson of God and will be absolved of their sins for participating, yet plunder, pillage and murder their way through the country side. In the end, the mission is one of glory for the nobles and the poor folk who come along for the ride bear the brunt of the devastation.

That said, the characters are completely flat and lifeless. The main action of the plot begins before we have a chance to get to know and care about the main characters, and I'll echo everyone who pointed out that Bradford does more telling than showing. Ursula is as cliched a strong girl heroine as you can get- proud, brave, thinks being independent means not relying on even those who love you until she learns that it's ok to be vulnerable. Her speech and mannerisms stand out at times as anachronistic in a jarring way, and I was surprised that the book seemed to end as quickly as it did because I was waiting for some depth and development for any of the characters.

It is certainly not the worst thing I've read, and young readers (I would say not above 12) will find the reading manageable, but I'm quite curious now as to what exactly the Canadian Library Association was thinking in awarding this book the Young Adult Book Award. Maybe it was a year of slim pickings. Borrow it from the library before investing in your own copy.

i had to read this book in my humanities class, so of course i HAD to do a huge report on it, but in general the book was okay. in some parts it was very predictable, but in others, i had no clue what was going to happen next. i wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesnt like medival history, but for anyone who does like books like this one, it would be great. it tells you a lot about what happened on the Crusades.

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't the best i've ever read. To me, it seemed more like a first-time author book. Though it did open my eyes about the People's Crusade and the Crusades in general. I always thought about the fighting and killing in Jerusalem, I never thought about the fighting and killing on the way there.
All in all, i enjoyed it and recomend it and the other two in the Crusades trilogy-Shadows on and Sword and Lionheart's Scribe-to any lover of midieval books.

I decided to give Chaikin a try when I discovered she had some pirate books. But some of the books in the series were so pricey that I decided to try out an inexpensive series to see if it would be worth it... I mean, what if I didn't like her writing style?

Well, turns out that it is bittersweet. I have read the 1st and 2nd and eagerly await the 3rd. Which is very sadly, the last!

This story stars Tancred Redwan, soon to be Count (if he can get his name cleared from his brothers death) escaping from his castle in order to bring his brothers true killer to justice. His father was a Norman count (in Sicily) and his mother was a moor. He, supposedly, is quite dreamy (which is what I expect ALL my romantic heroes to be!).

Helena of the Nobility is a Byzantine lady in search of her mother who, up til recently, she believed was dead. She is involved in the Byzantine intrigue using spies in order to protect herself. Also, she is in love and plans on marrying her cousin (yuck), Philip-- a man with ambition to become emperor.

They share a common relationship: Tancred's godfather, Nicholas, is Helena's beloved uncle. They meet by coincidence, both seeking him among the lines of Norman princes traveling for the crusades.

There are lots of characters and plently of side stories to keep track of. But, while you need to pay attention, it is not distracting or overboard. I am quite interested in this period (thanks to Chaikin). As for there being TOO much history, I think any remotely educated person might enjoy some enlightenment into a different time period-- and what a delightful way to learn!!

It is a wonderfully written saga and even though I think I know who will get the girl in the end of the series, it is well worth the read. The side plots and twists and turns keep the book suspenseful.

I cannot wait to read the last book... I only hope that there is a misplaced manuscript for the 4th so I won't have to say goodbye!!

Swords and Scimitars by Linda Chaikin is a great book. I like how Mrs. Chaikin got her historical people and events so accurate. She has good character development and a great plot summery. The dialoged in Swords and Scimitars is also well done. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes historical-fiction novels.

This first book in the trilogy captures the reader's attention, and makes him want to read the other two. It was hard to find though, because the set has gone out of print, I was lucky enough to find it at my library though. Tancred is somewhat typical of Chaikin's male characters, and the twist with him is somewhat similar to that of Bruce Hawkins in Captive Heart (the first installment in Chaikin's Trade Winds series).
The second and third books are slightly more exciting, but for starters, this really is a good book.

I don't have much time, but I can't believe some people gave such bad reviews for this books. It's not one of my favorites, but it is well done. Furthermore, it is meant as a sort of lead in to all that happens between Helena and Tancred. It is a scrumptious book! I took the time to write this review, so hope hope that you take the time to read the book. It's worth it!

This book is definitely a five starer or even more!! Lady Helena Lysander of the Nobility is caught up in political intrigue in the Byzantine city, Constantinople in 1096 during the crusades; intrigue that would have her ended up a reluctant bride of a Moslem prince. Tancred Jehan Redwan is a Norman/Moorish warrior framed for murdering his half-brother, Derek and escaped craven to pursue Mosul his Moorish cousin, the assassin. He is caught up with the events of the Peasant crusade led by Peter the Hermit and meets Helena on his way to Constantinople. Helena was searching for her uncle, Nicholas, to try to thwart her aunt Irene's plans and find her mother whom she believes is not dead but held captive in the Moslem territory. Tancred's and Helena's paths entwined and she decides to enlist his help in locating her mother and escaping marriage to the Moslem prince. Great story about love, courage during the First Crusade. Linda Chaikin did a great job with this book!

A nicely produced reprint of the first volume of Runciman's famous series on the Crusades. Runciman was an excellent writer and as a narrative account, this book is hard to beat. Clearly and concisely written with a nice eye for telling vignettes and character summaries. A good complement to this book is the opening section of Thomas Asbridge's book on this topic. Asbridge has a nice explanation of the European politics that led to the First Crusade and the psychology of the Crusaders. Essentially all books on this topic suffer from the fact that the primary sources are largely european, so accounts of the First Crusade are very much accounts of the progress, politics, and personalities of the Crusaders. Runciman, like other historians, stresses the crucial role of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus, and the relative weakness of the Muslim states in the Near East. The absence of maps in this edition is a drawback.

If you are still ignorant enough to believe the Crusades were a manifestation of Christian aggression, then this book might be more up your alley than that of true, dispassionate historians.

The Crusades were not, by any means, a war of Christian aggression -- quite the contrary, they were carried out as a defensive (not offensive!) measure to combat Islamic aggression (let's not forget that Spain had already been swept over by Islamic aggression by the time of the First Crusade and now the Seljuk Turks were violently spreading and conquering, leading Alexius I, the Byzantine emperor, to ask the Pope in the West for help against this violent wave of Islamic aggression.) In the past 20 years, serious scholars/historians have come to this conclusion (that the Crusades have been inaccurately labeled as a war of aggression when they were in fact a defensive measure). And to think that I was taught in school that the aim of the Christians in the Crusades was to convert others and was taught nothing of the Islamic aggression of the time that directly led to (and justified!) the campaigns -- ridiculous!!

Unfortunately, due to a bizarre self-loathing, self-critical streak found only in Western Europe (starting in the Enlightenment) and America -- i.e., the left -- many scholars have consistently villified, and/or apologized for, the Crusades, wrongly sneering that these campaigns were driven by a motive for booty and territory. Gee, are these historians demanding similar apologies for the violent spread of Islam in medieval Spain?? Back to my point, though: how the typical Crusader's selling off all of his possessions, to trek halfway across the world to a hot dessert region where the chance of surviving is about 2%, can be motivated by greed is beyond me...

In actuality, the Crusades were motivated simply by a sincere belief in the need to halt Islamic aggression and make the area safe for Christian pilgrims and Christian inhabitants, as well as a belief that sacrificing for the glory of Christianity would earn forgiveness of sins. Sure, the Crusaders conquered cities and towns -- but isn't that to expected in a military campaign??? Why are the Crusades singled out for achieving what every other successful military campaign achieves?

The previous view of the Crusaders as bullies who cruelly sought to kill and take over land in some far-off desert region is a joke -- if anyone is to deserve the description of aggression-motivated-by-ambition-for-land-and-riches, it is the Muslims of the time.

I highly recommend Jonathan Riley-Smith's works on the Crusades. He is the foremost authority on the subject and his work is not biased one way or the other (doesn't villify either side). Steven Runciman is outdated and incorrect. If one is interested in the Templars, I recommend Piers Paul Read's excellent, definitive work. Lastly, stay away from that laughable "Hollywood history" of the Crusades (2005's Kingdom of Heaven) where Christian = wrong.

Had I read carefully the other reviews I would have been aware of the abridgement before I purchased this version. For many this will be fine, but the introduction has been severely cut and all of the critical apparatus, including the bibliography is absent. The original is a classic. This a butchered classic.

The First Crusade comes alive in this small book by S. Runciman. (It is apparently an extract from his much longer history of the Crusades.) This is a great work that offers the "high points" of the late 11th century epic between West and East.

Runciman's writing style is very readable. The book may be read in a short time. He tells the Crusade's story chronologically using considerable topical details. (There is no sourcing in the book which keeps it from attaining the 5th star.)

If you want the main characters' names, the dates, and places that made Crusade history, Runciman has them. This book inspired further reading about the Templars and Hospitalers.

This book is a must read for Crusade reader and those interested in Mid Eastern history. It also speaks to early Christian-Muslim military action.

The book is recommendable.

Steven Runciman is well noted for his three-volume 'History of the Crusades' published in 1951. This paperback edition is an abridged excerpt of that work that focuses on specifically the First Crusade.

This is a much 'romanticized' narration of the First Crusades, as Mr. Runciman is well known for inscribing his passion for this event into his work. But do not let that stop you from reading this account. Mr. Runciman has added detail to this volume using quotes from actual chroniclers of the time to build and augment his story.

This abridged paperback gives you contemporary descriptions of the political climate, the backgrounds of the main players, overviews of many of the campaigns and battles of the event and weaves it all into an interesting story filled with zealots, nobility, passion, intrigue and fire. Reading this you can easily get swept into the spiritual fervor and single minded determination that these people must have had.

You also feel the impact of the battles and massacres in his descriptions of the sieges and taking of the various cities. Mr. Runciman does a very good job of making sure the reader becomes involved in the details of events as the Crusaders storm through the Holy Land to the city of Jerusalem.

There is no bibliography in the volume I have nor are there any pictures or maps. The 'Introductory Note' states 'The book is published without reference notes nor a bibliography. If readers wish to consult the sources, primary and secondary, on which my account is based, may I refer them to the original work, in which a full apparatus criticus is provided? A recent edition is still in print.'

For a very well written and passionate account of the First Crusade this book will provide a good read as well as an historical overview of the event.
medievalcrusadesbabe

Judith Tarr's Pride of Kings is a most interesting read. I found it intriguing. A story where John is not a power hungry king, who loves England, unlike his brother Richard. All the characters were very thought provoking. There was no reason this could not have happened. Why could Britain not have its own king and protectors. Yea! for Judith!

Judith Tarr has taken fictional characters and woven them in with historical characters to make the story line plausible. The plot lines, primary and secondary, are strong and well written. The characters are well developed and believable, even with the knowledge many of the characters are fiction. This was a well told story and a well written book.

Judith Tarr has written some great books, but this isn't one of them. Ms. Tarr seems to have cobbled together some notes and thrown out a half-baked novel. Her characters are usually brilliant, here they are muddy. Her world is often well realized, here it's slapped together.

Still, it's better than half the SF/Fantasy pumped out and spat at the market.

Oh, don't you tell the priest Our plight,
He will think it a sin.
We have been out in the woods all night
A-conjuring summer in;
Now we bring good news by word of mouth,
Good news for cattle and corn;
The sun today came up from the south
By Oak and Ash and Thorn.
--Rudyard Kipling

I love seeing Judith Tarr writing fantasy again. Her grey mare's daughters series was ok, but she is at her best when describing the swirl of Wild Magic about Riders who have gone beyond the boundaries of the mundane world.

Henry is dead, Richard the Lionhearted is to be crowned King of the English, but there is another crown waiting for him, did he but accept it: the crown of the King of Britain, guardian of the mystical realm that is the spirit of Britain, warded by four guardians who are more than human. However, Richard's eyes and heart are set on Jerusalem and his Crusade. He has no use for Pagan ceremonies and spurns the Crown, breaking the Walls of Air that protect Britain and making it imperative that a new King be found. This sets in motion a magical chain of events that resonate in the real world.

In Anjou, Arslan, young bastard son of a dead lord waits with his two Seljuk servants. He had been born and raised in outremer, the son of a mortal lord and an Ifritah, a spirit of fire. In him the magic runs high. A Crusade is gathering and he intends to return to the East. However, he is given a prophetic dream, in which he is told that he must go to Britain, where he is needed. There comes riding into his brother's keep a company, one of whom is recognizable as William, a bastard Plantagenet. The other, who seems less worthy is pushed aside while William is feted. The one who is pushed aside is John Lackland, the very legitimate son of Henry and Eleanor of Acquitaine. He is pleased to be amused by it and when he rides out, leaving a discomforted Lord of Anjou, he takes Arslan with him.

The mystical forces that protect Britain offer John a bargain. They offer him a chance to rule as overlord of the spirit of the place, but he is to pay a price. That price is that the world will see him as his brother's usurper and would not know of the service that he had performed to save Britain (and England, from the forces arrayed against it.

The book though focuses mainly on Arslan, on his love for one of the Guardians and how two people both blessed and cursed with magic come to an understanding. Arslan, the son of a spirit of fire, is beautiful and strong. His name means lion. The Lady Eschivra, the daughter of Morgana and a river god, is older than him in years, wiser than he in magic, but more tangled in her thoughts and emotions. Together they must face the forces of the Wild Magic, of Sorceries sent against them by enemies outside Britain, and the convolutions of their own too human hearts.

If you liked Ms Tarr's earlier fantasies, if you have a fondness for Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill and Reward and Fairies, if you just enjoy a good historical fantasy then grab a copy, curl up on the couch with a small dog or two (I recommend a Jack Russell terrier) and settle down to enjoy a rousing-- and touching-- fantasy.

(By the way, the title is a pun. It refers to both the feeling of pride, and a collective noun for all the young lions who make up the actors in this book. Try to pick them all out.)

I love seeing Judith Tarr writing fantasy again. Her grey mare's daughters series was ok, but she is at her best when describing the swirl of Wild Magic about Riders who have gone beyond the boundaries of the mundane world.

Henry is dead, Richard the Lionhearted is to be crowned King of the English, but there is another crown waiting for him, did he but accept it: the crown of the King of Britain, guardian of the mystical realm that is Britain, warded by four guardians who are more than human. However, Richard's eyes and heart are set on Jerusalem and his Crusade. He has no use for Pagan ceremonies and spurns the Crown of Britain. This sets in motion a magical chain of events that resonated in the real world.

In Anjou, Arslan, a young ... son of a dead lord waits with his two Seljuk servants. He had been born and raised in outremer, the son of a mortal lord and an Ifritah, a spirit of fire. In him the magic runs high. A Crusade is gathering and he intends to return to the East. However, he is given a prophetic dream, in which he is told that he must go to Britain, where he is needed. There comes riding into his brother's keep a company, one of whom is recognizable as William, a ... Plantagenet. The other, who seems less worthy is pushed aside while William is feted. The one who is pushed aside is John Lackland, the very legitimate son of Henry and Eleanor of Acquitaine. He is pleased to be amused by it and when he rides out, leaving a discomforted Lord of Anjou, he takes Arslan with him.

The mystical forces that protect Britain offer John a bargain. They offer him a chance to rule as overlord of the spirit of the place, but he is to pay a price. That price is that the world will see him as his brother's usurper and would not know of the service that he had performed to save Britain (and England) to, from the forces arrayed against it.

The book though focuses mainly on Arslan, on his love for one of the Guardians and how two people both blessed and cursed with magic come to an understanding. Arslan, the son of a spirit of fire, is beautiful and strong. His name means lion. The Lady Eschivra, the daughter of Morgana and a river god, is older than him in years, wiser than he in magic, but more tangled in her thoughts and emotions. Together they must face the forces of the Wild Magic, of Sorceries sent against them by enemies outside Britain, and the convolutions of their own too human hearts.

If you liked Ms Tarr's earlier fantasies, if you have a fondness for Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill and Reward and Fairies, if you just enjoy a good historical fantasy then grab a copy, curl up on the couch with a small dog or two (I recommend a Jack Russell terrier) and settle down to enjoy a rouse-- and touching-- fantasy.

(By the way, the title is a pun. It refers to both the feeling of pride, and a collective noun for all the young lions who make up the actors in this book.)

El Cid was, in Spanish legend, a hero who helped to liberate Spain from the Moors; in fact he was a mercenary warlord who worked for both sides. This brief, scholarly look at his life and times attempts to separate legend from reality. The first half sets the scene by reviewing Iberian politics, religion, and society in the early middle ages; the second recounts the historical events in which El Cid played a role, relying on four near-contemporary sources (which are analyzed in a chapter that divides the two halves). A final chapter discusses when and how the legend arose.

The first half of the book is its strength. It is El Cid's context -- the interaction of peoples and states across the border between Islam and Christianity -- that intrigues, and Fletcher presents an interesting overview. The second half moves nicely through the minutiae of mid-11th-century Spanish politics but demonstrates that most of the few things history (as opposed to legend) knows about El Cid are not terribly interesting.

The book is well-written and should please those interested in its rather narrow subject matter.

The people of Awdaghast were berbers, but they were not "white-skinned". They were light brown and likely ranged from yellow in color to black, like most other Northern Africans today who live between the northernmost edge of Africa and the Sahel. Thoughout all known history, this region has been a mix of the peoples who frequently migrate across it. To label this city in particular as "white", as if some barrier existed between it and the black cities around it, is ridiculous. This is especially true, considering that the city was founded by blacks (soninke) and was abandoned as the people (everyone - berber and non-berber) moved further south to more fertile lands.

The understanding of the reign of Alfonso VI of Leon-Castilla is basic to the understanding of the following 1000 years of Iberian History... and this text is very helpful to understand that time.
It is evident that the author has some difficulty in perceiving the social and religious coexistence of Jews, Christians and Muslim... and it is very instructive to see how a Gallo-Romano-Germanic author sees a life that is, basically, Hispano-Romano-Semitic.

Chances are, if you were famous and died a long time ago, Charlton Heston has played you in some epic film. Such is the case with El Cid, the Spanish warlord who successfully played the Christian and Muslim tensions and ended up seizing Valencia for his own. Fletcher's book cuts through the myth to explore who the Cid really was, at the same time offering very intricate portraits of the history and personality of Medieval Spain, at the time the joining of the Christian and Muslim worlds. And it succeeds admirably.

This is more a history of 11th Century Christian and Islamic Spain than about El Cid. In fact, Rodrigo Diaz, El Cid, is hardly mentioned in the first 100 pages of the book. It is good history, though, about an era and place that most Americans know little about.

There is a belief that Spain was continually in turmoil - that the Christians and Moors were always fighting each since the beginning of Moorish rule. It is true that there were many tiny kingdoms, and often they were at war with each other. But in the 11th century and before, more often than not the wars were about territory and riches rather than religion.

Rodrigo Diaz was not a scourage of the Muslims, as he is often portrayed. Rather he was as often fighting with the Muslims as against. He also was not the only warrior of his time, there were many. But although this history dispells many of the myths of the man and the place, it is still fascinating reading. My only criticism is that the book may be a little too short. I would have liked to read more.

Who doesn't love adventure, history and romance all tied up in one series? Well the Royal Pavilions has it all. An evil villainess, a spunky heroine, a roguish hero, a backstabbing cousin, a warrier priest,and a misguided man who's evil ambitions threaten everyone. Why hasn't this been made into a movie? An very well written series for those romance addicts out there who are sick of well-meaning but sappy Christian Romances. Bring on the adventure!

I highly recommend this book. I'd give it more stars if I could. I look forward to reading all of Linda Chaikin's other books!

It was kinda hard finding this book because it is out of print but I purchased it and read it; it was definitely well worth the price and the wait. I loved the first two books in the series and I couldn't wait to find out what happens to Helena and Tancred next. Helena Lysander was on her way to her castle of Hohms where Tancred had believed she would be safe with his adoptive father and her mother. But Helena's bodyguard, Bardas, brought news to Tancred that her entourage was overtaken by her enemy Constantine and she never reached the castle. Tancred plans a daring rescue and succeeds...until Philip Lysander has him captured and sold as a slave. Tancred fights despair and anger as he finds out that Helena, his beloved, was sent to his Moslem cousin Prince Kalid to become his wife. With some help he manages to escape his slave owner and confronts Philip. Tancred then sets out for Antioch and the Castle of Hohms where Helena is held prisoner along with her mother by the evil Bishop Constantine. He finds Helena again only to be overtaken by soldiers of Prince Kalid and was almost killed. Helena desperately saves his life but still is faced with her dilemma of marrying the prince. After nursing Tancred back from the brink of death, they plan together their escape from the city as the crusaders under Prince Bohemond close in. There is also the assassin Mosul who framed Tancred for murder and who is the bodyguard of Prince Kalid. Tancred must confront both men over Helena and prove his innocence. A great story and conclusion of the Royal Pavilions. I will read this series again and again! Please make this rating go up!!! I can't wait to see what Linda Chaikin has for us next!

The author(?) had a great historical period to work with but her writing skills being nil, the book goes nowhere. Maybe she wrote this book for teenagers(13-14 most)? It never was meant for adults? If you are a historical buff, have decent English, don't buy this book.

The royal Pavilion was one of Linda Chakins best once you read this you will want to read them all!