Synopses & Reviews
Jonathan Riley-Smith here provides a comprehensive history of the Crusades: an account of the theology of violence behind the Crusades, the major Crusades, the experience of crusading, and the crusaders themselves. With a wealth of fascinating detail, Riley-Smith brings to life these stirring expeditions to the Holy Land and the politics and personalities behind them. His book will be the standard and authoritative account of the Crusades for years to come. This new edition includes revisions throughout as well as a new Preface and Afterword in which Jonathan Riley-Smith surveys recent developments in the field and examines responses to the Crusades in different periods, from the Romantics to the Islamic world today.
From reviews of the first edition:
andldquo;Everything is here: the crusades to the Holy Land, and against the Albigensians, the Moors, the pagans in Eastern Europe, the Turks, and the enemies of the popes. Riley-Smith writes a beautiful, lucid prose, . . . [and his book] is packed with facts and action.andrdquo;andmdash;Choice
andldquo;A concise, clearly written synthesis . . . by one of the leading historians of the crusading movement. andrdquo;andmdash;Robert S. Gottfried, Historian
andldquo;A lively and flowing narrative [with] an enormous cast of characters that is not a mere catalog but a history. . . . A remarkable achievement.andrdquo;andmdash;Thomas E. Morrissey, Church History
andldquo;Superb.andrdquo;andmdash;Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Speculum
andldquo;A first-rate one-volume survey of the Crusading movement from 1074 . . . to 1798.andrdquo;andmdash;Southwest Catholic
Review
and#8220;If you have been looking for a one-volume survey, you wonand#8217;t find a better one than this.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;and#8220;Everything is here: the crusades to the Holy Land, and against the Albigensians, the Moors, the pagans in Eastern Europe, the Turks, and the enemies of the popes. Riley-Smith writes a beautiful, lucid prose, . . . [and his book] is packed with facts and action.and#8221;and#8212;
Choice Review
and#8220;and#8220;A concise, clearly written synthesis . . . by one of the leading historians of the crusading movement. and#8221;and#8212;Robert S. Gottfried,
Historian Review
and#8220;and#8220;A lively and flowing narrative [with] an enormous cast of characters that is not a mere catalog but a history. . . . A remarkable achievement.and#8221;and#8212;Thomas E. Morrissey,
Church HistorySynopsis
“This lively, comprehensive history provides a wealth of fascinating detail about the Crusades and the politics and personalities behind them. This new edition includes revisions throughout as well as a new Preface and Afterword in which Jonathan Riley-Smith surveys recent developments in the field and examines responses to the Crusades in different periods, from the Romantics to the Islamic world today, making this the standard and authoritative account of the Crusades.
Synopsis
"Pulls off the enviable feat of summing up seven centuries of religious warfare in a crisp 309 pages of text."--Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post Book World In this authoritative work, Jonathan Riley-Smith provides the definitive account of the Crusades: an account of the theology of violence behind the Crusades, the major Crusades, the experience of crusading, and the crusaders themselves. With a wealth of fascinating detail, Riley-Smith brings to life these stirring expeditions to the Holy Land and the politics and personalities behind them. This new edition includes revisions throughout as well as a new Preface and Afterword in which Jonathan Riley-Smith surveys recent developments in the field and examines responses to the Crusades in different periods, from the Romantics to the Islamic world today.
From reviews of the first edition:
"Everything is here: the crusades to the Holy Land, and against the Albigensians, the Moors, the pagans in Eastern Europe, the Turks, and the enemies of the popes. Riley-Smith writes a beautiful, lucid prose, . . . and his book] is packed with facts and action."--Choice
"A concise, clearly written synthesis . . . by one of the leading historians of the crusading movement. "--Robert S. Gottfried, Historian
"A lively and flowing narrative with] an enormous cast of characters that is not a mere catalog but a history. . . . A remarkable achievement."--Thomas E. Morrissey, Church History
"Superb."--Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Speculum
"A first-rate one-volume survey of the Crusading movement from 1074 . . . to 1798."--Southwest Catholic
Synopsis
Synopsis
This lively, comprehensive history provides a wealth of fascinating detail about the Crusades and the politics and personalities behind them. This new edition includes revisions throughout as well as a new Preface and Afterword in which Jonathan Riley-Smith surveys recent developments in the field and examines responses to the Crusades in different periods, from the Romantics to the Islamic world today, making this the standard and authoritative account of the Crusades for years to come.
From reviews of the first edition:
Everything is here: the crusades to the Holy Land, and against the Albigensians, the Moors, the pagans in Eastern Europe, the Turks, and the enemies of the popes. Riley-Smith writes a beautiful, lucid prose, . . . and his book is packed with facts and action.--ChoiceA concise, clearly written synthesis . . . by one of the leading historians of the crusading movement. --Robert S. Gottfried, Historian
A lively and flowing narrative with an enormous cast of characters that is not a mere catalog but a history. . . . A remarkable achievement.--Thomas E. Morrissey, Church History
Superb.--Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Speculum
A first-rate one-volume survey of the Crusading movement from 1074 . . . to 1798.--Southwest Catholic
Synopsis
Jonathan Riley-Smith here provides a comprehensive history of the Crusades: an account of the theology of violence behind the Crusades, the major Crusades, the experience of crusading, and the crusaders themselves. With a wealth of fascinating detail, Riley-Smith brings to life these stirring expeditions and the politics and personalities behind them. His book will be the standard and authoritative account of the Crusades for years to come.
About the Author
Jonathan Riley-Smith, Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Cambridge, is the author or editor of many books on the Crusades and the Middle Ages.