Jerusalem [Mass Market Paperback]

Cecelia Holland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1997

The extraordinary author of The Bear Flag and Pacific Street returns to print at last with a remarkable novel. Set in the Holy Land in 1187 A.D., Jerusalem is an epic of war and political intrigue, of passion and religious fervor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran historical novelist Holland (Pacific Street; The Bear Flag) can be depended on for a rousing story buttressed by assiduous research. In her 21st venture, she applies her considerable talents to the Holy Land and the Crusades. A pair of battles bookend the tale and typify the religious and cultural conflict of the era: the narrative begins with the Christian victory at Ascalon and ends with the Muslim victory at the Battle of Hattin. Protagonist Rannulf Fitzwilliam is a controversial member of the ascetic, courageous Knights of the Temple whose willingness to ignore protocol serves him better in battle than it does in the political intrigue that follows the victory. The issues at hand include negotiating a truce with the Arabs as well as trying to determine the order of succession to the throne of Baudouin, the young Christian king who is beginning to exhibit the terminal effects of leprosy. Among the ambitious players are several other Templar knights and Baudouin's sister, Sibylla, the object of Rannulf's guilt-ridden affection, who marries a French nobleman to gain access to the power of the throne. As the contenders jockey for position, the Christian forces fall into factionalized disarray, leaving them ripe for conquest. The narrative structure may be simple, but Holland's masterful layering of subplots, historical detail and multiple perspectives makes for a great read.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA. There is both mystery and mysticism in any account of the colorful order of Knights Templer. A strong, fabulously wealthy group of Christian warrior monks, they rose to power during the Crusades as defenders of Jerusalem. Their riches and persistent rumors of secret masses and esoteric practices prompted suppression of the order in 1291. This historical novel sees the early downturn of Templers' fortunes when Jerusalem, coveted prize of Christian and Mohammedan forces, is about to fall. Sustained by the leadership of the young leper King Baudouin, the city teeters upon his death with the problems of succession and infidel opposition. The main character, Rannulf Fitzwilliam, is known among his fellow Templers as Saint. Under vows of chastity and humility to atone for a wild early life, unpopular with his administrators, he maintains a group of supporters and commands the respect of his order and the opposing Islamic forces of Saladin. Political infighting and many bloody actual battles move the plot rapidly and the fates of Jerusalem and the hero are tragically linked.?Frances Reiher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 405 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books (February 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812553977
• ISBN-13: 978-0812553970
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "God wills it!", November 23, 2005

By 

M. Dog (Everywhere and Nowhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jerusalem (Mass Market Paperback)

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

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Grim Side of the Crusades, February 8, 2002

By 

S. Brand "sandra807" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jerusalem (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the snapping pennons and shining armor, February 13, 2001

By 

Joe (Idaho, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerusalem (Mass Market Paperback)

Cecelia Holland gets to the blood and bone and sweat and saddle sores and skin rashes of chivalry. In our twenty first century mindset, it's too easy to forget, or just not understand what a motivating force Christianity has been through the ages. A Knight Templar's life expectancy in Palestine was less than two years, yet they were the most effective military organisation in Medevial Europe. "Jerusalem" shows us the times and places of the Crusades through the eyes of a Templar, a man too aware of his own flaws, born to violence in violent times, trained to be good at it. It shows us men and women of power who can't put aside their own petty ambitions and pride even when their lives literally depend on it. And how a stick up the backside may be a substitute for the backbone a man may not be born with.

"Jerusalem" is disturbing, uplifting, and, best of all, interesting. Ms. Holland tells a heck of a story. Like all great literature, it's about people. She does a good job answering, and getting us to ask, The Great Literary Question-- "Then what happened?"

Since this has become a discussion of religion and politics, those who so loudly comdemn the Crusades might ask a couple questions: Why is Constantiople now called Istanbul? Why was the Reconquista necessary in Spain? How did Kosovo become the home of Moslem Albanians? Christianity is not the only religion to convert at sword point. The last scene in this book is documented history. (As are many of the other scenes.)