Customer Reviews

Knight Crusader (New Oxford library)

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Ronald Welch is without doubt the best historical novelist I have encountered. While his books clearly aim at a younger audience, they stand up well against much "adult" fiction. Knight Crusader tells the story of a young knight of Outremere, the name of the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem. It is quite amazing how much you learn of the times, and the characterisations of the people are brief but rich. Sir Philip D'Aubigny takes part in the disastrous Second Crusade, and the victorious Third, and finally travels to Wales where he takes over the family estate of Llanstephan. In fact, this book lays the foundation for a long series of books which follows the lives of his descendants, through their various ages.

As a child I read everything I could find by Ronald Welch, and in many ways my love of history is due to his books. I now treasure the select few (out of print) books of his I own, and buy up any more I can find... alas that they are so few and far between. Amazon.com hardly lists any of them. I wonder why not? "For the King" - English Civil War; "Captain of Foot" - Napoleonics; "Nicholas Carey" - Crimea; "Son of York" - War of the Roses; "Mohawk Valley" - American settlement, and Quebec campaign; "The Gauntlet" -currently reprinted in England, but not listed on Amazon.com, (but is listed in their UK site)! Where are these books?

This book is amazing. The vivid imagery that Ronald Welch communicates has stuck in my mind for years. I've read this book many times and I'm sure I will read it many more times. The descriptions of life in Outremer at the time of the Third Crusade is masterfully portrayed and the characters are individual and you get a real feeling of knowing them. I swear when the main characters are riding through the desert on their way to the battle of Hattin and they are near dehydration i always feel thirsty and hot, they way its described is so real! I really recommend this book, i was lucky to get it for about 20c at a second hand book auction but I would pay far more for it! If something ever happened to my treasured and tattered copy I would go to the ends of the earth if necessary to obtain another! Well, well, worth the effort of getting it, but for everyone's sake I say they should just get Ronald Welch's books back into print. Knight Crusader is a thrilling read.

Comes the tale of a young man, growing up in the brief lull between the 1st and 2nd Crusades. The rich imagery, and unparallelled storytelling abilities of Ronald Welch are shown in their full glory, in this story which takes us through the horrors of the disastrous 2nd Crusade. It explores the courage of a man growing to adulthood in the shadow of slavery. Share the triumph of the 3rd Crusade, and join Philip on his journey home at last to misty England, where challenges of a different sort await. If you haven't read this book - I feel deeply sorry for you. It's an essential read for every history enthusiast.

As a child it was Knight Crusader and the other Ronal Welch books which started a life of a love of history and reading. If you can get hold of a copy, buy it and read it. Knight Crusader is a great read for all ages. The history of the Cruaders, adventure of life at the time and characters you will never forget. I do hope that some day soon all of Welch's books will be re printed and promoted, so that others may enjoy.

My reading of this book over 40 years ago at the age of nine gave me a lifelong interest in the history of the Crusades and the Middle Ages. Historical readings - and Steven Runciman's three volume History of the Crusades should be companion volumes - have confirmed Welch's accuracy. The court of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, the battle of the Horns of Hattin, the mountain stronghold of the Assasains, and Richard the Lionhearted and the Third Crusade - all are described with an unforgettable vividness. American readers who are unfamiliar with Ronald Welch are missing out.

Utterly brilliant - my battered copy, well read since childhood, unfortunately lost a battle with kittens and is now missing both front and back cover, and the last ten pages. I would dearly love for this book to be reprinted so I could introduce it to my nieces and nephews.

I read this book in the early 60's. From that point to now, I've enjoyed reading (hundreds of books) about the Crusades and the medieval world. I vigorously recommend it. A book taking place in roughly the same era, is Shield of Honor by Alice Walworth Graham. If you liked Knight Crusader, give it a try (It is also unfortunately out of print.)if you can find it. Shield of Honor also had a powerful effect on my imagination. I join those who call for reprinting all of the wonderful books of Ronald Welch.

I also read this book as a child, courtesy of the school library. When I left that school at the age of 12, I had to leave the book behind, and I could never find it for sale - so when I finally found a copy in the library one day, I photocopied it in its entirety, and have kept it to this day. When I read it now, I see that it is aimed at younger readers (there is no mention of women) but it is still wonderful historical fiction with fantastic accounts of the battles of Hattin and Arsuf.

I hope it is reprinted soon.

This book is amazing. The vivid imagery that Ronald Welch communicates has stuck in my mind for years. I've read this book many times and I'm sure I will read it many more times. The descriptions of life in Outremer at the time of the Third Crusade is masterfully portrayed and the characters are individual and you get a real feeling of knowing them. I swear when the main characters are riding through the desert on their way to the battle of Hattin and they are near dehydration i always feel thirsty and hot, they way its described is so real! I really recommend this book, i was lucky to get it for about 20c at a second hand book auction but I would pay far more for it! If something ever happened to my treasured and tattered copy I would go to the ends of the earth if necessary to obtain another! Well, well, worth the effort of getting it, but for everyone's sake I say they should just get Ronald Welch's books back into print. Knight Crusader is a thrilling read.

Knight Crusader is terrific adventure story aimed at the younger reader. It follows the trials and tribulations of a young man born in the Middle East coming to manhood at the time of the Third Crusade. It is a romantic tale without "romance" as such. The story is entertaining, moving at a rapid pace, touching on famous figures such as Saladin and Richard The Lion Heart. It is truly boy's own stuff, with a brave loyal hero who gains the respect and admiration of his fellow crusaders and noble enemies. Well worth the effort to obtain, althought the local library is your best bet.