From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9-King Richard I of England reigned for only 10 years (1189-1199), yet he maintains an important place in European history. A true knight, he was chivalrous and devout, but in the name of church and country was capable of extraordinary cruelty. This short history aptly shows both sides of the monarch. Particular attention is given to the Crusades, especially the Third Crusade, which Richard himself led to the Holy Land, and the legacy of his victories in the Middle East. The Dohertys have compressed a large portion of history into a brief, accessible work. They define unfamiliar words and phrases within the text, which enables readers to concentrate on the information. As well, they use modern analogies to explain difficult concepts. Admittedly, the treatment is superficial in places, and the scope of the work may be overambitious; however, the flavor of the Middle Ages, the religious and economic zeal that fueled the Crusades, and King Richard's charisma are made apparent. Boxed sections called "Source Document" are the weakest element of this book as the information presented in them does not add significantly to the text. Captioned black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the text. This work adequately fills the gap between Christopher Gibb's Richard the Lionheart and the Crusades (Bookwright, 1985; o.p.) and adult titles such as James Reston, Jr.'s Warriors of God (Doubleday, 2001).
Laura Reed, Pickering Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Laura Reed, Pickering Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
