The Templars. the Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades [Import] [Hardcover]

Piers Paul Read (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297842676
• ISBN-13: 978-0297842675
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,102,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No frills history, November 29, 2000

By 

Daria Kelleher "Daria" (Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades (Hardcover)

I have added this book to my personal library because it gives the history of the Knights Templar with clarity and precision. Reviewers who found it odd that the Templars weren't even mentioned until around page 90 overlooked the fact that it's difficult to just yank a story out of history without first giving some background. If you're looking for a more esoteric history that ties the Templars to things like the Shroud of Turin or the Holy Grail, you won't find it here. And, even though I enjoy reading those types of books, I still highly recommend this one. It's a no frills historical account.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'll have to disagree with the last review, October 11, 2000

By 

"countess-bathory" (Hurstville, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades (Hardcover)

I felt this book on the Knights Templar was very informative, especially since my knowledge prior to reading this book was far from extensive. This book explains the reasons for the Knights formation as a religious order, continues on through out the book with political, and structural issues. I feel that emphasis on the politics of the era is important as religion and politics were hardly distinguishable bureaucracies. My initial conflicting opinions on this religious order have been clarified to some extent since reading this book.

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Templar history or a short stroll through the Crusades???, January 3, 2001

By 

Gallowglass (Spokane) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades (Hardcover)

I was excited to read this book due to my interest in the history of the Templars, however I was very disappointed by the time I had finished. Although the book is well written, I would describe it more as an abridged history of the Crusades, followed by a few chapters about the destruction of the Templars, and topped off with a somewhat rambling concluding chapter that somehow ends up with a condemnation of the nation state!! Obviously some background history of the Crusades is necessary, but when the title of the book is "The Templars", the book should focus on how the Templars fit in with that history. I got the feeling when reading this book that the author had to remind himself to mention the Templars occasionally in the course of his descriptions of the Crusades!! My advise is to not bother with this book...spend the money on Sir Steven Runciman's History of the Crusades if you haven't already got it.