Customer Reviews

The crusades

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am writing for both volumes of the Crusades, Iron Men and Saints and for Flames of Islam. Both books proves to be well written and Lamb's storytelling does make both volumes read a lot like historical fiction. However, the book appears to be well researched if not slightly outdated by our standards today but still acceptable overall. (Both books been around for a long time.)

Because of the easy to read format as written by Harold Lamb, these two books could be read by almost anyone who have any interest on the subject. Its a great introduction material and easy to digest information would be welcome by many. Not only that, it tells a great story in an energic and entertaining way.

I was told and agreed that these two books compared favorably with Thomas Costain's four books series on English Plantagenat Kings. If you enjoyed Costain's works, you will definitely enjoyed Harold Lamb. They both writes in that style that make history into a story. Lamb would put into some fictional liners to advanced the story and takes legends into facts. But its a great way to start into the history of the Crusades and even if some of the modern works (you might read later on) might straighten out the details into proper perception, these two books helps in providing the background material which was so easily read and understood.

Excellent starter books, thick but very readable!!

This was the first of two volumes Lamb wrote on the Crusades. it dealt only with the First Crusade. The second was "The Crusades: Flame of Islam," and it treated with the later Crusades.

Lamb wrote military history engagingly, almost like it was historical fiction. Most of his other historical works were biographies of great generals -- from Hannibal to Alexander to Genghis Khan. As a youth, I read as many of his books as I could find until I hit upon his biography of Alexander the Great. I was sorely disappointed. It was unabashedly historical fiction. This caused me to doubt the historicity of his other works until I read Steven Runciman's three volume work on the Crusades.

Comparing Runciman to Lamb reassured me of "Iron Men's" basic historical merit. It is fairly accurate and extremely well told. Lamb starts with the turn of the millenium and moves to the Pope's preaching a crusade. He describes the crusade of Peter the Hermit, and then gives an account of the First Crusade.

How on earth these naive, strategically clueless men-at-arms were able to wrest Jerusalem from Islamic control is beyond me. They had only three things going for them -- Religious zeal, superb fighting ability, and excellent armor.

This book is a bit older and hence some of the research is out dated, but Harold Lamb does a terrific job of not giving a biased perspective (something that is not always done when dealing with this subject). In addition, some of the details of the book are scarcely found in other accounts. The book has a narrative flow which makes for an interesting read. In contrast to its title the book only deals with the first crusade but as such it is an invaluable resource on such.

This is a beautifully written account of a critical period in world history which continues to affect the thinking and behavior of millions of people today.

Lamb, the author of other fine histories, is eloquent and colorful and uses as many contemporary sources of information as possible.

The book is great reading by itself. Given the current situation in the Middle East, The Crusades should really be required reading for anyone who wants to understand Arabs and Muslims and their relationship with the West.

This is a very old book. I think the first edition was in 1931. However it is excellent. It is based on solid scholarship with a tremendous number of first-person writings from the journals and letters of Christian and Muslim observers of the time. It avoids a lot of the popular propaganda of the last 700 years and takes a fresh look at the characters from Richard the Lion Hearted (not so lion hearted) to Saladin (not so inscrutable or cruel). I think it leaves you with a balanced and sophisticated view of the conflicts which helps create a solid foundation for understanding many modern East-West issues.

This is great, fun history. Truth be told, I'm no expert on history of this period, but I do have a pretty sensitive "BS detector" and this book did not seem to me to be overblown or exaggerated. It is well referenced and seems 'factual' (if that word can be used to 600-1000 year old events). All in all, however, it was an enormously entertaining book to read.

Good blend of history and story-telling. Harold Lamb at his best, balanced presentation about all players and their motivations.

The hardcover Crusades by Harold Lamb is is good shape.

However, I was disappointed that it did not include "The Sword of Islam" as does my paperback copy I bought this to replace.

This book is dense with events but except in the concluding chapter sparse on analysis and concrete detail. It is virtually impossible for the casual reader to keep the history, events, people and locations in mind, excepts for the sense (which is valuable enough in its own right) of ebb and flow, back and forth, hostility and exchange, that transpired over centuries of contact between the eastern (Muslim) and western (Latin Christianity) cultures.

I also listened to this on audio but disagree with the other reviewer's assessment of the reader. This Brit should be chewing the scenery in a third rate production of Hamlet somewhere. Not only does the material-- which is not exciting-- call for a more matter of fact tone, but as a rule the reader's exuberant rhythms and placement of stress do not conform to the meaning of the text. It's as though he did not understand what he was reading.

Harold Lamb does extensive historical research
and then weaves a tale with realistic characters
into the background. He traveled extensively in the
area, and could read and speak some of the languages
of the area. A very good discussion of the politics.