thebacklistreader's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
This covers a huge scope — both in geography and time, and at times it suffers for it. It does give an ambitiously balanced view (as much as top-down history can be) and often counters the narrative European figureheads and leaders used in their accounts. However this book dragged. It was stronger when detailing Europe based battles, but it feels like an 800 page book. Three stars out of professional respect as a historian for not writing pro monarchy and using a variety of primary sources
jacksinderby's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Provides a comprehensive yet informative view of the crusades
shortcub's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
dusktildawn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Had a blast reading this. Loved the different perspectives and stories we got to read about. I wish we could have spent more time on the individual Crusades, especially the 3rd one but that didn't hamper my enjoyment.
deagaric's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
sad
slow-paced
2.75
Wanted to engage with this but...
My mind kept wandering every time I was reading this book. It was only worse in the audio book version. It wasn't that the content was dull-- it was filled with adventure, surprise, and almost unbearable amount of violence. Maybe it was the tiresome, long paragraphs or the peculiar word choices. Either way, this book unfortunately almost took me two months to read, and I struggled through it.
I did feel like I learned a considerable amount of history along the way, and Dan Jones did an excellent job with the epilogue, connecting the crusades with world events today. It was a 2.75 star read from me, but I can see how others might rate it much higher. Not the best primer to the history of the crusades, but enlightening nonetheless.
My mind kept wandering every time I was reading this book. It was only worse in the audio book version. It wasn't that the content was dull-- it was filled with adventure, surprise, and almost unbearable amount of violence. Maybe it was the tiresome, long paragraphs or the peculiar word choices. Either way, this book unfortunately almost took me two months to read, and I struggled through it.
I did feel like I learned a considerable amount of history along the way, and Dan Jones did an excellent job with the epilogue, connecting the crusades with world events today. It was a 2.75 star read from me, but I can see how others might rate it much higher. Not the best primer to the history of the crusades, but enlightening nonetheless.