Robert Lee Wolff

A second volume, organized on the plan of the Cambridge Medieval history. There were finally six Volumes and constituted the backbone of Crusader studies in English. This volume deals with the Crusader kingdom of Outremer from the aftermath of Hattin until the end of truly practical Crusading. The chapters have now been largely superseded by later workers but the serious questions of this period and area are at least raised. The maps are adequate and a clear sequence of events can be constructed with a little work. ( )… (more)

Unfortunately the narrator of this book was not to my liking, far to stilted, in fact the overwrought British accent sounded somewhat fake. In any case the content did win out and I ended up really enjoying this book. It was a great way to follow The Tudors as it filled in the period leading up to there. The fascinating thing about the middle ages is how that is the period the world as we know it today was really formed, the nations, their characters and habits all derive from here. For that reason I find it much more interesting than modern history, it goes back to the source of why modern history unfolded that way. There are so many facets of this period that are complete blanks for me I was happy that the book was so expansive covering the history of all civilised peoples of the middle ages. Well worth it!… (more)