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The Normans #4
Seeking Jerusalem
King Richard the Lionheart and his fellow crusaders set out to recapture the Holy Land, but on the way they run into trouble in Sicily before capturing Cyprus from the Byzantines. Eventually they join the siege of Acre in the Holy Land and the tide of the war turns in the crusaders’ favour, but not without the king making some bitter enemies.
In England, Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, struggle to frustrate Prince John’s efforts to seize the throne in his brother’s absence.
Aided by various members of the de Cuille family, King Richard defeats the Saracens under Saladin time after time, displaying great personal courage; but disunity is rife in the crusader ranks, particularly between the rival claimants for the Christian throne of Jerusalem, and animosity between their leaders ultimately costs the crusaders their goal of recovering Jerusalem.
With both armies exhausted and Richard desperate to return home to confront Prince John, the crusade ends with an honourable compromise, but an unwelcome encounter with old foes on the return journey leads to death, incarceration and the bankruptcy of a nation. The surviving members of the de Cuille family return home to find out that much has changed in their absence.
In England, Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, struggle to frustrate Prince John’s efforts to seize the throne in his brother’s absence.
Aided by various members of the de Cuille family, King Richard defeats the Saracens under Saladin time after time, displaying great personal courage; but disunity is rife in the crusader ranks, particularly between the rival claimants for the Christian throne of Jerusalem, and animosity between their leaders ultimately costs the crusaders their goal of recovering Jerusalem.
With both armies exhausted and Richard desperate to return home to confront Prince John, the crusade ends with an honourable compromise, but an unwelcome encounter with old foes on the return journey leads to death, incarceration and the bankruptcy of a nation. The surviving members of the de Cuille family return home to find out that much has changed in their absence.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2013
8 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
H.A. Culley
42 books31 followersH.A. Culley served in the Army for twenty four years during which time he had a variety of unusual jobs. These included commanding an Arab unit in the desert for three years and a tour as the military attaché in Beirut in the late seventies.
After leaving the Army he became the business manager of a large independent school for twenty years before moving into marketing and fundraising. He has also been involved in two major historical projects and now works for an educational charity.
He has given talks on historical subjects for several years and the research involved provided his inspiration for writing historical fiction.
He has three adult children and lives near Holy Island in Northumberland with his wife and two Bernese Mountain Dogs.
After leaving the Army he became the business manager of a large independent school for twenty years before moving into marketing and fundraising. He has also been involved in two major historical projects and now works for an educational charity.
He has given talks on historical subjects for several years and the research involved provided his inspiration for writing historical fiction.
He has three adult children and lives near Holy Island in Northumberland with his wife and two Bernese Mountain Dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 20, 2017
Don't read this book on its own, read the previous editions in the series. The book describes a very complex train of events. The opening chapters are quite detailed and it takes a while to settle down to the story but as usual there is a non stop roller coaster ride from one battle to the next. You find out how Richard the Lionheart got his name and you uncover the intrigue going on between the various countries who are participating in the crusades. The best characters lock horns with their adversaries and are put to the test,
Get ready cause here it comes
Get ready cause here it comes
April 11, 2014
The Last True Crusade
A fairly accurate account of King Richard's participation in the Crusades, this is a complex work of history, laced with some fiction. Good action sequences, but the large number of characters is difficult to keep in order. The story nearly gets lost in the tiresome list of who's who!
A fairly accurate account of King Richard's participation in the Crusades, this is a complex work of history, laced with some fiction. Good action sequences, but the large number of characters is difficult to keep in order. The story nearly gets lost in the tiresome list of who's who!
July 25, 2016
The fourth book in the series about Normans, this historic fiction deals with Richard III and his crusade. The author is enjoyable and weaves a good story with plenty of historic accuracy includes to hold your attention.
November 26, 2013
Well done, I enjoyed this installment as much as the others. The ending felt rushed again but, the story is very well done!
October 22, 2015
Richard the lionhearted
The third crusade of Richard the Lionhearted and the tale of the De Cuille's come to an end in this final story, very enthralling!
The third crusade of Richard the Lionhearted and the tale of the De Cuille's come to an end in this final story, very enthralling!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews