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Carey Family #1
Knight Crusader
Seventeen-year-old Philip learns the skills of a knight in his father's castle in 12th-century Jerusalem. Bravely surviving Saracen attack, he joins Richard the Lionhearted in the Third Crusade before returning to England to claim his ancestral estate.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1954
21 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Welch
23 books22 followersRonald Welch is the pen name of Ronald Felton, author of twelve historical novels for children. After reading history at Cambridge, he taught at Bedford Modern School and then became headmaster of Okehampton Grammar School in Devon. He was awarded the Carnegie Medal forKnight Crusader in 1954 which is to be serialized in Story Time on BBC on 4th July, 1972. His interest in military history stems from his family background and his service in The Welch Regiment during the 1939–45 war.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 18, 2023
Set during the Crusades (in the 12th century CE, in the 1100s and hence of course the book title) Ronald Welch's (Ronald Oliver Fenton's) 1954 Carnegie Medal winning historical fiction novel Knight Crusader (the first of a series of thirteen British history themed stories featuring the fictional Carey Family, although yes, in Knight Crusader, the name Carey is actually not yet being mentioned) presents as its main protagonist Philip d'Aubigny (the son of a baron), who, born in the Kingdom of Jerusalem (in Outremer), has trained all of his life as a knight and for war (and for taking the so-called Holy Land back from the Muslims). And battling against the forces of Saladin at the Battle of Hattin (in 1187 CE), Phillip loses his father, is himself taken captive and then enslaved (even though it is clearly shown by Welch in his text for Knight Crusader that the servitude Phillip d'Aubigny has to endure is generally respectful and with no cruelty and malice ever being deliberately shown against him). But still (and naturally) Phillip longs for freedom and finally escaping from Damascus after four years of captivity, Phillip and his friend and companion Sir Gilbert d'Assailly eventually find their way to the stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller, and then to Acre, in what is now Syria (where Richard the Lionheart's campaign, as part of the Third Crusade is joined, with Phillip in 1191 CE fighting alongside the English monarch at the Battle of Arsuf). And when Donald Welch has Phillip d'Aubigny in Knight Crusader finally ending up in Wales, his fighting days are still not over and done with, as Phillip must then do battle to retake his ancestral home in the Welsh Marches.
Now with regard to how Knight Crusader comes across textually and thematically, Donald Welch's story is most definitely and certainly engagingly penned, showing an authentic historical setting and delightfully believable, "living and breathing" nuanced and deep characters, with King Crusader thankfully also never once reading as though Welch has just taken a contemporary mid 20th century type of story and has then placed in it dressed in period costume characters displaying contemporary sensitivities and viewpoints (which is something that tends to make me hugely textually furious, and it is definitely wonderful that there is none of this whatsoever to be encountered with and in Donald Welch's writing, that his printed words in Knight Crusader are authentic and believable regarding both his historical time and place setting and his characterisation).
Finally, there is also both graphic violence and a goodly amount of prejudice to be seen, to be found in Knight Crusader. But no, neither of these textual aspects should (in my opinion) be deemed as in any manner problematic or a cause for either concern or criticism, since the Middle Ages and the Crusades in particular were of course (and realistically speaking) replete with both violence and prejudice (although Donald Welch with Knight Crusader also shows his readers just how much more advanced the societies of the Middle East often were during this period of history compared to their Western counterparts and adversaries, and that the possibility of friendship across ethnic and religious lines is equally shown, through Philip d"Aubigny's positive relationship with Jusuf Al-Hafiz and Jusuf's father).
And therefore, I do indeed wholeheartedly applaud Donald Welch for not trying to sugar-coat anything away in his text for Knight Crusader, for writing a historically realistic tale with developed and in-depth characters and for also not once giving us as readers with Knight Crusader a one-sided story where ALL of the crusaders are somehow to be seen as knights in the proverbial shining armour and ALL of the Muslims are supposed to be monsters of evil and condemned to Hell simply due to their religion (although indeed, how graphically violent the battle scenes are being depicted, while delightfully realistic and authentic, this also and certainly makes Knight Crusader a novel that I personally would consider more young adult reading fare than middle grade, and with me actually considering Knight Crusader as being suitable for interested adult readers as well, for basically anyone from about the age of twelve or so onwards, but yes, one should be interested in historical fiction as a literary genre).
Now with regard to how Knight Crusader comes across textually and thematically, Donald Welch's story is most definitely and certainly engagingly penned, showing an authentic historical setting and delightfully believable, "living and breathing" nuanced and deep characters, with King Crusader thankfully also never once reading as though Welch has just taken a contemporary mid 20th century type of story and has then placed in it dressed in period costume characters displaying contemporary sensitivities and viewpoints (which is something that tends to make me hugely textually furious, and it is definitely wonderful that there is none of this whatsoever to be encountered with and in Donald Welch's writing, that his printed words in Knight Crusader are authentic and believable regarding both his historical time and place setting and his characterisation).
Finally, there is also both graphic violence and a goodly amount of prejudice to be seen, to be found in Knight Crusader. But no, neither of these textual aspects should (in my opinion) be deemed as in any manner problematic or a cause for either concern or criticism, since the Middle Ages and the Crusades in particular were of course (and realistically speaking) replete with both violence and prejudice (although Donald Welch with Knight Crusader also shows his readers just how much more advanced the societies of the Middle East often were during this period of history compared to their Western counterparts and adversaries, and that the possibility of friendship across ethnic and religious lines is equally shown, through Philip d"Aubigny's positive relationship with Jusuf Al-Hafiz and Jusuf's father).
And therefore, I do indeed wholeheartedly applaud Donald Welch for not trying to sugar-coat anything away in his text for Knight Crusader, for writing a historically realistic tale with developed and in-depth characters and for also not once giving us as readers with Knight Crusader a one-sided story where ALL of the crusaders are somehow to be seen as knights in the proverbial shining armour and ALL of the Muslims are supposed to be monsters of evil and condemned to Hell simply due to their religion (although indeed, how graphically violent the battle scenes are being depicted, while delightfully realistic and authentic, this also and certainly makes Knight Crusader a novel that I personally would consider more young adult reading fare than middle grade, and with me actually considering Knight Crusader as being suitable for interested adult readers as well, for basically anyone from about the age of twelve or so onwards, but yes, one should be interested in historical fiction as a literary genre).
September 11, 2021
Born in the late 12th century in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, in Outremer - as the Christian realm established in the Holy Land by the knights of the First Crusade was known - Philip d'Aubigny was the son of a great baron, and had trained all of his life for warfare. Fighting against the forces of Saladin at the Battle of Hattin (1187 AD), he lost his father, and was taken captive. Escaping from Damascus after four years of servitude, he made his way westward with his friend and companion, Sir Gilbert d'Assailly, encountering the feared Order of Assassins, and eventually finding his way to Krak des Chevaliers, the stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller. From thence he made his way to Acre, where he joined Richard the Lionheart's campaign, as part of the Third Crusade, fighting alongside the English king in the Battle of Arsuf (1191 AD). When his path led him even further west, to England and Wales, Philip found that he still must fight, this time to retake his ancestral home in the Welsh Marches, Llanstephan Castle...
Originally published in 1954, and awarded the Carnegie Medal that year, Knight Crusader is a marvelously told work of historical fiction - instantly engrossing and consistently engaging. The historical setting is believably depicted, and the characters feel as if they truly live. This is definitely not one of those "historical" novels that feels like a contemporary tale dressed up in period costume, with characters whose outlook on life would be more appropriate today, then in the twelfth century. Rather, one feels as if Philip and all of the people he encounters, whether friend or foe, were people of their time. There is great violence in the story - it is, after all, a narrative of a warrior and his adventures - and this violence is depicted realistically, and often quite graphically, with no shying away from the brutal reality of the time and place in which the book is set. Similarly, these is prejudice - Philip's dislike of the Pullani, for instance: noblemen who were half Norman/Frankish, and half Middle-Eastern - and it is depicted realistically, without editorial comment. That said, the narrative also encourages the reader to consider how much more advanced the societies of the Middle East were, during this period of history, compared to their western counterparts, and the possibility of friendship across ethnic and religious lines is confirmed, through the sub-plot involving Philip's relationship with Jusuf Al-Hafiz and his father.
I finished Knight Crusader more rapidly than any other book I have read in the last few months, and I put it down with regret. So great was my enjoyment that I am thinking of tracking down a complete set of the "Carey Family Chronicles" that followed on from this initial tale. Highly recommended to all fans of historical fiction, both adult and juvenile. It is quite graphic at times, so I would only recommend it to children at the higher middle grade level and up - perhaps ten and older?
Originally published in 1954, and awarded the Carnegie Medal that year, Knight Crusader is a marvelously told work of historical fiction - instantly engrossing and consistently engaging. The historical setting is believably depicted, and the characters feel as if they truly live. This is definitely not one of those "historical" novels that feels like a contemporary tale dressed up in period costume, with characters whose outlook on life would be more appropriate today, then in the twelfth century. Rather, one feels as if Philip and all of the people he encounters, whether friend or foe, were people of their time. There is great violence in the story - it is, after all, a narrative of a warrior and his adventures - and this violence is depicted realistically, and often quite graphically, with no shying away from the brutal reality of the time and place in which the book is set. Similarly, these is prejudice - Philip's dislike of the Pullani, for instance: noblemen who were half Norman/Frankish, and half Middle-Eastern - and it is depicted realistically, without editorial comment. That said, the narrative also encourages the reader to consider how much more advanced the societies of the Middle East were, during this period of history, compared to their western counterparts, and the possibility of friendship across ethnic and religious lines is confirmed, through the sub-plot involving Philip's relationship with Jusuf Al-Hafiz and his father.
I finished Knight Crusader more rapidly than any other book I have read in the last few months, and I put it down with regret. So great was my enjoyment that I am thinking of tracking down a complete set of the "Carey Family Chronicles" that followed on from this initial tale. Highly recommended to all fans of historical fiction, both adult and juvenile. It is quite graphic at times, so I would only recommend it to children at the higher middle grade level and up - perhaps ten and older?
June 6, 2012
I had vague but fond childhood memories of a book about a young knight's adventures at the Crusades and in the Welsh Marches. The power of the internet! A quick Google and Essex Libraries' handy online reservation system led to my rediscovery of Knight Crusader.
Set in 12th century Jerusalem, Philip de Aubigny is a young squire in his father's castle, Blanche Garde. We follow his elevation to knighthood and the shock of ruthless battle against the army of Saladin. Written in the 1950s there is almost inevitably the occasional racist undertone, but overall Welch shows great respect for the Saracens, and the customs of the Middle East are portrayed as being far more advanced and civilised than those of medieval Europe.
As a geeky 9 year-old, I was fascinated to learn about armour and surcoats, helms and lances. As a geeky 40 year-old, I was far more aware of the absence of female characters, of the graphic but not gratuitous violence.
That this book stuck in my mind for over 30 years is testament to its quality as a damn good read! Although I had conflated it in my mind with Welch's The Gauntlet, so that one's next on the library reserved list.
Set in 12th century Jerusalem, Philip de Aubigny is a young squire in his father's castle, Blanche Garde. We follow his elevation to knighthood and the shock of ruthless battle against the army of Saladin. Written in the 1950s there is almost inevitably the occasional racist undertone, but overall Welch shows great respect for the Saracens, and the customs of the Middle East are portrayed as being far more advanced and civilised than those of medieval Europe.
As a geeky 9 year-old, I was fascinated to learn about armour and surcoats, helms and lances. As a geeky 40 year-old, I was far more aware of the absence of female characters, of the graphic but not gratuitous violence.
That this book stuck in my mind for over 30 years is testament to its quality as a damn good read! Although I had conflated it in my mind with Welch's The Gauntlet, so that one's next on the library reserved list.
April 13, 2013
If you want boys to grow up enjoying history and understanding the importance of knowing about their and others' history then this book is where you start.
Ronald Welch wrote a marvellous series of books about the Carey family taking in history from the Crusades to WWI and it's all good history. The stories are realistic adventures, the male MCs are young men with flaws and faults who grow up through their adventure and the books are great to read aloud at bedtime.
Knight Crusader takes the reader through the horrors of what a Crusade is really like and then how a Crusader used to the luxury life of the Outremer took to the bleak cold climate and drafty castles of England! There are villains and adventures a plenty before the first Carey settles in Wales and it really is a cracking good read. An adult wanting to catch up on British history would do well to read these novels. Anyone wanting a realistic look at life in Jerusalem before the 'infidels' overran it will learn a lot.
The books are being reprinted. I wish the publisher would get them into e-book format for those reluctant boy readers who love techy things.
Ronald Welch wrote a marvellous series of books about the Carey family taking in history from the Crusades to WWI and it's all good history. The stories are realistic adventures, the male MCs are young men with flaws and faults who grow up through their adventure and the books are great to read aloud at bedtime.
Knight Crusader takes the reader through the horrors of what a Crusade is really like and then how a Crusader used to the luxury life of the Outremer took to the bleak cold climate and drafty castles of England! There are villains and adventures a plenty before the first Carey settles in Wales and it really is a cracking good read. An adult wanting to catch up on British history would do well to read these novels. Anyone wanting a realistic look at life in Jerusalem before the 'infidels' overran it will learn a lot.
The books are being reprinted. I wish the publisher would get them into e-book format for those reluctant boy readers who love techy things.
April 24, 2012
One of my top three must read books. Though supposedly a 'children's' book, I have read it a number of times, and still find the characters superbly drawn. The dated portrait of Richard the Lionheart does not diminish it's readability even now.
April 21, 2017
Fantastic book about the Kingdom of Jerusalem! The crusaders during the time of Saladin is a fantastic setting for this very exciting story. This is the 3rd time I have read it through and it is just as engaging as when I first read it 11 years ago.
May 19, 2020
Grim but fascinating - sort of like an older version of Geoffrey Trease without the humor.
September 18, 2021
Great book that gets everything right - a main character with depth and complexity and enough (but not too many) named supporting characters for him to interact with; historical settings (including real figures); accurate details of the time and place provided in a logical, readable way; a story that is engaging from start to finish; and plenty of action (i.e., battles, combat, bloodshed).
The first third of the book is perhaps slower reading as we meet characters and get accustomed to the locale and predicament, but pretty soon we are on a roller coaster ride that doesn't let up until the last page. I appreciated how Welch divided the book into three distinct parts that keep things fresh. These are disconnected by place and time (one starts after a gap of four years). I feel like G. A. Henty telling the same story would have felt it necessary to write a continuous narrative, and we'd have a book three times as long with no gaps, but without much benefit.
The historical note is interesting, telling what aspects were based on real events and people.
Illustrations by William Stobbs are excellent. Wish there were more of them.
I look forward to reading the rest of the Carey Family series.
The first third of the book is perhaps slower reading as we meet characters and get accustomed to the locale and predicament, but pretty soon we are on a roller coaster ride that doesn't let up until the last page. I appreciated how Welch divided the book into three distinct parts that keep things fresh. These are disconnected by place and time (one starts after a gap of four years). I feel like G. A. Henty telling the same story would have felt it necessary to write a continuous narrative, and we'd have a book three times as long with no gaps, but without much benefit.
The historical note is interesting, telling what aspects were based on real events and people.
Illustrations by William Stobbs are excellent. Wish there were more of them.
I look forward to reading the rest of the Carey Family series.
July 15, 2019
I read an excerpt from this novel many years ago, in a children’s book which was basically a collection of excerpts from various famous children’s stories like CS Lewis’ ‘The Magician’s Nephew’. One excerpt from this collection still lingered in my mind many years later. It was taken from a children’s story about the Crusades and featured a daring escape from Damascus.
The reason I decided to search for and read the book from which this excerpt was taken was to revisit and better identify the traditional tropes used in historical fiction, which my own writing seeks to disrupt and reboot. I finally discovered that the book was called ‘Knight Crusader’ and won the Carnegie medal for the most outstanding children’s book back in the 50s. Just on this: it’s a book that is not light on details like the paraphernalia of war and the geography of Outremer, so it is amazing to think how well-read and literate children in the 1950s must have been when compared to today.
It is hardly surprising that the book earned wide critical acclaim at around the midpoint of the 20th Century, since in my view it has a fair few commendable qualities. The characters - most of whom are real historical protagonists - are easily identifiable throughout the book, despite them being many in number. As a historical novelist I can confirm that this is not a simple task for a writer to pull off, yet Welch managed it with apparent ease. Secondly, the historical setting chosen by Welch, which is the impermanent and curious Christian Kingdom of Outremer, is everything I think a historical novel should be: a juncture where different cultures clash, namely the warring Christians / Franks and the Arabs / Turks, with the odd subculture of the ‘Pullani’ and the Assassins also thrown in. In the first two thirds of this novel, Welch melds the cultural features and differences seamlessly into the narrative, so that the reader is never drowned in excessive detail or bogged down in unfamiliar phraseology.
However this book loses its first star for a number of reasons. Primarily for its inclusion of King Richard I of England two thirds of the way in, which I found to be largely meaningless. I’m not even sure that the inclusion of the Lionheart is of any relevance to readers from England either, since apart from a one-dimensional and terse scene in which he meets the novel’s protagonist Philip d’Aubigny (who obviously takes a liking to King Richard for no other reason than his terse disposition and inclination towards warfare) and a detailed description of the his victory against Saladin’s forces at Arsuf. Following this battle, the English King doesn’t feature at all in the remaining third of this novel, which shifts suddenly and inexplicably to England, without any account of the journey in between. Apart from emphasising the largely futile nature of the Lionheart’s triumph at Arsuf, this sudden shift also begs the question: would so much focus have been placed on King Richard had he not been English?
I think that this transition is a flaw from which the book never fully recovers. Up until Philip and Gilbert’s escape from Damascus and their encounter with the Assassins and eventual arrival at Krak, the book maintains a good blend of history and plot. Yet it subsequently seeks to stuff too much in, when I think the plot might have been better served if Philip and Gilbert had journeyed on to England from Krak, with an account provided about their inevitable adventures and misadventures along the way. The appearance of the Lionheart is entirely pointless in the story and the shift to England is too sudden and clumsy, and probably also a slap in the face of readers who expected an entire account about the Crusades, and not a story partly based on some petty dynastic struggle in Britain. Another quality of the book which grated at times, especially when seen through the lens of a modern-day reader’s expectations, is that it sorely lacks dialogue, so that large parts of it might as well be taken out of a non-fiction history book. I’m sure that a historical novelist, especially one writing for children, would not get away with that today.
In conclusion, and at the risk of sounding harsh, the novel lost its second star due to the inclusion of the word ‘safety valve’, which jarred so badly during my reading that I almost abandoned the book altogether. My research indicates that this word (or its equivalent) was certainly not used in the Middle Ages, with its first known use being recorded in 1744. Some might argue that this is only a children’s story and I would agree if other similar anachronisms were also scattered throughout the book. Yet this is clearly a glaring one-off oversight and a damning indictment of the publisher and the editorial team who worked on this book, so that the publisher should rush to swap this word with another one, even though I know that won’t happen. There’s also a couple of things that don’t follow, like this paragraph: ‘He wanted to brush away the sweat pouring down his nose, and the realisation that this was a impossible with a huge helm over his face made him grin.’ I am not entirely sure why this irritating state of affairs would have made the protagonist grin, but there you go.
The reason I decided to search for and read the book from which this excerpt was taken was to revisit and better identify the traditional tropes used in historical fiction, which my own writing seeks to disrupt and reboot. I finally discovered that the book was called ‘Knight Crusader’ and won the Carnegie medal for the most outstanding children’s book back in the 50s. Just on this: it’s a book that is not light on details like the paraphernalia of war and the geography of Outremer, so it is amazing to think how well-read and literate children in the 1950s must have been when compared to today.
It is hardly surprising that the book earned wide critical acclaim at around the midpoint of the 20th Century, since in my view it has a fair few commendable qualities. The characters - most of whom are real historical protagonists - are easily identifiable throughout the book, despite them being many in number. As a historical novelist I can confirm that this is not a simple task for a writer to pull off, yet Welch managed it with apparent ease. Secondly, the historical setting chosen by Welch, which is the impermanent and curious Christian Kingdom of Outremer, is everything I think a historical novel should be: a juncture where different cultures clash, namely the warring Christians / Franks and the Arabs / Turks, with the odd subculture of the ‘Pullani’ and the Assassins also thrown in. In the first two thirds of this novel, Welch melds the cultural features and differences seamlessly into the narrative, so that the reader is never drowned in excessive detail or bogged down in unfamiliar phraseology.
However this book loses its first star for a number of reasons. Primarily for its inclusion of King Richard I of England two thirds of the way in, which I found to be largely meaningless. I’m not even sure that the inclusion of the Lionheart is of any relevance to readers from England either, since apart from a one-dimensional and terse scene in which he meets the novel’s protagonist Philip d’Aubigny (who obviously takes a liking to King Richard for no other reason than his terse disposition and inclination towards warfare) and a detailed description of the his victory against Saladin’s forces at Arsuf. Following this battle, the English King doesn’t feature at all in the remaining third of this novel, which shifts suddenly and inexplicably to England, without any account of the journey in between. Apart from emphasising the largely futile nature of the Lionheart’s triumph at Arsuf, this sudden shift also begs the question: would so much focus have been placed on King Richard had he not been English?
I think that this transition is a flaw from which the book never fully recovers. Up until Philip and Gilbert’s escape from Damascus and their encounter with the Assassins and eventual arrival at Krak, the book maintains a good blend of history and plot. Yet it subsequently seeks to stuff too much in, when I think the plot might have been better served if Philip and Gilbert had journeyed on to England from Krak, with an account provided about their inevitable adventures and misadventures along the way. The appearance of the Lionheart is entirely pointless in the story and the shift to England is too sudden and clumsy, and probably also a slap in the face of readers who expected an entire account about the Crusades, and not a story partly based on some petty dynastic struggle in Britain. Another quality of the book which grated at times, especially when seen through the lens of a modern-day reader’s expectations, is that it sorely lacks dialogue, so that large parts of it might as well be taken out of a non-fiction history book. I’m sure that a historical novelist, especially one writing for children, would not get away with that today.
In conclusion, and at the risk of sounding harsh, the novel lost its second star due to the inclusion of the word ‘safety valve’, which jarred so badly during my reading that I almost abandoned the book altogether. My research indicates that this word (or its equivalent) was certainly not used in the Middle Ages, with its first known use being recorded in 1744. Some might argue that this is only a children’s story and I would agree if other similar anachronisms were also scattered throughout the book. Yet this is clearly a glaring one-off oversight and a damning indictment of the publisher and the editorial team who worked on this book, so that the publisher should rush to swap this word with another one, even though I know that won’t happen. There’s also a couple of things that don’t follow, like this paragraph: ‘He wanted to brush away the sweat pouring down his nose, and the realisation that this was a impossible with a huge helm over his face made him grin.’ I am not entirely sure why this irritating state of affairs would have made the protagonist grin, but there you go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2008
Fiction for young boys from Ronald Welch, the story of a young knight in Outremer at the time of the third crusade. I read all of Ronald Welch's books when I was young, I think they contributed very much to my love of history.
The details are pretty accurate and the overall history is too. Kind of like Henty, but from a later period.
The details are pretty accurate and the overall history is too. Kind of like Henty, but from a later period.
September 21, 2017
The first of the fantastic Carey novels. Establishes all that come to expect in this series. Worthy children's writing prize winner - wouldn't even get a nomination today
January 3, 2019
At first I found this book to be pretty boring and I didn't particularly want to read on, however as I turned more of it's pages and read the words that it had to offer, I started to enjoy it and was thrilled by the battles and thoroughly enjoyed it's story.
It is about a young squire called Philip D'aubigny who lives in Israel. He comes from a pretty high up family and has a rare amount of money. Although he lives in Israel, he is a Christian and Jerusalem the capital is owned by the muslims, meaning he must keep a good distance from the city.
War is coming though, and him and the other Christians must build a Crusader army on the city. All ends in peril though when Philip's father, cousin and uncle are killed. Things get even worse when him and his friend are both taken as servants and are put in different house in the city.
Escape is a devastating option but it seems necessary when a young knight gives him a message that the English and the French are building another crusader army and they want him and his friend Gilbert to fight.
They both small or the city, but are caught by assassins and are set free again but must kill whom they are asked to kill our they will be killed.
The second crusade is much more successful as they have Richard of England fighting along their side. Philip is one of the strongest fighters and is recognised worldwide for it. They make a truce with the muslims, the muslims can still have Jerusalem, but Christians can still live three and visit.
Phillip decides that he wants to live in England, I am old castle belonging to his family line. However the castle has been taken over, and Philip must stop them. With much success,he takes over the cattle and lives there.
It is about a young squire called Philip D'aubigny who lives in Israel. He comes from a pretty high up family and has a rare amount of money. Although he lives in Israel, he is a Christian and Jerusalem the capital is owned by the muslims, meaning he must keep a good distance from the city.
War is coming though, and him and the other Christians must build a Crusader army on the city. All ends in peril though when Philip's father, cousin and uncle are killed. Things get even worse when him and his friend are both taken as servants and are put in different house in the city.
Escape is a devastating option but it seems necessary when a young knight gives him a message that the English and the French are building another crusader army and they want him and his friend Gilbert to fight.
They both small or the city, but are caught by assassins and are set free again but must kill whom they are asked to kill our they will be killed.
The second crusade is much more successful as they have Richard of England fighting along their side. Philip is one of the strongest fighters and is recognised worldwide for it. They make a truce with the muslims, the muslims can still have Jerusalem, but Christians can still live three and visit.
Phillip decides that he wants to live in England, I am old castle belonging to his family line. However the castle has been taken over, and Philip must stop them. With much success,he takes over the cattle and lives there.
March 2, 2014
"Knight Crusader" by Ronald Welch won awards when it was first published in 1954. It is an excellent fictional story of a young knight who grows up in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the late 12th century. After almost a hundred years in the kingdom known as Outremer, the Christians who settled in the Holy Land after the success of the First Crusade are experiencing a serious threat from the Muslim forces united under the charismatic leadership of Saladin.
Philip D'Aubigny is our young hero, and a hero he becomes. He fights bravely at the disastrous battle of Hattin, which saw the destruction of the Christian army. He is then kept as captive of a benevolent Muslim scholar who is grateful to Philip for a good deed Philip had performed for his son. After four years of captivity, Philip escapes with his fellow knight Gilbert. They are captured again, this time by the cult of the Assassins. Finally Philip and Gilbert make their way to to a castle held by the Hospitalers. They join the army of Richard the Lionheart who is trying to restore the Christian kingdom. Finally Philip goes to his ancestral home in England to try to start a new life as a baron.
While the story is written for young readers, it does not talk down to them. The complicated story of Outremer is presented coherently. The Muslim characters are presented in a fair and even admirable light. Philip's life is necessarily violent, and the story does not shirk from presenting this violence. But it is also not sentimental. This would be an excellent novel for readers interested in learning about the Christian occupation of the Holy Land during the Crusades. It would be a good complement to the Ridley Scott movie "Kingdom of Heaven", which covers some of the same time period.
Philip D'Aubigny is our young hero, and a hero he becomes. He fights bravely at the disastrous battle of Hattin, which saw the destruction of the Christian army. He is then kept as captive of a benevolent Muslim scholar who is grateful to Philip for a good deed Philip had performed for his son. After four years of captivity, Philip escapes with his fellow knight Gilbert. They are captured again, this time by the cult of the Assassins. Finally Philip and Gilbert make their way to to a castle held by the Hospitalers. They join the army of Richard the Lionheart who is trying to restore the Christian kingdom. Finally Philip goes to his ancestral home in England to try to start a new life as a baron.
While the story is written for young readers, it does not talk down to them. The complicated story of Outremer is presented coherently. The Muslim characters are presented in a fair and even admirable light. Philip's life is necessarily violent, and the story does not shirk from presenting this violence. But it is also not sentimental. This would be an excellent novel for readers interested in learning about the Christian occupation of the Holy Land during the Crusades. It would be a good complement to the Ridley Scott movie "Kingdom of Heaven", which covers some of the same time period.
November 6, 2012
For nearly a hundred years, the Crusader kingdom of Outremer—carved from Muslim-held territory in 1099—has kept its tenuous grip on the Holy Land, ruled by kings from Jerusalem. But now as Philip D'Aubigny grows to manhood, mutters of war come from the east; the knights of Outremer dwindle away, and charismatic but incompetent King Guy of Lusignan appears ready to be swayed by any counsel. Then the great Saracen general Saladin attacks Outremer and besieges Tiberias, and the chivalry of Outremer muster to their final battle at Hattin.
Read the rest of my review at my blog, In Which I Read Vintage Novels
Read the rest of my review at my blog, In Which I Read Vintage Novels
November 18, 2014
I recently watched Kingdom of Heaven which got me thinking about a book I'd read and re-read in my school days about the crusades. After a little bit of google research I found it!
Even as an adult, I found it enjoyable and of a certain quality that's rare to find in books these days.
I was very glad and pleasantly surprised to see a balanced and somewhat accurate view of the Saracens. I also found the Old Man and the assassins fascinating.
A great book, brought back a lot of nostalgia. If you enjoy this book, you might enjoy watching the movie Kingdom of Heaven. Kingdom of Heaven is a thoughtful and entertaining movie, that reminds me very much of this book.
Even as an adult, I found it enjoyable and of a certain quality that's rare to find in books these days.
I was very glad and pleasantly surprised to see a balanced and somewhat accurate view of the Saracens. I also found the Old Man and the assassins fascinating.
A great book, brought back a lot of nostalgia. If you enjoy this book, you might enjoy watching the movie Kingdom of Heaven. Kingdom of Heaven is a thoughtful and entertaining movie, that reminds me very much of this book.
June 17, 2013
This book was tremendously important in my life as a child, and in my love of reading. It is a fictionalized story about a young noble in Outremer, the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, just before, during, and after the Third Crusade. It features a cast of historical characters such as Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, and the Old Man on the Mountain.
It was my first introduction to the Crusade period, Medieval History, Arabic Culture (which it is pretty supportive of for a book from 1954), and a host of other items.
It was my first introduction to the Crusade period, Medieval History, Arabic Culture (which it is pretty supportive of for a book from 1954), and a host of other items.
December 17, 2007
I loved this book as a kid and was delighted to receive a used copy as a birthday gift recently.
The author was a teacher or headmaster at an English school and set out to write a series of novels which were both entertaining and historically accurate.
With Knight Crusader and it's main character Philippe d'Aubigny I believe he succeeded admirably.
The author was a teacher or headmaster at an English school and set out to write a series of novels which were both entertaining and historically accurate.
With Knight Crusader and it's main character Philippe d'Aubigny I believe he succeeded admirably.
December 11, 2021
When I was 9 at Junior School in London, they decided to start a library. A book supplier brought a huge (so it seemed to me) collection of books. Each boy was allowed to pick one book for the collection, on condition that he read it: I chose "Knight Crusader". At a book fair, 55 years, later I saw a tired paperback copy of it and, for purely sentimental reasons, bought it. Earlier this year, talking with a fellow medieval re-enactor, the book came up and my contact had a copy too and he said he had re-read it several times. So, not having any new books waiting for me to read, I dug my copy out and gave it a go.
As a young boy I am sure I would have given it 5 *. Now, though, I can only give it 3 *. It still reads well and the story is interesting but the style is very much of its 1950s time. There are lots of "because in those days" and "as he was to find out later" bits in it, which made me roll my eyes. In addition the "dirty Europeans in the Middle Ages" syndrome is there in abundance, something that despite more recent research has proved to be a gross exaggeration.
One annoyance it shares with many modern books is the fact that it assumes everyone is speaking the same language, though Welch does acknowledge when people switch to Arabic. The European population of Outremer was of very mixed origin and even if they were French, there were huge dialect variations that made understanding someone with another French dialect hard to understand. It is possible that Latin or Greek would have been widely spoken as a neutral language, but I do like to know how the characters are communicating.
Still, it is still a decent read and it was reading this book as a young boy that caused me to ask my mother about Richard the Lion Heart and her giving me a history text book that started me onto serious reading.
As a young boy I am sure I would have given it 5 *. Now, though, I can only give it 3 *. It still reads well and the story is interesting but the style is very much of its 1950s time. There are lots of "because in those days" and "as he was to find out later" bits in it, which made me roll my eyes. In addition the "dirty Europeans in the Middle Ages" syndrome is there in abundance, something that despite more recent research has proved to be a gross exaggeration.
One annoyance it shares with many modern books is the fact that it assumes everyone is speaking the same language, though Welch does acknowledge when people switch to Arabic. The European population of Outremer was of very mixed origin and even if they were French, there were huge dialect variations that made understanding someone with another French dialect hard to understand. It is possible that Latin or Greek would have been widely spoken as a neutral language, but I do like to know how the characters are communicating.
Still, it is still a decent read and it was reading this book as a young boy that caused me to ask my mother about Richard the Lion Heart and her giving me a history text book that started me onto serious reading.
May 1, 2019
Knight Crusader is an enjoyable, if forgettable, story that follows the early life of Philip d’Aubigny from squire to knight, set against the backdrop of the third Crusades.
The novel begins with Philip as a squire, enjoying his rich life at his father’s castle in the Crusader kingdom of Outremer. Throughout the novel, he matures and develops as he experiences defeats and setbacks as well as triumphs, including the battles of Hattin and Arsuf. But, as he grows older, he becomes more and more drawn towards his ancestral lands in Wales…
I don’t know much about the Crusades, so I can’t really judge how accurate the history is. But, the setting feels authentic, even if the realism is lessened because it’s a children’s novel. One historical detail that I appreciated, for instance, was the contrast between the luxury of the East and the poorness of the West, a discrepancy which certainly was marked in the 12th and 13th centuries.
I enjoyed this light story, and I probably would have rated it five stars ten years ago, but the story and characters lacked the depth that would have made this a good read for adults as well as kids. Still, I’m intrigued enough to continue reading the Carey series, and I look forward to some of the historical eras that are of more interest to me.
The novel begins with Philip as a squire, enjoying his rich life at his father’s castle in the Crusader kingdom of Outremer. Throughout the novel, he matures and develops as he experiences defeats and setbacks as well as triumphs, including the battles of Hattin and Arsuf. But, as he grows older, he becomes more and more drawn towards his ancestral lands in Wales…
I don’t know much about the Crusades, so I can’t really judge how accurate the history is. But, the setting feels authentic, even if the realism is lessened because it’s a children’s novel. One historical detail that I appreciated, for instance, was the contrast between the luxury of the East and the poorness of the West, a discrepancy which certainly was marked in the 12th and 13th centuries.
I enjoyed this light story, and I probably would have rated it five stars ten years ago, but the story and characters lacked the depth that would have made this a good read for adults as well as kids. Still, I’m intrigued enough to continue reading the Carey series, and I look forward to some of the historical eras that are of more interest to me.
January 3, 2022
Philip D’Aubigny is a young Norman living in the Crusader Kingdoms at the time of Saladin’s rise to power. He takes part in the catastrophic battle of the Horns of Hattin, after which he is enslaved and becomes the secretary to the Muslim poet Usamah Ibn Munquidh, before escaping and joining the service of Richard the Lionheart.
A Carnegie Medal winner in 1954, Knight Crusader would not be published as a children’s book today because it would be regarded as eurocentric, chauvinistic and racist. But, of course, the point of view is that of a Norman Knight in the twelfth century filtered through the mind of a rather jingoistic but thoroughly knowledgeable nineteen-fifties school teacher.
If you can accept that, what you get is an old-fashioned, well-written historical adventure, full of incident and colour. What I particularly liked about it was the insight it gave me into the life of Outremer, as the Normans called their possessions in the Middle East. It’s not a world I knew very much about before reading this book but Ronald Welch succeeds in bringing it vividly to life.
A Carnegie Medal winner in 1954, Knight Crusader would not be published as a children’s book today because it would be regarded as eurocentric, chauvinistic and racist. But, of course, the point of view is that of a Norman Knight in the twelfth century filtered through the mind of a rather jingoistic but thoroughly knowledgeable nineteen-fifties school teacher.
If you can accept that, what you get is an old-fashioned, well-written historical adventure, full of incident and colour. What I particularly liked about it was the insight it gave me into the life of Outremer, as the Normans called their possessions in the Middle East. It’s not a world I knew very much about before reading this book but Ronald Welch succeeds in bringing it vividly to life.
March 15, 2022
If I had assumed this would be a watered-down-for-children historical novel I was soon corrected. There is as much bloodshed and mayhem as in any of the Richard Sharpe tales.
The series of books, of which this is the first, concerns the warrior Carey family who hale from Llansteffan castle, Carmarthenshire. The knight crusader is Philip D’Aubigny whose grandfather set sail for the Holy Land in the 12th century and brought up his son and grandson at Blanche Garde castle near Jerusalem. Philip is 19, about to become a knight and get involved with the real events of the battles against Saladin.
It’s very much a man’s world, women barely get a mention, whereas horses, armour, weapons and rufty-tuftiness are to the forefront. Philip is not spared danger, loss, capture and peril and his growing composure and steeliness is put fully to the test. Rousing stuff.
The series of books, of which this is the first, concerns the warrior Carey family who hale from Llansteffan castle, Carmarthenshire. The knight crusader is Philip D’Aubigny whose grandfather set sail for the Holy Land in the 12th century and brought up his son and grandson at Blanche Garde castle near Jerusalem. Philip is 19, about to become a knight and get involved with the real events of the battles against Saladin.
It’s very much a man’s world, women barely get a mention, whereas horses, armour, weapons and rufty-tuftiness are to the forefront. Philip is not spared danger, loss, capture and peril and his growing composure and steeliness is put fully to the test. Rousing stuff.
January 17, 2024
This was one of my favourite series of books way back when I was in Grade 5/6. When I started trying to find the author and series as an adult it took me a couple of decades to track them down. It was worth the effort.
Other reviews already give you a good run down of the story. I'll just say that book is still very readable and historical fiction seems to age well, probably because history doesn't change (although our understanding of it does). Without having checked in any detail, the historical events, places, people, and technology/equipment seem to be reasonably accurate. For example the Battle of Hattin was a real event, Guy of Lusignan was the king of Jerusalem, and the knights in armour fought with lances.
Looking forward, something I always loved about this series was how it follows the same family all the way from the Crusades through to WWI.
Other reviews already give you a good run down of the story. I'll just say that book is still very readable and historical fiction seems to age well, probably because history doesn't change (although our understanding of it does). Without having checked in any detail, the historical events, places, people, and technology/equipment seem to be reasonably accurate. For example the Battle of Hattin was a real event, Guy of Lusignan was the king of Jerusalem, and the knights in armour fought with lances.
Looking forward, something I always loved about this series was how it follows the same family all the way from the Crusades through to WWI.
August 20, 2018
Thanks to Goodreads I was able to identify and re-read this, which I'd loved as a boy. Historical fiction based on the events leading up to the third crusade. The 1950s era writing shows, but I really enjoyed it all the same. Really conveys a sense of life as a medieval knight.
December 5, 2022
Loved it. Why are most of Welch's books out of print (except for the lovely but expensive 'Slightly Foxed' editions)? Most young adult fiction is complete garbage now. This is historical fiction for younger people (but not only!) at its finest.
January 9, 2025
Amazing, maybe biased because I looooove historically accurate medieval fiction. But genuinely the attention to detail scratches just the right itch. Story is perhaps a bit too predictable but I love it nevertheless.
June 24, 2018
I thought it was really fun. Even though it probably is not 100% historically accurate as you have to take liberties with fiction I really liked how the politics worked in the world.
March 15, 2020
A gripping, action packed story that flings you into the searing heat of Outremer, through battles, friendships and truces and a final battle to secure our hero’s birthright. Brilliant.
September 13, 2020
A trip back in time, first read when young teen and amazing how images of illustratjons retained in minds eye. Enjoyable read with some insighhts on Crusade History.
January 19, 2021
Great read about a wonderful time in history.
July 7, 2021
A happy journey down memory lane. How the last fifty years have flown by. Good, boy's own stuff.
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