The Sword & the Scimitar: The Saga of the Crusades

by Ernle Bradford

For nearly two centuries, from 1096 until 1291, a tide of pilgrims, knights, men-at-arms, priests, traders and peasants swept from Western Europe to the Levant - Crusaders whose common aim was to recover the Holy Place of Christendom.

The Sword and the Scimitar is a saga of one of the most fanatical religious wars in world history. It is a story abounding with highly distinctive personalities - popes, saints, kings, sultans and heroes like Saladin and Richard Coeur de Lion, of the encounter of two great cultures and their cross-fertilization.

It tells of the three great Military Orders, the Knights Hospitaller of St John, the Teutonic Knights and the Knights Templar. It does not disguise the savagery that accompanied the capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders or the scenes of fire and carnage when the Kingdom of Jerusalem fell nearly two centuries later, and the markets of the East were so flooded with Christian slaves that a young Frankish woman might be sold for one silver coin.

Genres: History, Military History, Middle East, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford was a noted British historian specializing in the Mediterranean world and naval topics. Bradford was an enthusiastic sailor himself and spent almost thirty years sailing the Mediterranean, where many of his books are set. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II, finishing as the first Lieutenant of a destroyer. He did occasional broadcast work for the BBC, was a magazine editor, and wrote many books.

Reviews

[Angelo Mifsud · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads. A no holds barred description of the Crusades and the corruption, intrigue and the yearning for power in the middle east.

[Frosty Dog · Rating 2 out of 5]

First and foremost, I did not finish the book. I made it about 1/3 of the way through before I had to stop forcing myself to read it. It’s not bad writing style. It’s not that it’s not engaging. It’s that the information and the conclusions that are drawn are dated and not wholly accepted anymore. I totally understand how people could like this and how people that are looking to start reading about the crusades could enjoy it. It just wasn’t for me

[Jeroen Van de Crommenacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another history of the Crusade, and although it can't hold a candle to Runciman, it is not bad and gives a little additional flavor and color.

[Georgellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a novel. Enlightening look at the Crusades that includes all the players.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding! A great, well-written overview with just enough detail.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent history of the Crusades

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an overview of the Crusades that lasted from 1096 until 1291, this little book is an excellent primer on the subject.

I found myself a little disappointed in the way some events were 'glossed over' or 'marginalized' - and this is likely to be the case for anyone who has read up on the subject in any detail.

However, at times there were details I hadn't been aware of, and perspectives other authors (that I'd read on the subject) hadn't explored.

Beginning with the first Crusade and ending with the fall of Acre, at only 192 pages (including Index) this volume can only be expected to provide an outline of the political and military tides that dominated the times.

But it actually exceeds its limitations, and for any lay reader of Crusades history, is a 'keeper'.

Kerry Hennigan
Review 2 Sept 2015.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of things make more sense now. Stuff I didn't learn in school.