Hledání svatého kříže

The Templar Series #1

by Tony McMahon

Román zavádí čtenáře do vzrušujícího období středověkých křížových výprav. O Vánocích roku 1144 bylo dobyto město Edessa, centrum prvního křižáckého státu. Přitom se do muslimských rukou dostal i vzácný relikviář s úlomkem dřeva z kříže, na němž zemřel Kristus. Anglický templář William z Mandevillu se po letech bojů ve Svaté zemi vrací do vlasti a dozvídá se, že jeho otec byl zabit při vzpouře proti králi Štěpánovi z Blois. Po mnoha peripetiích se William opět připojuje ke křížové výpravě a sehraje významnou úlohu při obléhání Lisabonu. Město nakonec padne, William získá zpět vzácnou relikvii a slavně přijíždí do Anglie. Podaří se mu uniknout z Toweru, kam ho dá uvrhnout zrádný bratr Geoffrey, a stává se novým hrabětem z Essexu.

Genres: Historical Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2015

About the author

Tony McMahon is a TV investigative historian appearing on Discovery, History, ITV, Channel 5, and other networks: https://tony-mcmahon.com/
His latest book is Downfall of the Templars: Guilty of Diabolic Magic? This is the second part of a trilogy of books on the Knights Templar.
He also wrote Jack the Ripper and Abraham Lincoln, published by Troubador - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-...
Tony co-authored the biography of 1980s pop star, Neville Staple, vocalist in The Specials and Fun Boy Three (publisher: Aurum Press): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Rud...
His biography of the black British boxer Errol Christie was shortlisted for two awards (publisher: Aurum Press): https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Hid...
The Battle for British Islam was co-authored with Dame Sara Khan - an analysis of Islamism in the UK reviewed on CNN, Sky, Channel 4, Sunday Times, etc (publisher: Saqi Books): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Briti...

Reviews

[David Blanar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my typical fare but there is a cracking good yarn here, wrapped up in a tale rooted in Middle Age historical fiction.

McMahon keeps the pace deliberately slow through the exposition, teeing up a mix of characters spanning continents and kingdoms, but it all comes together with a bang in the climax.

The set-piece action sequences are top-drawer and worth savouring, particularly as the author is an equal-opportunity sadist: no side emerges clean or un-bloodied from this campaign, with few heroes left in the wake of smouldering wreckage spanning multiple continents.

Recommended for its high-quality battles and its general ability to acknowledge that war has no winners.

[Adri Dosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kniha se stala předlohou pro seriál, ten úspěšný byl, ale kniha je hodnocena jako průměrná. U nás nikdy nevyšly všechny díly. Možná škoda, protože je to přece jen historický román, který dokumentuje pravdu. No ale ten jazyk jakým je napsaná je doopravdy těžký. A ne zrovna dobře se to čte. Nevadí vulgarismy, no ty k době patří.
Jinak to ale dost dobře poukazuje na dobu, na to jak se chovala církev. Jak byla hloupá a jak potlacovala vědění. Je to až směšné a děsivé zároveň. Ukazuje to na to jak to chodilo, k čemu potřebovali templáře a když už se jim nehodily do krámu.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn't for the faint of heart. Although with ISIS committing acts of savagery today, you might be deadened to such violence. The actors here are well developed and the writing is excellent. The storyline flows and I was happy to read this. You feel as if you're there.

[Russ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great read, my sort of story. Looking forward to more.

[Margaret Cross-Beliveau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately I lost the book, so I am unable to give it a review.

[Richard Tearle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir William de Mandeville is a Templar Knight sent home from the Holy Land in disgrace as he has been subject to 'demons' in his mind. A Syrian healer saves him from crude surgery to cure him and supplies him with drugs to stave off the demons.

Arriving back in England, he is ordered to the service of a vindictive old monk and learns that his father has died in dishonour and his brother is now the Earl of Essex, making life most unpleasant for his tenants with his sadistic ways. William also learns that a relic of the True Cross has been stolen from the Templar's care and has been taken to Portugal. William resolves that the only way to redeem both himself and his dead father is to recapture the relic and return it to England with the aid of his Syrian friend and a boy thief he saves from severe punishment. With these two companions, he travels through France and Spain before arriving in Portugal.

Its a decent enough tale, the battle scenes are well written and quite graphic whilst a large amount of research has clearly gone into its telling.

However, I never warmed to the main character: I found him naïve and rather fanciful in believing he could almost single handedly both find and steal back the relic with the city already in the hands of the Moors.

(for the Historical Novel Society)

[Catherine Boardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking Crusader novel. Handsome heroes, dastardly aristocrats, conniving clergy and top notch history.

[Ian Varty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read other books on the same subject that were more absorbing. I was a little let down by this one. I'm just glad it was a give away

[Brian Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need more conclusion

It was definitely a good read. I needed more closure on his unborn child and friend left in Portugal. Maybe a second book is in the works. Let's hope so.

[Bartell Keithley Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.
The author kept it moving, no real slow spots. Really enjoyed the characters and truism of history facts.