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A Booke of Days: A Journal of the Crusade
The journal of a French nobleman caught up in the greatest adventure of his day. Roger, Duke of Lunel, seeks atonement for past sins by embarking on a holy crusade which soon degenerates into a violent scuffle fought in heat and dust, and dogged by betrayal, deceit and greed.
528 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 1996
10 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Stephen J. Rivele
12 books7 followersAuthor of nine books; co-author of Oliver Stone's 'Nixon' (Academy Award nomination); Will Smith's 'Ali'; 'Copying Beethoven' with Ed Harris; 'Like Dandelion Dust' (Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper). Most recently completed a screenplay for Steven Spielberg; Miles Davis for Don Cheadle; Jacqueline Kennedy for River Road. Jonestown for Overbrook Entertainment. Vice, the memoirs of a former Compton police officer, to be published by St. Martin's Press in January, 2011.
He lives in Pasadena.
He lives in Pasadena.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 14, 2018
Una novela histórica que disfruté.
November 27, 2015
-Lleno de contradicciones, como supongo que estaban aquellos hombres en aquellos tiempos. Al menos, algunos de ellos, los más humanos.-
Género. Novela Histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. El duque Roger de Lunel escribe un diario para sus descendientes en el que cuenta cómo decidió unirse a la Primera Cruzada, cómo fue su viaje hasta Tierra Santa y su participación en el conflicto, mientras sus palabras expresan su opinión de los protagonistas del evento y sobre los cambios que va sufriendo su carácter mediante las experiencias que vivió.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
Género. Novela Histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. El duque Roger de Lunel escribe un diario para sus descendientes en el que cuenta cómo decidió unirse a la Primera Cruzada, cómo fue su viaje hasta Tierra Santa y su participación en el conflicto, mientras sus palabras expresan su opinión de los protagonistas del evento y sobre los cambios que va sufriendo su carácter mediante las experiencias que vivió.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
April 14, 2017
Es un libro entretenido , lo leí hace ya algunos años y lo que me resultó mas interesante de su lectura fue la forma en que describe la vida en el dia a dia del personaje durante la cruzada y como esa experiencia le va cambiando su forma de ver las cosas.
January 5, 2020
A journal kept by Duke Roger of Lunel, during his journey of the First Crusade. In 1096, Roger left his estate in Lunel, France to join with the Provencal army under Raymond of Gilles. The entries span the three years of the conquest, and follow the march through Italy, Byzantium and the Middle East to the ultimate goal of Jerusalem, and finally ends back in France. The entire novel is contained within the journal, aside from a brief pre- and post- script from the author, as well as some footnotes tossed in for historical clarification.
This has been languishing in my collection for many years. I get a bit apprehensive of historical fiction, assuming I will grow detail-glazed and skimmy by the time I reach the halfway point. A Booke of Days totally held my interest throughout, though. It is a well crafted blend of the larger (Crusade) journey and the personal journey of Sir Roger. It is a stark imagining of the conquest, giving an up-close view of violence, politics and religious fervor. Roger reveals the inner demons that prompted his own devotion to the quest, and we travel with him through his hopes, his questionings, his guilt, his theological insights and his defeats.
The whole thing is surprisingly engaging and obviously well researched. As a story on its own, I was well pleased with it, and learned much as I read. I totally empathized with Roger's flawed personal evolution. He was any easy character to become attached to.
If I think too hard on things, I begin to question how likely a character of Roger's enlightenment really would be at that time. And also I wonder : who actually records full conversations in their journal, word-for-word-like? Anyone actually?...but these are ultimately just fun thought exercises, in this case, and not detractors.
Well written and perfectly balanced. Good read.
This has been languishing in my collection for many years. I get a bit apprehensive of historical fiction, assuming I will grow detail-glazed and skimmy by the time I reach the halfway point. A Booke of Days totally held my interest throughout, though. It is a well crafted blend of the larger (Crusade) journey and the personal journey of Sir Roger. It is a stark imagining of the conquest, giving an up-close view of violence, politics and religious fervor. Roger reveals the inner demons that prompted his own devotion to the quest, and we travel with him through his hopes, his questionings, his guilt, his theological insights and his defeats.
The whole thing is surprisingly engaging and obviously well researched. As a story on its own, I was well pleased with it, and learned much as I read. I totally empathized with Roger's flawed personal evolution. He was any easy character to become attached to.
If I think too hard on things, I begin to question how likely a character of Roger's enlightenment really would be at that time. And also I wonder : who actually records full conversations in their journal, word-for-word-like? Anyone actually?...but these are ultimately just fun thought exercises, in this case, and not detractors.
Well written and perfectly balanced. Good read.
December 3, 2013
I'm not sure how historically accurate this is, but it was very entertaining. It did accurately point out that the Crusades was not just a religious conquest, but a political one. The protagonist's affairs with first a Jew, then a Muslim were interesting twists and ways to address those two religious groups and to also show correctly that the alliances in the early battles of the Crusades were not strictly between Christians and Muslims. Its a very creative, captivating way to write about a little known episode in Western history.
This is just a general rant: this Old English spelling nonsense has to end. No more "booke", "shoppe", "ye olde", etc. When my aunt gave me this book, I almost didn't read it just because of this corny title. The main character isn't even English for God's sake, and even if he were, he would have used a kind of English completely unrecognizable to us today, not 17th Century English which is what this title harkens back to. But this is just my own little pet peeve.
This is just a general rant: this Old English spelling nonsense has to end. No more "booke", "shoppe", "ye olde", etc. When my aunt gave me this book, I almost didn't read it just because of this corny title. The main character isn't even English for God's sake, and even if he were, he would have used a kind of English completely unrecognizable to us today, not 17th Century English which is what this title harkens back to. But this is just my own little pet peeve.
September 21, 2011
As a reader of much history and historical fiction, I was fascinated by this book. The story is related as the journal of Roger of Lunel,a duke of the Provence area of southern France.
His story evolves from his joining the First Crusade, and follows him through to the taking of Jerusalem, and home again, focusing on his growth as a man, and as a Crusader.
The story of the Crusades is not a pretty one. The story of this man's transformation is not always pretty, but is most effective.
His story evolves from his joining the First Crusade, and follows him through to the taking of Jerusalem, and home again, focusing on his growth as a man, and as a Crusader.
The story of the Crusades is not a pretty one. The story of this man's transformation is not always pretty, but is most effective.
April 14, 2017
Novela histórica sobre la primera Cruzada. Está muy bien escrita y refleja tanto la épica y la mística como las miserias de esta empresa humana. Los cambios que sufre el protagonista a medida que va teniendo nuevas experiencias están muy bien integrados y las descripciones de batallas y lugares están estupendas. Fácil de leer.
September 1, 2024
Falls das wirklich wahr sein sollte, dann ist das eine unglaubliche Geschichte gespickt von Wundern, die Roger von Lunel erlebt hat. Nicht nur stellt er seinen Glauben in einer Zeit in Frage, wo soetwas sofort zur Exkommunikation / Tod geführt hätte, sondern erscheint auch als Mensch sehr reflektiert. Man sollte niemals glauben, dass die Menschen in der Vergangenheit anders waren als wir heutzutage, sondern oftmals haargenau dieselben Empfindungen, Sorgen, Wünsche und Ängste haben.
Ich würde mir wünschen, dass dieses Buch verfilmt wird!
Ich würde mir wünschen, dass dieses Buch verfilmt wird!
September 16, 2022
Quizás una de las novelas históricas más humanas y emotivas que he leído. No solo te sumerge en una época apasionante e inspiradora, narrada con toda su crudeza, sino que el autor consigue que empatices con los sentimientos de su protagonista.
October 24, 2007
The book was a realistic view of the crusades and the motivations of people who participated in it and those with a political/church interest, focusing on the main character. The characters were not idealized, simplified, purely good or evil. The main character was sympathetic and likable without being perfect. Really good story.
July 23, 2021
Lo leí siendo un chavalin y me encantó. Luego lo releí un tiempo después. Me ha hecho ilusión verlo por aquí. 100% recomendado.
March 23, 2022
La Primera Cruzada narrada en primera persona. Muy bueno
October 11, 2021
"Booke of Days", published in 1996, is a work of fiction by Stephen Rivelle. It details the exploits of Duke Roger of Lunel from Provence, as he leaves everything behind to answer the call of Pope Urban II to "liberate" the Holy Lands through the First Crusade.
The Crusade was partly mounted for political reasons given the growing East-West schism of the Church. This mandated a show of force by the Latin Church to wrest control of the Holy Lands. The Crusade was not one Army but many coming together to fight for Christendom. All of them wanting to claim the spoils of war. As such, even within the Crusades, they frequently turned on one another.
Roger of Lunel, like many, embarked on the Crusade for indulgence, to compensate for a lifetime of sin - in his case, for murdering someone. For this, he marched over 4000km to Jerusalem - a journey that took them almost three years. The Middle Ages were brutish Hobbesian times. If an opposing village or town was caught in the path of the Crusades, it was likely to be pillaged and sacked, women raped and men beheaded. I think the Crusades must have been responsible for over 3m deaths. Along the way men deserted and died : in battle, of disease, of starvation and the cold. Probably only half the men that set out from Western Europe eventually reached Jerusalem.
History comes alive. If I were to visit the locations like Constantinople, Antioch, Tyre and Sidon - most of them in modern day Turkey and Syria, Lebanon and Israel, I will view them through a different lens. I have also started having an interest on medieval siege warfare and fortifications. It must be brutal climbing up a ladder to scale a wall when the enemy is throwing arrows, bolders and fire at you.
As a book, I wished it was not written in a journal form, for there was lots of random thoughts thrown in that made it longer than necessary. And as a lover of brevity, this book would be better served chopping 100 pages off.
Nevertheless, if anyone has a good book to recommend on medieval history - fiction or non fiction, I would love to receive it.
The Crusade was partly mounted for political reasons given the growing East-West schism of the Church. This mandated a show of force by the Latin Church to wrest control of the Holy Lands. The Crusade was not one Army but many coming together to fight for Christendom. All of them wanting to claim the spoils of war. As such, even within the Crusades, they frequently turned on one another.
Roger of Lunel, like many, embarked on the Crusade for indulgence, to compensate for a lifetime of sin - in his case, for murdering someone. For this, he marched over 4000km to Jerusalem - a journey that took them almost three years. The Middle Ages were brutish Hobbesian times. If an opposing village or town was caught in the path of the Crusades, it was likely to be pillaged and sacked, women raped and men beheaded. I think the Crusades must have been responsible for over 3m deaths. Along the way men deserted and died : in battle, of disease, of starvation and the cold. Probably only half the men that set out from Western Europe eventually reached Jerusalem.
History comes alive. If I were to visit the locations like Constantinople, Antioch, Tyre and Sidon - most of them in modern day Turkey and Syria, Lebanon and Israel, I will view them through a different lens. I have also started having an interest on medieval siege warfare and fortifications. It must be brutal climbing up a ladder to scale a wall when the enemy is throwing arrows, bolders and fire at you.
As a book, I wished it was not written in a journal form, for there was lots of random thoughts thrown in that made it longer than necessary. And as a lover of brevity, this book would be better served chopping 100 pages off.
Nevertheless, if anyone has a good book to recommend on medieval history - fiction or non fiction, I would love to receive it.
January 16, 2025
Relato sobre la peregrinación del caballero Rober de Lunnel en la primera cruzada, como parte del ejército provenzal del conde Raimundo de Tolosa.
La prerrogativa del libro es que este caballero escribió un diario de su peregrinación a tierra santa, y un milenio después este diario es encontrado en una iglesia de la localidad. No tengo claro si este documento existe realmente, pero le da un gran aliciente al libro.
En el relato veremos la marcha del ejército cruzado desde Provenza hacia Jerusalén, seremos testigos del sufrimiento y penurias que estos soldados cristianos soportaron, además de ver algunas de las atrocidades que cometieron contra las poblaciones locales. Sin embargo, el libro está lleno de la épica caballeresca de la edad media, con batallas, cargas de caballería, asedios a ciudades o asaltos a fortalezas. Finalmente veremos las intrigas que se producen en el bando cristiano conforme van conquistando los territorios que venían a liberar. Vemos como la idea de la tierra santa, se deja manipular por los nobles para acabar formando los reinos cruzados que se establecieron en palestina en esos años.
El libro para mí gusto es un imprescindible para todos los amantes de la edad media, de las cruzadas o de la historia del cristianismo.
La prerrogativa del libro es que este caballero escribió un diario de su peregrinación a tierra santa, y un milenio después este diario es encontrado en una iglesia de la localidad. No tengo claro si este documento existe realmente, pero le da un gran aliciente al libro.
En el relato veremos la marcha del ejército cruzado desde Provenza hacia Jerusalén, seremos testigos del sufrimiento y penurias que estos soldados cristianos soportaron, además de ver algunas de las atrocidades que cometieron contra las poblaciones locales. Sin embargo, el libro está lleno de la épica caballeresca de la edad media, con batallas, cargas de caballería, asedios a ciudades o asaltos a fortalezas. Finalmente veremos las intrigas que se producen en el bando cristiano conforme van conquistando los territorios que venían a liberar. Vemos como la idea de la tierra santa, se deja manipular por los nobles para acabar formando los reinos cruzados que se establecieron en palestina en esos años.
El libro para mí gusto es un imprescindible para todos los amantes de la edad media, de las cruzadas o de la historia del cristianismo.
November 25, 2025
leer este libro, ha sido como seguir, su argumento en una pantalla.
Destacó tres puntos de reflexión:
- Todos los libros cuyo argumento es la guerra, que he leído, quieren justificar el horror con el discurso, de la defensa de una Fe, pero la barbarie que escenifica siempre es la avaricia y el egoísmo sin límites ni limitaciones.
- Que en toda acción bélica las mujeres son ultrajadas, no importa el bando ni las creencias, todos tienen derecho a violarlas, esclavizarlas, asesinarlas....
- No existe la piedad de los vencedores, no es suficiente la sangre derramada en la contienda, se tienen que rematar, ancianos, niños, enfermos...
Está novela es magnífica, bien documentada y muy detallada.
Es fácil seguir su historia y darnos cuenta de que no aprendemos nada, solo heredamos el deseo de poseer, al precio que sea...Pero poseer? No tiene sentido, si para hacerlo destruimos tanto o más que lo que obtenemos.
Destacó tres puntos de reflexión:
- Todos los libros cuyo argumento es la guerra, que he leído, quieren justificar el horror con el discurso, de la defensa de una Fe, pero la barbarie que escenifica siempre es la avaricia y el egoísmo sin límites ni limitaciones.
- Que en toda acción bélica las mujeres son ultrajadas, no importa el bando ni las creencias, todos tienen derecho a violarlas, esclavizarlas, asesinarlas....
- No existe la piedad de los vencedores, no es suficiente la sangre derramada en la contienda, se tienen que rematar, ancianos, niños, enfermos...
Está novela es magnífica, bien documentada y muy detallada.
Es fácil seguir su historia y darnos cuenta de que no aprendemos nada, solo heredamos el deseo de poseer, al precio que sea...Pero poseer? No tiene sentido, si para hacerlo destruimos tanto o más que lo que obtenemos.
February 23, 2021
Rivelle leva-nos a viver, de forma cativante e intensa a 1ª cruzada.
Escrito com grande preocupação pelo rigor histórico deixa que seja o conde de Lunel, vassalo de Raimundo de Toulouse, a contar-nos as suas experiências desta missão religiosa. Descreve-nos de forma divertida as características das pessoas dos diferentes reinos que formaram esta cruzada: dos normandos, aos escoceses e galeses, passando pelos germanos. Mostra-nos as contradições existentes entre os cristãos ortodoxos e romanos e, mesmo entre estes as diferentes motivações que levaram a este empreendimento. É também descrita o encontro com as outras religiões, judaica e muçulmana e o encanto na verificação que, apesar de hereges, são pessoas também com elevados padrões morais o que coloca a questão do que é a justiça divina e o quem que Deus protege de facto, se a criança herege ou o cristão que a mata.
Escrito com grande preocupação pelo rigor histórico deixa que seja o conde de Lunel, vassalo de Raimundo de Toulouse, a contar-nos as suas experiências desta missão religiosa. Descreve-nos de forma divertida as características das pessoas dos diferentes reinos que formaram esta cruzada: dos normandos, aos escoceses e galeses, passando pelos germanos. Mostra-nos as contradições existentes entre os cristãos ortodoxos e romanos e, mesmo entre estes as diferentes motivações que levaram a este empreendimento. É também descrita o encontro com as outras religiões, judaica e muçulmana e o encanto na verificação que, apesar de hereges, são pessoas também com elevados padrões morais o que coloca a questão do que é a justiça divina e o quem que Deus protege de facto, se a criança herege ou o cristão que a mata.
March 29, 2023
A book of historical fiction about a French Lord that went on the first crusade to atone himself for all his sins!! At first, I found this book pointless. Yes, it is true, the Crusades did exist!! But how a bunch of men could think that a trip to Jerusalem could atone them of all their sins as they murdered, raped and plundered their way there, just goes to show how twisted religion yes. BUT as the story develops it takes an interesting turn. The main character, Roger of Lunel, starts out as a young, naive Lord with really no sense of the real world. He returns a sad, hardened man who realised the crusades were useless!!
This book, though fiction, is based on fact and a lot of the characters did exist. It’s written in the form of a memoir that is easy to read, but at times gets a bit tedious especially when the army is stuck at Antioch and it drones on a bit.
This book, though fiction, is based on fact and a lot of the characters did exist. It’s written in the form of a memoir that is easy to read, but at times gets a bit tedious especially when the army is stuck at Antioch and it drones on a bit.
March 22, 2025
Leí esta novela a los 16 años. La inmersión fue absoluta en aquel momento y al volver a ella años después el efecto fue el mismo. La narrativa es tan fluida que pronto estás enganchado a cada página.
Es realista de principio a fin. Y sí, el fin también lo es. Es, para mi, un perfecto reflejo del viaje de un caballero noble desde Francia a Jerusalén en la primera cruzada. Este viaje nos lo cuentan reflejando humanidad en el más amplio sentido de la palabra porque en modo diario, Roger, refleja cada día de la vida cotidiana en el año 1090. Tiene acción, epicidad, romance, humor y sobre todo te invita a reflexionar sobre la vida.
Si os gusta la Cruzadas y la caballería debéis leerlo sino os gusta pero le dais una oportunidad creo que os sorprenderá gratamente.
Es realista de principio a fin. Y sí, el fin también lo es. Es, para mi, un perfecto reflejo del viaje de un caballero noble desde Francia a Jerusalén en la primera cruzada. Este viaje nos lo cuentan reflejando humanidad en el más amplio sentido de la palabra porque en modo diario, Roger, refleja cada día de la vida cotidiana en el año 1090. Tiene acción, epicidad, romance, humor y sobre todo te invita a reflexionar sobre la vida.
Si os gusta la Cruzadas y la caballería debéis leerlo sino os gusta pero le dais una oportunidad creo que os sorprenderá gratamente.
September 10, 2024
Maybe 3 stars is a bit harsh but about a third of the way through I almost gave it away. But the story grew from there and gave a good account of the reality and harshness of a long military march, the reality of trying to feed an army on the move and the brutality of men in war.
I did not like the surprise of who his man servant was, it seemed a little ridiculous to me, but I was pleased the ending was not a happy one all wrapped up with a bow, we are left to ponder the affect of war on a man's soul. So some parts were excellent, the history factor interesting and I made it to the end which, as mentioned earlier, nearly did not happen.
I did not like the surprise of who his man servant was, it seemed a little ridiculous to me, but I was pleased the ending was not a happy one all wrapped up with a bow, we are left to ponder the affect of war on a man's soul. So some parts were excellent, the history factor interesting and I made it to the end which, as mentioned earlier, nearly did not happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
I picked this book from a bookstore shelf more than a decade ago, and since then I've read my tattered copy many, many times.
Although a fictional journal of a crusader, Mr. Rivele is extremely adroit with historical evidence, threading it carefully among the imaginary events of his story. His characters are alive and not only jump out of the page but stay with you forever. One truly feels as if one was reading an actual document from the XI century, and despite all the times I've read it, the prose never feels jaded, the story never loses its appeal.
If you're interested in the Crusades and Medieval studies (although from a fictional perspective), I highly recommend this novel.
Although a fictional journal of a crusader, Mr. Rivele is extremely adroit with historical evidence, threading it carefully among the imaginary events of his story. His characters are alive and not only jump out of the page but stay with you forever. One truly feels as if one was reading an actual document from the XI century, and despite all the times I've read it, the prose never feels jaded, the story never loses its appeal.
If you're interested in the Crusades and Medieval studies (although from a fictional perspective), I highly recommend this novel.
October 27, 2022
Novela histórica con rigor. Basado en libros de la época , en acontecimientos así como personajes reales. Muy estudiado su desarrollo.
Narra el día a día del protagonista durante su periplo. Hace pensar y describe citas de realidad con las dudas que aquellas personas al igual que hoy en día podemos tener nosotros.
Se sobrelleva bien la novela puesto que al tratarse de jn “diario “ es fácil su seguimiento.
Recomendable siempre y cuando te guste la novela histórica.
Narra el día a día del protagonista durante su periplo. Hace pensar y describe citas de realidad con las dudas que aquellas personas al igual que hoy en día podemos tener nosotros.
Se sobrelleva bien la novela puesto que al tratarse de jn “diario “ es fácil su seguimiento.
Recomendable siempre y cuando te guste la novela histórica.
January 27, 2018
Ultimately this is a disappointing story, despite the promising premise of the “discovery” of the diary of a French Duke from the First Crusade of the late-11th century. It’s a novel in which the savagery and confusion of the era were well-drawn but the characters and attitudes were anachronistic, the plot implausible and banal and the dialogue very stilted.
April 3, 2020
i read this book many many years ago in my youth and it made quite an impression.
this was the 1st book that i read of the crusades and knights.
quite an epic adventure of roger as he joins the 1st crusades
entertaining historical fiction
this was the 1st book that i read of the crusades and knights.
quite an epic adventure of roger as he joins the 1st crusades
entertaining historical fiction
September 1, 2018
Great book. Epic tale with a lot of history. I first read this about 15 years ago and felt like reading it again. Had to buy second hand on ebay because it’s not in print anymore or on kindle, etc.
September 3, 2018
One of my all time favorites. Gritty with a capital grrrr!
September 15, 2018
A novel that teaches you plenty about the crusades, very enjoyable and informative
January 1, 2020
this kind of book isn't usually my thing, but i enjoyed it. its structuring as a journal was clever. the mansour reveal was iconic. would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
I'm not usually into historical reads but this was super entertaining! Loved the way the book was written, like a daily journal. Really good read.
September 28, 2021
For those who love a good adventure story, this book will fit the bill. Fair warning though, it’s brutal in some places so be forewarned. All in all, a great read!
January 16, 2024
Aventura medieval en puro estado
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