Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades

Arrived on time as described

Not being an expert in this area, I certainly cannot vouch for each and every fact and item the author has offered us. But I can state that this is quite a well written book and from what I can tell, well researched. I have taken the time to check of several of the facts the author has given us, and so far, have failed to find any fault. This is a fascinating story about a fascinating group of men during a rather important era in our history. We are still reaping the consequences from the actions taken in those days. To understand what is happening in the world today, I feel it is important to understand how we got here and this work sheds light on that subject. Like another reviewer here, I would also have appreciated more maps and certainly mor source references. Overall though, I found this work to be quite good, quite imformative and I feel very wothwhile. Highly recommend.

I have never read a more enlightening history than this one. In one medium sized book I have had a whole lot of conceptions and assumptions destroyed, and many questions and uncertainty have replaced them. This is simply the result of a very well written and informative book. I had always heard clues and hints about the "Knights Templar" but never understood the import of this military order. I had also never understood the plight of the crusader states, nor the politics of the era or the region in question until reading this book. The author's entertaining and comprehensive yet not overly detailed history has changed that shortcoming in a profound and I hope.....lasting fashion. Mistakes are documented as well as triumphs. Victories as well as defeats are recorded in detail. I have been in turn, inspired, disgusted, chagrined, and dismayed at events, tellingly portrayed by the author. I do fault the author in one area, poor (aka nonexistent) documentation of original sources. More maps would have been nice as well, however the history is still easy to follow along with a general knowledge of regional topography of the "Holy Lands". While there are maps included, none are regional, and they are only provided for a few battles. In conclusion, I highly recommend this book as an introduction to the history of the Templars, the crusades in the Holy Land, and the Crusader states (and their downfall) as well.

John Robinson does an excellent job of clearly documenting the Templar world. When he uses conjecture, he notes it. When he has the facts, he presents them in a very easy to read and well-informed manner. History has never been such a pleasure to read!

This book was well recommended by the other readers in this column. It is the saga of the Knights Templar, and their role in the crusades to restore christianity in the Holy Land. Ripe with facts that gets brutal at times, yet enlightening. This book shows the treachery of popes and nobles, to the gallant knights who vowed to give their lives to the order. All in all, a fascinating journey back in time to a place where honor reigned supreme among most men. And, Kings, clergy, and layman would fight to the end for their beliefs.

Although I have always been an avid reader of both fictional and non-fictional works, there has always been an easily discernable difference in the writing approach. This difference is especially evident in historical works. Fictional works are usually more apt to place the reader into a "you are there" state of mind. Reading a non-fictional historical account is most often "drier" reading, and the reader is constantly reminded of the chasm of time that stands between he and the time-frame of the subject.(sometimes, inadvertantly, by such things as footnotes). John J. Robinson's book on the crusades is no such work. Mr. Robinson made the decision to not include any footnotes. This lets one enjoy the work witout having his eys torn from one portion of a page and diverted to another. (Any further scholarly interest can be served by the endnotes and appendix.) Read the book as a novel, because it is a good read. Knights, champions, treachery, good and evil. All aspects of the period are covered. One of the best books I've ever read.