The Crusader

In this fresh, exuberant historical novel, Francisco is a troubled former knight who returns from the Crusades a broken man. Through the narration of Brother Lucas, the monk assigned to exorcise him, we learn of Francisco's travels to the Holy Land, the battles he fought in, the woman he loves, and the horrors he witnessed. I don't pretend to know a lot about history; I can't say if the historical aspects are "accurate" or not. This book does seem very well researched, though. No matter: the characters are interesting, the descriptions vivid, and the plot intricate and fast-paced. For all but the fanatical history buff, that should be enough to enjoy this gem of a novel.

This novel is a wonderful work of historical fiction. It is written so beautifully, I loved the "wording" from the time period "in the Year of Our Lord". The writing will take you back to the time of noble knights fighting for a Cause that they truly believed in as being honorable: God and the Christian faith. Francisco, the main character, is the most fascinating and sensitive hero you can imagine and hope for when reading a novel about chivalrous knights (even though he feels he is a failure, which makes him even more likeable). The way his character is written you will actually feel every emotion he encounters (heartbreak, fear, love) throughout his young life as he becomes a knight in the Crusades in order to bring peace to his dead brother's soul. I loved his character and that of his cousin who fights alongside him at the Crusades. I was almost brought to tears at their experiences together throughout this novel. He is a character you will never forget which speaks volumes about the author of this book, can't wait for his next one. I highly recommend this novel for the medieval lovers out there!

The Crusader gripped me from the first page. Eisner paints an incredibly vivid picture of a dark period in human history through his story of a 13th century knight, Francisco de Montcada. Eisner takes us on an engrossing journey through violence, war, romance and ultimately redemption. We enter this world through the eyes of a monk named Brother Lucas who has the daunting task of exorcising Francisco's demons. We then go back in time and learn through a sequence of events what brought Francisco, an ordinary man, to the brink of insanity. The character development and pace of the book are both top notch. I could not put it down. I came across this wonderful book by accident and am not usually a fan of historical fiction, but if all authors of this genre could tell a story as masterfully as Eisner then I would branch out more!

A fan of historical fiction, I consider Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" the standard of the genre from which all others are measured. I have searched for several years to find a book that approaches the flavor of Pressfield's work. With his first novel, Michael Alexander Eisner approaches that level. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the 'advanced praise' on the back cover supplied by Mr. Pressfield; he could not have picked a better book to endorse.Similar to "Gates," "The Crusader" is narrated through the eyes of another. A Cistercian monk is tasked with the exorcism of Francisco Montcada, a knight from the Spanish order Calatrava returning from his crusade "haunted by demons." As Francisco's confessor, the monk is taken on this adventure that begins with a detailed look at the training proferred by 'Uncle Ramon,' the leader of the Knights of Calatrava. Once trained, Francisco and 140 Knights of Calatrava embark on their journey to the Holy Land. Eisner takes us graphically through two major engagements, one a success, the other a dismal failure. Francisco ends up in The Citadel, the infamous Muslim prison you may remember from the opening scene in Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood." Ransomed, Francisco returns to Spain a broken man.The timeliness of "The Crusader" has an uncomfortable sense about it. As I journeyed with Francisco on his mission to recover the Holy Land from the infidels, the US mission in Afghanistan continued to surface in my mind. I perceived similarities between the Crusades and America's war on terror. Eisner writes often of the Muslim mentality, and it was too close for comfort. I cannot speak for the historical accuracy of "The Crusader." I have a strong sense that Eisner did his homework. With that conviction, I finished the novel (in short order as it was extremely difficult to put down) and felt that I had received a layman's education in an area of history and with events that I was previously only vaguely familiar with.Right or wrong, I often base my recommendations on whether or not I could see this novel unfold on the big screen. Frankly, as I wait for Michael Mann and George Clooney to pick up their pace with "Gates of Fire," I am anxious for someone to move forward with this novel and bring it to life. "The Crusader" was extremely interesting and fast-paced. Eisner does a fine job with his character development. Many I loved, others I hated. In the final analysis, if you, like I am, are a fan of historical fiction, you must read "The Crusader."

This is a wonderful book. Once I started reading it, I was hooked. It is the story of a young crusader, Francisco de Montcada, who returns from the experience so shattered that he cannot speak. It is told through the mouth of a monk named Lucas, which adds an intriguing level of complexity and texture to the narrative, as Lucas has his own conflicts and his own agenda.The Crusader works not only as an engaging story, but also as a meditation on the role of belief and the power of dialogue. This book would be a fantastic read any time, but it is particularly timely today: Francisco was one of the original crusaders against the unworthy "infidels" (back then Muslims in the Holy Land, today Americans). His leaders talked of glorious battles against unbelief, but he has his own complex reasons for fighting that have as much to do with his dead brother as with his religious convictions. The result is a richly drawn portrait of a young man caught up in an earlier movement that we might call fanatical.The pacing is perfect, the plot is powerful, and the characters fascinating. All this, and it succeeds on a deeper level, too. This truly is the thinking person's adventure story.