The Templars

Rehashed history of the crusades rather than any insight into the templers. Very little about the templers themselves, who they were, why they were so effective both on the battlefield or in banking, why and how they had such an amazing rise and fall. A real disappointment as like dan jones as an author but this feels like he needed to get the next book out to pay the mortgage rather than a labour of love or any new insight.

Had my doubts about both the author (being a well-known media figure) and the content - with the Templars being a chewed-out topic by, as the writer calls it, a coterie of Templar and conspiracy theorists.But I was not disappointed. Dan Jones actually has a very captivating writing style, a not overly academic prose that is quite accessible. He has risen very high in my regard as an historian - still I struggle watching him as a tv-personality.The story is very well structured and presented from original, appealing angles. The crusades, fascinating stories in themselves, are mostly put aside to focus in the formation and rise of the order.Outside of a chapter in Templar in pop culture, there is no room for the popular myths of the Templars, which is just as well as the Templars as an institute were already a spectacular story worthy of being told as it was.Most was illustrated by very clear maps. However with books as these I can’t stress my desire enough to have more graphs of timelines, dress and military manoeuvres ect. as often a picture tells more than a couple of pages of text (and not just grouped in a few middle pages of the book). But it seems to remain a academic taboo to illustrate books and to make them more accessible.

I am around a third of the way through and enjoying this book immensely. As an historian I don't find it is talking down to me, and it would clearly be easily accessible to a non or amateur historian. I like the level of source use, from both the Christian and Muslim point of view. History books can be dry, and as Medieval books are now just bedtime reading rather than professional, this fits the bill nicely, informative and in depth but not dry. Suitably anecdotal and my preferred layout: chronological. The boy knows his stuff, and I like the fact that he does not make unsupported judgements, my pet hate.

This is an honest and unbiased account of the Templars, their rise to power during the Crusades, and their downfall. There is a wealth of information, and would certainly be suitable for any student of early middle-eastern history. However, I did not find it as easy to read as his other books, and at times the wealth of information became tedious. I am afraid for that reason I can only give it 3 stars.

Theses are fantastic quality and the price is less than £10 for all. I put tape on and made sure I cooled the bit with water. A ver happy customer. Thank you