Review by Choice Review
When the assembled throng at Clermont heard the pope's call to hurry to the rescue of Jerusalem, they responded with the cry "Deus vult!" In Rubenstein's assessment, this was a signal that this was not to be a war like any other, but one fought by God's people against the forces of the Antichrist. There is nothing particularly new in this observation, but Rubenstein (Univ. of Tennessee) believes that modern historians have failed to appreciate how radical the religious motivations of many crusaders were--most importantly, that they were hoping not just to pray in Jerusalem, but to set in motion events that would lead to the Last Days. Apocalyptic beliefs did abound, and crusaders did experience extraordinary dreams, visions, and miracles, but not every reader will agree that Rubenstein has proved his case. The pope spoke often of Jerusalem, but only once of the apocalypse; on the other hand, there were Peter the Hermit and Peter Bartholomew. That said, Rubenstein has a thorough command of the sources, writes a page-turning story, and offers provocative insights into the personalities and motivations of both the crusade leaders and their followers. Summing Up: Recommended. Suitable for every readership level. W. L. Urban Monmouth College (IL)
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
The First Crusade, proclaimed by Pope Urban II in 1095, began two centuries of internecine warfare between Christian Franks and Muslim Saracens. It led to the opening of Western Europe to influences from the East, massive slaughter, and a legacy of suspicion and bitterness that endures today. The motivations behind the movement were many, including deep religiosity, adventure, and desire for plunder and acquisition of land. Rubenstein, associate professor of medieval history at the University of Tennessee, concentrates on the religious aspect, asserting that a near-hysterical sense of the impending apocalypse spurred commoner and noble alike to embark on the arduous journey to liberate the Holy Land. Rubenstein suggests that the intense sense of partaking in a monumental struggle of good versus evil accounts for the chronic atrocities committed against Jews, Muslims, and even some Christians as the crusaders moved to capture Jerusalem. This is a well-written account that relies on primary sources to describe one of the seminal episodes in world history.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The years 1096-1099 marked a major turning point in the history of the Western world as Christian crusaders began their march toward Jerusalem in a quest to regain the holy city of Jerusalem from the Muslim invaders. Eight more crusades would follow, but this first effort left an indelible imprint on the historical record. Rubenstein, associate professor of medieval history at the University of Tennessee and a MacArthur Fellow "genius," insists that students of the period miss its real essence when they apply the accepted historical method of stripping away the myths and focusing on empirically provable facts. The author instead gives us a rich harvest of legends and writings from the period, often apocalyptic in nature, that give us a keener insight into the minds of those who lived these tumultuous years. Rubenstein offers up a heady mix of soldiers and prophets, militants and supplicants, weaving it all into a wonderfully readable account that puts flesh on the story. A satisfying and highly recommended read in every respect. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Guibert de Nogent: Portrait of a Medieval Mind, 2002) examines chronicles from the 11th and 12th centuries, like the Gesta Francorum and the accounts of Raymond of Aguilers and Albert of Aachen. Like other historians, the divides participants into "popular" and "princely" components, led by Peter the Hermit on the one hand, and Norman and Frankish aristocrats on the other. Peter and his followers didn't make it, but on the way, those who took up the cross first massacred Jews in a variety of locales and then Christians in Hungary; then they attacked Constantinople and the Byzantine Emperor. The Emperor wanted to turn the crusaders against the Seljuk Turks, incoming invaders from Central Asia who were threatening the Byzantines from Central Anatolia, and succeeded to some extent. Unlike Anne-Marie Edd's Saladin (2011), Rubenstein does not try to compare the stories of the chronicles with the diplomatic and political record. He focuses more on the supernatural elements in play, as portents and omens, ghostly visitors and holy relics came together with the bestiality of the crusaders' bloodthirsty conduct. An engaging, cautionary account emphasizing the consequences of untrammeled irrationalism.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
