Birth of the Kingdom

Crusades Trilogy Series, Book 3

By: Jan Guillou

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 18 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In the final gripping volume of Jan Guillou's boundary-breaking Crusades Trilogy, exiled warrior Arnde Gotha returns home to Sweden, determined to liberate and unite his homeland in what promises to be his greatest trial yet.

Traveling from Saladin's sand-swept Holy Lands to the Scandinavian North, Arn's final adventure is a captivating historical narrative encompassing the struggle for honor, the quest for lost love, and the momentous clash of European and Middle Eastern cultures.

Fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, William Dietrich, and James Clavell will be enthralled by Jan Guillou's Birth of the Kingdom, the stunning and dramatic climax to a tale begun in The Road to Jerusalem and The Templar Knight, and a masterpiece of epic and magisterial historical fiction.

©2000 Jan Guillou; English translation 2010 by Steven T. Murray (P)2020 Tantor

Fantastic Series

A while back I purchased this series during a sale without knowing much about it. Once I started, I could not put them down. It just kept getting better. Beautifully woven storyline with unique historical elements. Has to be a top 5 series for me if not the best. Entertaining and well worth a credit. Fantastic.

excellent story and narrator

Fantastic series of books. The narrator is a easy to listen to and portrayed emotion so well without being overly animated. 5 stars for everything. I will listen to this series over and over again.

Great story

Great way to end the story. Much better than the movie. I really enjoyed it.

Good conclusion to an awesome Saga.

The slowest of the three books but it provides closure to all character arcs. Very much worth the read.

Great overall storyline

The narration was great and it finished the trilogy well. It was a well thought out story from start to finish.

Worth it!!

Saw the TV show first and went looking for the book set because it was that good.

The story of love, chivalry, and hope.

This story is beautiful and full of love and hope. It made me wonder more about the world history during medieval times.

most interesting and exciting trilogy

I love this author and style of writing. The characters were well developed and opened an era in history I have read little about.
From volume one through this last one, number three I was held captive to the story and loved every minute of listening. I recommend this trilogy.

phenomenal series!

Absolutely loved the story, the narrator, and the moral content. I highly recommend this series!

Lackluster story with a terrible ending to the “legendary” character

So I’ve been pretty critical on this series because I hate seeing so much wasted potential it’s truly painful. I’ve felt that the whole story was extremely rushed right from the beginning. The battle segments aren’t very thrilling and exciting they end just as fast as they begin and the build up to the very end is a big let down I felt.
One part that I genuinely was somewhat upset with the series was the missed opportunity the author had to showcase how truly remarkable the Knights Templar were during the medieval period. I truly think he would’ve hit gold if he would’ve dug deep and solely invested in the crusade period of history. Instead we got a little bit of Templar action and the rest of the time we got the politics of a fletching kingdom and a main character that somehow is magically the best at every single thing he does. Expect then the author decides to give the hero of the series the most pathetic end he possibly could’ve given him.
Overall not very good and was a huge disappointment for me. I ABSOLUTELY love the narrator Gildart Jackson who does a phenomenal job at anything he does! I hope someone like David Gilman can write an epic story of the Knights Templar after his legendary epic Master of War series is concluded. I think he is the man to do the Templars justice!