• The Crusades

  • The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
  • By: Thomas Asbridge
  • Narrated by: Derek Perkins
  • Length: 25 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,850 ratings)

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The Crusades

By: Thomas Asbridge
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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Publisher's summary

The Crusades is an authoritative, accessible single-volume history of the brutal struggle for the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. Thomas Asbridge - a renowned historian who writes with "maximum vividness" (Joan Acocella, The New Yorker) - covers the years 1095 to 1291 in this big, ambitious, listenable account of one of the most fascinating periods in history. From Richard the Lionheart to the mighty Saladin, from the emperors of Byzantium to the Knights Templar, Asbridge's book is a magnificent epic of holy war between the Christian and Islamic worlds, full of adventure, intrigue, and sweeping grandeur.

©2010 Thomas Asbridged (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Derek Perkins is, as always, a matchless narrator. One could relish this production entirely for the music of his pronunciation." ( AudioFile)

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What listeners say about The Crusades

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great book, not taking sides,

great book, loved it, good presentation, draws from both views, the Arabs and the Franks

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7 people found this helpful

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Extremely Informative and Detailed

Having nothing beyond a very cursory knowledge of the Crusades I went into this book with high hopes. Thomas Asbridge's method of not only describing the battles and conflicts at the time in vivid detail but the way he weaved in the political, religious, and socioeconomic influences of the time made this a very enjoyable and understandable read.

Highly recommended

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent book. Very informative

This is a very thorough and informative examination of the crusades. It looks at both sides fairly amd does not paint one side as good and the other as bad. Well worth the listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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Great!

This book is very informative and balanced. It takes on the perspectives of both sides of these wars.

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1 person found this helpful

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Fantastic overview of the Crusades

A refreshingly well balanced overview of the crusades. Meticulously researched and put together. It was fun and informative to listen to. As a history enthusiast it filled in the gaps for me for a part of history that is full of religious fervor and attempts vilify one side or the other.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very thorough

I picked this audio book because this period of history was one of my weaker areas. It's not anymore. This will make you want to visit the Levant!

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    4 out of 5 stars

A little to long for an audio book.

Almost too. much information. Chapters are too long to read in available time, which I seldom had.

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Fascinating

This book explores one of the most important events of the Middle Ages and is beautifully written.

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fascinating! I love the way the author writes

a fun way to read about such a complicated story. when the book was done, I was bummed.
wanted more.

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Excellent overview

A broad and enlightened history of the crusades. The epilogue is timely even when written prior to the rise of ISIS and its ideology.

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