The Last Duel

A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France

By: Eric Jager

Narrated by: Robert Glenister

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

“A taut page-turner with all the hallmarks of a good historical thriller.” (Orlando Sentinel)

The gripping true story of the “duel to end all duels” in medieval France that pits a knight against a squire accused of violating the knight’s beautiful young wife, soon to be a major motion picture with Ridley Scott directing stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer.

In the midst of the devastating Hundred Years’ War between France and England, Jean de Carrouges, a Norman knight, fresh from combat in Scotland finds his wife, Marguerite, accusing squire Jacques Le Gris of brutally raping her. A deadlocked court decrees a “trial by combat” that also leaves Marguerite’s fate in the balance. For if her husband loses the duel, she will be put to death as a false accuser.

While enemy troops pillage the land, and rebellion and plague threaten the lives of all, Carrouges and Le Gris meet in full armor on a walled field in Paris. What follows is a fierce duel before a massive crowd that includes the teenage King Charles VI, during which both combatants are wounded - but only one fatally.

Based on extensive research in Normandy and Paris, The Last Duel brings to life a colorful, turbulent age and three unforgettable characters caught in a fatal triangle of crime, scandal, and revenge. The Last Duel is at once a moving human drama, a captivating detective story, and an engrossing work of historical intrigue with themes that echo powerfully centuries later.

©2004 Eric Jager (P)2020 Eric Jager

Critic reviews

"Jager spins a complicated and sanguinary tale with the skill of an accomplished thriller author.... Sex, savagery, and high-level political maneuvers energize a splendid piece of popular history.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Succeeds brilliantly in combining page-turning intensity with eye-opening insights into the bizarre ritual of judicial combat in the Middle Ages.” (The Times, London)

"Riveting.” (Publishers Weekly)

“As enthralling and engrossing as any...high-profile celebrity scandal today.” (Booklist)

History or Fiction, It’s a Story Well Told

This book combines the known history with a plausible dramatic story that’s very entertaining and thoroughly immersive. The author then follows up by disclosing a broad spectrum of perspectives on the core story, and some of the reasoning behind them. The result is that it makes me want to delve even deeper into the history, and that’s everything I look for in good historical fiction. I only wish I could find more like this.

Fantastic read!

Great book! The story picks up quickly and I had a hard time putting it down. Quick read. Can't wait for the movie now!

Awesome nonfiction, historic narrative

One of the best nonfiction accounts of an historic event I’ve ever heard. The Last Dual movie doesn’t come close to explaining the events in this incredible but true story from medieval France. Eric Jager fairly explains all elements of the events that led to a heinous crime and the even more astonishing events that took place in the wake of that crime. Listen or read. Do not skip the epilogue or appendix!

fantastic historical drama at its best

very good historical drama painting the personal struggles of a knight and his wife in medieval france

Captivating story of medieval French justice

Epic true story of trial by combat. Set in the court of crazy King Charles VI of France before the delusions. Definitely looking forward to seeing the movie.

Good information but biased

This is historical story and there truly is no way to know exactly what happened. It is different than the movie. The author admits pretty much he's biased to Legris was guilty. But many things don't add up. Why was the wife left alone when orders were for her not to be? How did Legris know to show up exactly at that time. Legris went to his grave denying it which in those days was a pretty serious thing as they literally believed they'd go to hell for lying. Yet Legis claimed his innocence before the death blow. I have to wonder if Jean did not force his wife to make the accusations after finding out about an affair? Even after Legris was killed Jean continued to try to sue Legris estate. All Jean wanted was money. Bad time to be a woman either way. You were property! Jean risked a horrible death for his bride, evidently for his ego. It was obvious in the book indeed, he got lucky that Legris fell. Anyway, if you like history it's interesting. But so much is heresay.

Another fabulous retelling of medieval crime

I had read and profoundly enjoyed "Blood Royal", by E. Jager, but only chanced upon this book due to the recent movie adaptation and decided to give it a go on the strength of the author's other book.

I needn't have worried. The book is fantastic. I was glued to my phone for an entire Sunday until I finished it in one sitting. The story is meticulously researched as expected, based on contemporary 14th century chronicles and court records. The author manages to reconstruct the lives of the three main characters with considerable detail considering the intervening 750 years, and the retelling of both the crime and the duel is quite disturbing as they are described basically blow by blow. Even more interesting is the examination of the workings of the wheel of medieval justice, instance by instance, with its arrest and interrogation of witnesses, the hearings, the writs presented by the parties and the elaborate ritual and practical logistics of the organization of the duel.

The story is also very well set in its larger context of court politics and warfare, between the Hundred Years War and the Nicopolis crusade, giving a fascinating glimpse of how the lives of even the minor nobility was intertwined with the fate of king, country and the larger world. Characters whose lives and interests should have revolved essentially among the villages of Normandy turn up in Paris, in Scotland, in England and even Greece and the Balkans during the course of the story.

The narrator is very good and sets an excellent pace. I can only fault him for his pronunciation of names and places which, between the English accent and the medieval French, is sometimes a bit haphazard. Otherwise I have no complaint.

I'm very happy I picked up this audiobook and I'm considering purchasing a physical copy for my library for future reference. And I will definitely be looking out for any future publication of this author.

Fantastic

This was a great read. I’m enthralled by the story and the events that took place. I throughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing the movie coming out. To see how close the story told on screen is to the book.

Be transported

What an amazing story, story telling and presentation. And …. It is a true story! Wow.

interesting story

this is a well written account of an interesting piece of European history. Very fitting voice acting and music