In Distant Lands
A Short History of the Crusades
Published: 2017
Publisher: Crux Publishing
Goodreads Rating: 4.1/5
About This Book
Lars Brownworth's In Distant Lands examines two centuries of the Crusades, from the First Crusade in 1095 to the fall of Acre in 1291. This concise history profiles the larger-than-life figures who shaped these epic campaigns—Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Frederick Barbarossa, and many others—while exploring the complex motivations that drove thousands to leave their homes for distant battlefields. Brownworth deftly navigates the political, religious, and cultural currents that made the Crusades one of history's most consequential encounters between East and West. This is essential reading for understanding a pivotal era that continues to resonate today.