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Knights of the Black and White Book One: Bk. 1 [Paperback]

Jack Whyte
2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
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Book Description

1 Oct 2007

The exciting first book in a brand new fictional trilogy about the most important events in the history of the Order of the Knights Templar.

The Templars represent a widely popular period of history, but the roots of their fellowship have been shrouded in contemporary conspiracy theory and media glamour….this trilogy tells the true tales of the Knights Templar; beginning with why they formed after the First Crusade and why they continued to grow in power and influence.

Immediately after the deliverance of Jerusalem, the Crusaders, considering their vow fulfilled, drifted back to their homes. But some considered that the defence of this precarious conquest, surrounded as it was by Mohammedan neighbours, still remained. In 1118, during the reign of Baldwin II, Hugues de Payens, a knight of Champagne, and eight of his companions bound themselves by a perpetual vow, taken in the presence of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to defend the Christian kingdom and all god fearing pilgrims who wished to visit the Holy Land. Baldwin accepted their services and assigned them a portion of his palace, adjoining the temple of the city; hence their title "pauvres chevaliers du temple" (Poor Knights of the Temple).


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Knights of the Black and White Book One: Bk. 1 + Standard of Honour + Order In Chaos (Templar Trilogy 3)
Price For All Three: £17.17

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Product details

  • Paperback: 560 pages
  • Publisher: Harper; paperback / softback edition (1 Oct 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 000720745X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007207459
  • Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 19.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 132,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

About the Author

Jack Whyte was born and raised in Scotland, and educated in England and France. He migrated to Canada from the UK, in 1967, as a teacher of High School English, but he only taught for a year before starting to work as a professional singer, musician, actor and entertainer. In the early 1970s, Whyte researched, wrote, directed and appeared in a one man show based on the life and times of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet.
Whyte's interest in the history of Britain springs from his early Classical education in Scotland during the 1950s, and he has pursued his fascination with those times ever since. Whyte is married, with five adult children, and lives in British Columbia, Canada.


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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Hard work 1 Aug 2008
Format:Paperback
I'm afraid I have to agree with the general concensus, whilst the majority of my reading is based around either the crusades or the great war, I found this book almost impossible, long winded, confused and in parts well boring I'm afraid. Reading the blurb I took to this book with great hopes of the forthcoming series only to be sadly disappointed. As pointed out in an earlier review, how can you cover the siege of Antioch in 2 pages? That alone should speak a story.

Pity, but I won't be bothering with Standard of Honour
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The First Book in a Trilogy 15 Jan 2008
By J. Chippindale TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Jack Whyte was born and raised in Scotland, but has lived in Canada for the last forty odd years. He is the author of several novels and this book is the first in a trilogy about probably the most famous Order of knights, ever to come through the pages of history, the Knights Templar.

Although the books are a work of fiction they are based solely on the truth as we know it about the Order. Why they were formed after the First Crusade and why they continued to grow, both in power and influence from their small beginnings as escorts for pilgrims traveling through the Holy Land. These knights began from lowly beginnings becoming one of the most powerful and richest bodies in Europe, until finally the French King ordered them to disband. Burning their leader at the stake and sending many of those who managed to avoid punishment, into exile

This first book in the trilogy starts at the beginning of their history and the author blends the historical truth with his own powers of story telling until they are entwined as one single entity. He weaves a magical tale of hardship, chivalry, jealousy and much more. It is all their with the backdrop of the 12th century Holy Land. It is a story well worth reading and I am now eagerly awaiting the second book Standard of Honour which is due out early in 2008.
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14 of 18 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Not interesting enough 21 Dec 2007
Format:Paperback
I never thought it would be possible to write a book about the Knights Templar and manage to bore your reader; however, this is what Jack Whyte has succeeded in doing. It's taken me nearly two weeks to read the first 100-odd pages of this book, which is highly unusual, and generally signifies that I have no enthusiasm for it.

The basic premise is fine - a trilogy of books about the history of the Knights Templar. I didn't even mind that Whyte decided to include some spurious esotericism which appears to be loosely based (or closely based, but I really didn't care that much) on the "theory" behind "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" (and therefore "The Da Vinci Code") - if he thinks that will sell more copies, fair enough.

But I have failed to connect with a single character in the book so far; the "secret" rituals and rites are really quite impenetrable, muddled and, I think, probably not very well thought out. He completely misses out the siege of Antioch, covering it in about 2 pages of a character's reflection; and he is plainly wrong about the way in which the Crusaders were received and treated when they reached Constantinople.

Over all, Whyte would have been better cutting out all the esoteric nonsense and writing a straight history of the First Crusade and the subsequent foundation of the Order. That way he might have written the sort of book that the Templars deserve!
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars A Huge Pain. 2 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
I had high hopes for this book, but it's a let-down; another naive, unliterary novel heavily reliant on works of Templarist pseudo-hostory. The story is turgid and boring and the characters get less interesting and believable as the book drags on. The experiences just aren't real, nor are the reactions. (Hugh hardly bats an eyelid as he learns of death of his father and sister in the course of one conversation). One grows increasingly exasperated with the lack of vivid action and all the clumsy post-event explanations forced into some very unnatural-sounding conversations. All this chewing of the fat!

The book also includes numerous annoying historical errors- and we are talking basic stuff. For example Hugh stops at Valletta in Malta, even though Valletta was not founded until nearly 500 years later. Janissaries are mentioned, when they wouldn't come into being for almost 300 years. The parts concerning the passage of the First Crusade are particularly weak. Also the motivation of the crusaders is rather misrepresented. They are accused, for example, of rape and excusing all their crimes of lust as God's Will. Stephen of Blois is described as being with the Crusaders at the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, even though he actually abandoned the crusade at Antioch and went home a year previously! The slaughter in Jerusalem is grossly exaggerated and the point is belaboured ad nauseum. The impression is given, too, that the crusaders engaged in cannibalism on a fairly routine basis from the offset, whereas infect only one isolated incident is known, when starving troops went crazy at Marrat. The author has taken the most sordid and extreme events and made them the norm- even before the soldiers of Christ were out of their home counties this writer has them eating people!
... Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking 7 April 2013
By ANDY
Format:Kindle Edition
I am in no way a religious person but I know many people who are. The topics covered in this book certainly made me stop and think about the Christian church and the foundations that it is built upon.
Allied to the religious explorations within the book, for a history buff such as myself, the story brings vividly to life a very intriguing time in the history of the western world - exploring in detail the events that led to 'Christians' embarking upon their first holy 'crusade' - decisions that still have repercussions to this very day.

Great book - Cannot wait to get into the second in the trilogy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Another book
This is another book in a trilogy which I am looking forward to reading. It is part of astudy of the Templar society.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. G. M. Ashley
1.0 out of 5 stars Oh dear
Essentially this isn't a well written book. I'm A bit of a geek when it comes to mediaeval history but that's not to say I don't mind a bit of poetic license get it the way of a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jen Jen
2.0 out of 5 stars The Secret Brotherhood
First the basics, this is a fictional novel that tells the tale of the origins of the Knights Templar or as known in this book as the Order of the Rebirth in Sion. Read more
Published 14 months ago by JH
1.0 out of 5 stars Try the Jan Guillou Crusades Trilogy instead
Not a fan of this one but the Jan Guillou trilogy (which I waited for a while for the translation of) is absolutely gripping. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ed
5.0 out of 5 stars Knights of The Black and White
A very good book to read. I was gripped all through it. If you know what your reading you will also recognise bits very close to what happens now. Read more
Published on 29 May 2010 by P. Wheeler
2.0 out of 5 stars In the beginning was the order...but I won't be placing another!
"The Templars represent a widely popular period of history, but the roots of their fellowship have been shrouded in contemporary conspiracy theory and media glamour!. Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by D. Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars Knights of the Black and White
A really good read, I was bought Order in Chaos for Christmas and saw that it was Book 3 of a trilogy, so just had to purchase the others and start from the beginning. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by J. G. Tear
4.0 out of 5 stars Research: Brilliant, Writing: Not So Brilliant
This book (and the trilogy) are amazing. The writing quality is not the best and sometimes the book does drag on alittle too much, however it offers amazing insite into the... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2009 by Ashley Brooker
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit different
I enjoyed this book ,JW has taken alot of time to put real detail into this story which maybe to some ends up being long winded. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by Mr. Daniel King
5.0 out of 5 stars Jack Whyte
Jack Whyte has an amazing ability to accurately research and then to relate his findings into a credible story. Once again, he has managed to create a superb series. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Ms. Yvonne Statham
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