- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd; illustrated edition edition (27 Sep 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0750925175
- ISBN-13: 978-0750925174
- Product Dimensions: 27.2 x 20 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 316,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £7.80
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in The Knights Templar for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £7.80, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Much has been written about the Knights Templar in recent years, most of it highly speculative and with no historical foundation. They have been associated with everything from Freemasonry to the Holy Grail, the pyramids, the Shroud of Turin and space travel. A leading specialist in the history of this legendary medieval order now writes a full account of the knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, to give them their full title, bringing the latest findings to a general audience. There is no other accurate popular history of the Templars currently available aimed at a general audience. Helen Nicholson is excellently qualified to write this book, since she has a specialised knowledge of the medieval legends of the Templars in the contemporary romantic and epic literature. This is important if justice is to be done to the Templars' supposed association with the Holy Grail and other medieval and modern legends. Illustrations include significant sites in the Holy Land connected with the Order, and illustrations showing kings and popes associated with the Order and saints to whom the Order had special devotion (e.g. the Blessed Virgin, St George, St Euphemia). Maps showing Templar fortifications in the Crusader States and Templar houses in Europe are included.
From the Author
This book is primarily based on my own research on the Templars, but in order to produce a truly new history I have also contacted scholars from all over Europe. There is material from France, Spain and Portugal, Italy and Ireland, Croatia, Poland and Germany, much of which English-speaking readers will never have seen before. I made the decision to avoid historical narrative which did not actually involve the Order, which gave additional space to consider aspects of the Order's history in much more detail than is usually possible. I hope that this approach will give readers a more complete picture of the Order. And talking of pictures, this book has many illustrations relating to the Templars - so if you ever wondered what Templars looked like without their armour on, look on pages 125-7. There are also pictures of Templar sites from across Europe and the Middle East, and two of St Euphemia (pp. 146-7). As for why St Euphemia (and who she is), you'll have to read the book....
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very informative depiction of how the Knights Templar lived during their 200 year period and why they were so highly regarded of by all in Europe even by the Kings and Nobles who queued up to make huge donations to the order, essentially the reason why they were so wealthy, and how they put to use these donations. Her description to the Fall of the Order goes into great depth also, including the final trials of its brave members.
One good point of this book is that Helen Nicholson sticks to the facts quoting historical sources and tends to steer clear of the myths surrounding the Templars such as the Turin Shroud, Ark of the Covenant and the much debated Holy Grail or "Sang-reale" and she isn't afraid to point out that some of these myths are merely bed-time stories.
I would of liked to have seen a bit more info regarding some of the battles and crusades, and in particular the Templars formation during the first 20 years. Some knowledge of the Templars would help before reading but not essential. Not a book that you can just flick through. Miss a page and you'll be lost.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the most irritating aspects of reading about the Crusades are the myths and legends that sometimes spring up surrounding the military orders, in particular the Knights Templar, all or most of which have no foundation at all in truth. The author of this book, Helen Nicholson, is an expert in the medieval military orders and therefore the reader can relax, safe in the knowledge that only the facts are contained within this book.
And what a book! The author is adept at making complicated issues simple to digest for the general reader without making him feel as if he's reading a book one step up from a 'Ladybird' guide a difficult thing for a scholar to do well, I should imagine. The layout is accessable and the content itself seems to be made up of the sum of all knowledge on the subject currently available, albeit in condensed form, but this in no way detracts from the overall quality but instills sufficient interest to make the reader make use of the further reading list. The book is also beautifully illustrated, with some pictures taken by the author herself.
The final two chapters deal with the trial of the Templars and the myths surrounding the Order respectively. The trail is explained very well, and again I finished the chapter wanting to learn more. The final chapter, concerning the myths, is a brilliant account of how the author believes these may have come about and sets about putting the record straight, elegantly stating that '...history is a convenient coathanger on which to hang a good idea'.
In all a thoroughly stimulating read, beautifully written and illustrated and, most importantly when reading history, inspires the reader to research the subject even further. An essential read.
And what a book! The author is adept at making complicated issues simple to digest for the general reader without making him feel as if he's reading a book one step up from a 'Ladybird' guide a difficult thing for a scholar to do well, I should imagine. The layout is accessable and the content itself seems to be made up of the sum of all knowledge on the subject currently available, albeit in condensed form, but this in no way detracts from the overall quality but instills sufficient interest to make the reader make use of the further reading list. The book is also beautifully illustrated, with some pictures taken by the author herself.
The final two chapters deal with the trial of the Templars and the myths surrounding the Order respectively. The trail is explained very well, and again I finished the chapter wanting to learn more. The final chapter, concerning the myths, is a brilliant account of how the author believes these may have come about and sets about putting the record straight, elegantly stating that '...history is a convenient coathanger on which to hang a good idea'.
In all a thoroughly stimulating read, beautifully written and illustrated and, most importantly when reading history, inspires the reader to research the subject even further. An essential read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very good book, all told, based on original research and beautifully illustrated throughout. Dr Nicholson avoids the speculative aspects which fuel much popular interest in the Templars, but that may be counted a strength in her work. It is scholarly yet accessible, and explores a subject fascinating enough without the embroidery of later myth-making and wishful thinking. Even so, there is a chapter looking at the development of Templar mythology after the Order's demise (a subject covered more fully in Peter Partner's 'The Murdered Magicians'.)
One contention of Nicholson's that I found questionable is that the Templars would likely have been brought down even without the action taken in France by King Philip the Fair, on account of their risky political meddling in Cyprus. There again by raising this point the author does focus attention on the fact that the suppression of the Knights Templar was not a purely French affair. I gather that her latest book, 'The Knights Templar on Trial', will tackle the ultimate fate of the Templars in Britain, and it is most eagerly awaited.
One contention of Nicholson's that I found questionable is that the Templars would likely have been brought down even without the action taken in France by King Philip the Fair, on account of their risky political meddling in Cyprus. There again by raising this point the author does focus attention on the fact that the suppression of the Knights Templar was not a purely French affair. I gather that her latest book, 'The Knights Templar on Trial', will tackle the ultimate fate of the Templars in Britain, and it is most eagerly awaited.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Cultural History
- Books > History > Europe > Vikings, Dark Ages, Medieval Europe 501-1500
- Books > History > Military History
- Books > History > Religious History > Christianity
- Books > History > World History > 501-1500
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church History
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church Institutions & Organizations
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
