Eric Jager

I was surprised by this book. I thought it was going to be a historical narrative; it is historical but it is not told in a narrative fashion but rather in a linear non-fiction style that belies a documentary feel.

I've yet to watch the movie.

The beginning is slow; there are a lot of setups, back story, genealogy, and heraldry to get through prior to the actual incident itself. And you have to wonder at the competence of the knights/Lords in question overall with some of the petty grievances and backhanded things they supposedly did to each other to make it get to the point where there was no other way to get even than assaulting a woman for revenge.

There are a few illustrations throughout this very short book; they all look to be taken from illuminated manuscripts of the time. They are lovely accompaniments to the information.

Jager does a great job of keeping himself out of the tale as well. Sometimes, an author who is exploring a historic event finds it necessary to introduce their person as a character or dive into their explorations and research habits which leads to a ramble for a while. Jager does not do this. While he provides his own thoughts, they are subtle and included appropriately {academically} in place with the progression of the facts rather than becoming their own narrative.

I would recommend this to readers interested in historic crime, trials, and combat. The actual combat scenes were thorough and intense; I enjoyed them!

**All thoughts and opinions are my own.**… (més)