High Middle Ages

In 1174 at only 13 years of age, Baldwin IV ascended to the Throne of Jerusalem. What makes his story so unusual, however, is not so much his age, but his extraordinary accomplishments while experiencing incredible hardship. In Crusader King, we soon discover that being a member of a royal family is not all glamour and glory. It is also a responsibility and at times a heavy burden. Rather than focus on Baldwin’s outstanding military career, Susan Peek brings to life the qualities of his noble character in the midst of a corrupt court. Not only must he do battle on the field with the enemy, but he must be prepared to deal with evil villains within his own family and self-seeking comrades who seek the throne in every possible way.

Can he keep the clever and powerful, Turkish Sultan Saladin from destroying Jerusalem and the outlying states? How will he deal with his scheming sister, Princess Sibyl, manipulative mother, the Countess Lady Agnes, his ambitious cousin, Count Raymond of Tripoli, and troublemaker and outlaw, “Hawk of Kerak,” with his rebel army? Can he keep the various factions united and peaceful, while avoiding the petty rivalries from further splitting up the kingdom? Who can he trust?

Ironically, his body is becoming more and more corrupt each day with the decay of leprosy as the kingdom he is struggling to hold together is also becoming more corrupt.

An inspiring story of heroic virtue, Crusader King leaves readers wishing there were more high minded people like Baldwin IV living today. Maybe the challenge is to be one yourself?

Set in 12th century England, Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe is the story of a disinherited knight upon his return from the Crusades. The knight encounters civil unrest, beautiful maidens, traitorous knights, miserly Jews, and intrigue.

The language is archaic, and is written in "Olde" English. The exciting plot more that compensates however, for the difficulties with the language. The glossary also helps explain some of the obscure references encountered in the novel.

Ivanhoe is a colourful novel, full of memorable characters- Wamba, the fool, Robin of Locksley, the enigmatic Black knight, Cedric the proud Saxon, beautiful Rowena, courageous Rebecca, Gurth, the faithful swineherd, treacherous Prince John and his Norman compatriots, and jovial Prior Aymer the not-so-holy cleric.

Ivanhoe is five hundred pages of excellent reading, filled with drama, suspence, and comedy. It's historical fiction at its finest. It's a great family read-aloud, best suited for children over ten years of age. Because of its length and style of writing, it is perhaps best suited as a family read-aloud. A highly recommended addition to your study of the Middle Ages.

P.S. The video, starring Joan Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor, was terribly disappointing, especially after reading the novel. In this case, stick with the book alone!

Saint Joan of Arc is one of the most astonishing saints of all time. Prayerful, as all saints must be, humble, generous, and patient, Joan served God by leading the armies of France to boot the English from their soil in 1431. Not a usual task for a girl in her late teens, saint or not. And afterwards, to make it perfectly clear that the English were engaged in an act of godless aggression, Joan was burned as a witch after a trial that was unjust, illegal and cruel in every detail.

So who is qualified to tell this story? Another saint? A theologian? A soldier? What about just a good American story-teller -- indeed the best -- but a man with hardly any faith at all?

Mark Twain is most famous for his Mississippi River stories, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. It is not well enough known that his own favorite of all his works was the life of St. Joan of Arc, told from the fictional perspective (but this is the only fiction in the book) of a childhood companion who accompanied her on her wars, and then smuggled himself into her trials as a court reporter and was the last to touch her hand before she died.

Mark Twain really loved Joan and he dedicated the entire fiber of his wonderful talent to telling her story. I see him in the year 1910, knocking at the Pearly Gates, and I see Peter's hesitation, for Twain was after all, something of an unbelieving old cynic. But over Peter's shoulder, I see a slight and mischievous lass tugging his sleeve and saying with a grin, "Let him in, now, let him in!" while a Voice thunders from the Throne, "Any friend of Joan's is a friend of Mine."

Read it yourself, silently or aloud to the family, and see if you don't agree.

This story is written fairly informally from the surprising vantage point of a cloud in heaven, where Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century duchess from Acquitaine, in France) and three friends take turns recounting various events from her life. The novel is filled with historical details, particularly the lifestyle and family tree of the Plantagenet and the Capet families (King Henry II of England, Saint Thomas Becket, King Louis VII of France, King Richard the Lion Heart), and it is all presented in an entertaining manner. It is probably available at your local library. It would be a terrific read-aloud if your family is studying the Middle Ages. Children over 10 years of age would enjoy reading this book on their own.