The Monks of War: The Military Religious Orders (Arkana)

It paints small yet descriptive picture of several different orders and it led to my readings on the Northern Crusades, the Templars and the Teutonic Knights.


Heavy history   April 9, 2003
WilburII (Calne, Wilts United Kingdom)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful

Whilst I agree with the other reviewers in terms of the amount of useful information contained in this book I would not recommend it to a casual reader. I found the style very heavy going and was forced to read it in pieces as I found it gave me literary indigestion. I was looking for a book to help inform my general knowledge of the military religious orders and in that this book was successful as it abounds with information. However, I felt that the style detracted from the material being offered and on more than one occasion it sent me to sleep. I acknowledge that the fault might be mine so I offer my comments as a caveat - very solid history, to be taken with other lighter fare to avoid literary overload!


The Monks of War   November 26, 2001
14 out of 17 found this review helpful

Criticisms of 'patrician narrow-mindedness' are irrelevant to any review of this undoubtedly excellent book. Desmond Seward's accounts of the crusade are both exhilarating and novel as seen from the angle of the 'Monks of War' who were not themselves crusaders but played an important and underestimated role in the battle for the Holy Land.
The admiration that the author has for the Knights of Malta is understandable once the book has been brought to a conclusion and one begins to appreciate the, perhaps, surprising length of their survival and their incredible contribution to the history of the Mediterranean and the Holy Land together with their continuing medical and relief aid for the sick and for refugees worldwide.
Desmond Seward is not writing a book which aims to praise the merits of 'secular democracy', and for that we can be grateful.