David Crouch's third edition of the life and times of William Marshal further extends our knowledge of this significant man and his society. His scholarship on the significance and relevance of the concept of courtoisie in William Marshall's world, over the later construct of chivalry, is a must for any student of medieval society and gendered codes of conduct. ... Read more Kathryn Smithies, University of Melbourne, Australia. This book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in knighthood, family, the royal court, warfare and lordship in the medieval world. It provides a compelling account of the career of one of the most extraordinary figures of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, played out against the rise and fall of the fortunes of the sons of King Henry II: Henry the Young King, Richard the Lionheart, and John. Paul Webster, Cardiff University, UK David Crouch's William Marshal is a welcome and greatly appreciated addition to the study of chivalry and knighthood in Medieval Europe. Crouch presents The Marshal as human
a great military and political leader, exemplary to other knights of the period, but capable of error, poor judgment, and even vulnerable to defeat as well. Meticulously researched, beautifully written, and engaging throughout, this is a book that will please both researchers and students alike. Michael Furtado, University of Oregon, USA Praise of the previous edition: 'a tour de force... The world of the Angevin court is splendidly recreated, and Dr Crouch succeeds admirably in explaining the reality of the chivalric ethos. For him, the celebrations after a battle had more in common with the atmosphere in the bar of a rugby club than with that of the enclosures at Henley or the ski-slopes of Klosters - Dr crouch is adept at finding striking modern parallels.' History Today 'a refreshingly readable book, it makes a contribution to medieval studies quite out of proportion to its size.' TLS 'Crouch resurrects a lost world in fluent, economic and readable prose, often enlivened by colloquialisms and contemporary parallels.' Southern History 'Written in a racy, accessible, idiosyncratic style, which might have appealed to the Marshal himself, it should be read by everyone interested in medieval people, politics and society.' Archives Show Less