Crusader

'Yet another of history's most chapters given the five-star Ben Kane treatment' PAUL FINCH 'A truly vibrant and gripping read' HELENA GUMLEY-MASON 'Historical fiction has never been more visceral' JAMES ROLLINS 'A tour de force on an epic scale' DOUGLAS JACKSON KING. POLITICIAN. WARRIOR. CONQUEROR. 1189. Richard the Lionheart's long-awaited goal comes true as he is crowned King of England. Setting his own kingdom in order, he prepares to embark on a gruelling crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. With him on every step of the journey is Ferdia, his loyal Irish follower. Together they travel from southern France to Italy, to the kingdom of Sicily and beyond. Finally poised to sail to the Holy Land, Richard finds a bitter two-year-long siege awaiting him. And with it, the iconic Saracen leader responsible for the loss of Jerusalem, Saladin. No one can agree who should fill the empty throne of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Saladin's huge army shadows Richard's every move. Conditions are brutal, the temperatures boiling, and on the dusty field of Arsuf, the Lionheart and his soldiers face their ultimate test... *** Readers are loving Ben Kane: 'Powerful evocation of our history' 'An engaging and exciting read' 'Gripped me from start to finish' 'Epic tales, gorgeous prose, non-stop action' 'Rich in period detail and lively in narrative'