Reviews

Defending the City of God: A Medieval Queen, the First Crusades, and the Quest for Peace in Jerusalem by Sharan Newman

caitlinmchugh24's review

5.0

I wish the author had another book follow up on the children and grandchildren of Melisende until the fall of the Christian European kingdom of Jerusalem. As this book was so well-written and engaging, I would be interested in reading her perspective on that historical time period.

cmbohn's review

4.0

Newman has written a fascinating book about medieval history, the crusades, religion, royalty. I loved this look at the Middle East. I had no idea how complex the society was. I always kind of pictured it as Muslim, Jew, Christian. But that is only where it starts. And in the middle of it all was Queen Melisende, hereditary ruler of Jerusalem, born of mixed heritage, eyewitness to the commerce and occasional violence that defined the age. Great read.

fjp11907's review

5.0

This is a very complicated book to read because the times it depicts is extremely complicated. THe author does as good a job as possible keeping all the disparate story lines moving forward. The reward for the reader who hangs in there is a much deeper appreciation for life 1000 years ago in the Levant.

The turmoil then reflects the tensions that exist not only between the Palestinians and the Israelis, but most of the turmoil in our world. Whoever said we live in a stressful world could not imagine the hardships the people of these times live.

I for the first time understand the the arrangements of a feudal society. The Lords lived for conflict, dominance, and suzerainty. Nobility seems more like an occasional trait than a social norm.

The horrors perpetrated by all sides gives little hope that there will be change in our current times.

While there was precious little hard information the author did a good job of drawing the background and then trying to fill in probable glimpses of Melisende's amazing life as well as that of her sisters. That these women did as much as they did is a credit to the power of women everywhere.

So read this book by all means. Hang in there with the complicated intermingling of the characters and you will be rewarded.

speljamr's review

4.0

This book covers the period of the crusades that encompasses the reign of Queen Melisende and her father. It's a fascinating real-life Game of Thrones kind of story, and you will find it surprising just how interwoven the society around the Crusades became. It's not always about Infidels vs. Islam, there are far more complexities to it, even instances of Europeans and local populations working together. I have not spent a great deal of time reading about this period in history, but I did find myself wanting to understand and learn more once I was done.

The author spends a good deal of time exposing the role women played in this time period, showing how they were not always as subjugated the way modern society thinks. Queen Melisende being a prime example: she was the first woman ruler of Jerusalem, and the first to inherit the role (most Jerusalem kings were elected), as well as showing her prowess at the art holding the throne. She even beat her own husband at the game, not allowing him to rule solely on his own, requiring her to be part of all the decisions made. Throughout the book the author does her best to bring a new perspective to events, even challenging some of the standards taught about the characters on this historic stage. I enjoyed hearing her take on things as it gives an opportunity to reexamine what evidence still exists.

The book is written in an easy prose that is not dry, like so many history books, but flowed well enough to keep my pace moving through the pages. And the book isn't terrible large, making it something that didn't drag on forever. I highly recommend this book and the fresh look at this particular period of the 1st Crusade to anyone who has an interest in this moment from our history.