Rating: 
Summary: Very good read, but not historical fact!
Review: If you're looking for a pure historical account of the Third Crusade, then avoid this book at all costs!
But if you're looking for a little bit of history mixed in with drama & the author filling in the gap (where historical evidence can't), then you will probably love this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Learn about this crusade -- skip the author's
Review: This is of a piece with most "revisionist" histories, in which the author bends over backwards to discredit popular history to seemingly prove his lack of bias. As a result, the bias becomes obvious. It's relevant to note that this book was written shortly before 9/11, making cruelly ironic Reston's assertion that the fact that "the word 'jihad' strikes fear in the hearts of many Westerners who associate it with terrorism and Islamic fanaticism" amounts to "an irony of history." Forces of Islam are involved in hot spots ranging from as far West as Algeria and as far east as the Philippines, and include many areas in between: Bosnia, Sudan, Israel, India, Chechnya, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. Very few of these conflicts, if any, can trace its root cause to what happened between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin centuries ago, despite the author's "crusade" to show otherwise. Read this book for its excellent account of the Third Crusade. Be shocked at the cruelties that occured, mostly on the Crusader's side. Skip the tendentious linking of the Third Crusade to the root cause of everything.
Rating:
Summary: The Original Warriors of God
Review: The book "Warriors of God: The Great Religious Orders and Their Founders" by Walter Nigg 1959, was very helpful before I read Jr. James Reston's "Warriors of God". One of the original warriors of God in Nigg's book summarized Jr. James Reston's type of Christendom very nicely.
Religious obedience-which has no analogy with military obedience-was the highest law. The reason for this incomprehension is doubtless that religious obedience has to often been mistaken for cringing subservience, an unfortunate error that has inflicted untold harm on Christendom.
Walter Nigg's book, which is very hard to find, should be a foundation to any true historian of Christianity. The Chapters are; St. Anthony and the Hermits of the Desert, St. Pachomius and Cenobitism, St. Basi and Eastern Monasticism, St. Augustine and the Communal Life of the Clergy, St. Benedict and His Rule, St. Bruno and the Carthusians, St. Bernard and the Cistercians, St. Francis and the Friars Minor, St. Dominic and the Order of Preachers, St. Teresa and Carmel, St. Ignatius Loyola and the Society of Jesus.
Rating:
Summary: not a history not fictiom not a great book
Review: I would not particularly recommend this book. It is billed as a history but it is not. Yes it is probably factually correct, but its presentation is shall we say weird. I think the author thinks he can write history with the flair and style of Churchill, something at which he fails. There are no footnotes or backing for statements that need it and certainly some of his opinion comes across as nothing more than that. For example I do not know if Richard the Linohearted of France and Philip of France were homosexual lovers but the presentation of this affair is not contextual and makes little sense. There is less context for their sudden rivalry. Finally, while Mr. Reston tries, he does not give particularly adequate background on the happenings in Europe.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good
Review: History at its best! The triangle of Phillip, RIchard and Saladin is a story that everyone should know. All three could be ruthless, crazy and oddly devoted (well except for Phillip of France). First time readers of the Crusdaes will learn why there are still hostilities in the Middle East. It also makes it easier to understand why Muslims would be greatly offended by saying that the USA was on a "Crusade to end terrorism" (note to George W. Bush - you may want to brush up on your history!) How factual is this book? well it is hard to say, but it seems to collaborate with everything else I have read about the Richard, Phillip and Saladin. Was Richard and Phillip homosexual lovers... where is the evidence... well from all accounts it seems like their undergoing the crusading vow was their direct punishment from the Pope. Whatever their relationship it is both clear that enjoyed each others company while young but hated each other during their time spent during their crusading alliance. Also, all of Da Vinci Code buffs out there... this makes a decent follow-up (although there are several books on the Templers that may prove to be more entertaining to you). Reston sets a very nice pace throughout the work, and is able to buid suspense. I think that this is one of the rare works taht has the ability to transcend the genre of history and become enjoyed by all readers.
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