In Distant Lands: A Short History of the Crusades

Written by Lars Brownworth

Narrated by Joe Barrett

In the late fall of 1095, Pope Urban II gave a speech in Clermont, France, and set all of Europe into motion. As many as a hundred and fifty thousand people eventually responded to the call, leaving everything they knew behind to undertake what appeared to be a fool's mission: marching several thousand miles into enemy territory to reconquer Jerusalem for Christendom. Against all odds they succeeded, creating a Christian outpost in the heart of the Islamic world that lasted for the better part of two centuries.



Perhaps no other period in history is as misunderstood as the Crusades, and in this fast-paced account Lars Brownworth presents the entire story, from the first clash of Christendom and Islam in the dusty sands of Yarmouk, to the fall of the last crusader state. Along the way he introduces the listener to an exotic world peopled by mighty emperors, doomed Templars, grasping generals, and ambitious peasants. Some of the most famous names of the Middle Ages—Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the legendary Prester John—illuminate this era of splendor, adventure, and faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jul 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781541478961

Reviews for In Distant Lands

[Phillip Paulsen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

fantastic listen. Both the author and the narrator kept me listening. History is fasci sting, especially about such misunderstood events as the Crusades

[Michael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Helpful and entertaining unbiased history of the crusades. Highly recommend.

[James Shelby · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very detailed well written history book. Author did excellent research.

[Dave Radlauer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Yet another detailed recount of the sad series of campaigns known as The Crusades.

Siege, plunder, mass murder, disastrous leadership and venal, hateful and zealous motives are detailed.

This chronicle takes us through the series of a half dozen invasions of the Middle East launched from Europe over a couple of centuries.

Each crusade is recounted in enough detail to distinguish the origin, shape and impulse of the distinctive waves of fanaticism, zealotry, greed and revenge fueling them. All failed in the end.

The elaborate competition and rivalry of the religious states and powers is intelligibly sorted between Rome, various Popes, Byzantium, French and German Catholicism and the Moslem powers.

The crusades may have killed more Christians than moslems in the various sackings, double crosses and cities besieged and burned in the name of Christ.

All reminders again that the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy nor Roman nor an empire.

[Vertex English · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book is cleverly written to unmask the true significance of the Crusade and its resounding message that history doesn't repeat itself, human nature does.

[conley_346046905 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent history of the Crusades with good insight into the true position of the Crusades in world history.

[Jay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful and hilarious tale of ineptitude and folly. Very well covered and narrated. Highly recommend.

[Jakub Rie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An absolutely great book, another amazing pill of knowledge from Mr. Brownworth (I've started listening to this one in audiobook form after being pleasantly surprised by his tale of Byzantium in "Lost to the West") - clear, succinct, factual, entertaining at times and devoid of the aggressive revisionism of certain postmodern historians, it's an absolutely great read that I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the medieval crusades.

[Noski Justin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, just wow! Everyone knows about the crusades... or thinks they know about the crusades, but this book manages to sum it all up historically and with a tongue in cheek "forget all the lies you've been told" style that brings the usually boring details to life in a historic context that will make you re-evaluate the whole topic.
This is THE book to read if you ever wanted to know about this part of world history, or are just looking for an interesting audiobook on a topic you never knew you wanted to know about.
Excellent voice and perfect tone and accent for delivery.
At the end I was wishing for a 10th crusade just to keep the story going!

[Kevin McMenamy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good, short tale of the Crusades. I did not appreciate how many attempts were made.

[Brent · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written and informative. Try first chp if interested. L