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The Kingdom of Jerusalem, also known as Outremer, is the land far beyond the sea. Baptized in blood when the men of the First Crusade captured Jerusalem from the Saracens in the early twelfth century, the kingdom defined an utterly new world, a land of blazing heat and a medley of cultures, a place where enemies were neighbors and neighbors became enemies.
At the helm of this growing kingdom sits young Baldwin IV, an intelligent and courageous boy committed to the welfare and protection of his people. But despite Baldwin's dedication to his land, he is afflicted with leprosy at an early age and the threats against his power and his health nearly outweigh the risk of battle. As political deception scours the halls of the royal court, the Muslim army—led by the first sultan of Egypt and Syria, Saladin—is never far from the kingdom's doorstep, and there are only a handful Baldwin can trust, including the archbishop William of Tyre and Lord Balian d'Ibelin, a charismatic leader who has been one of the few able to maintain the peace.
Filled with drama and battle, tragedy and romance, Sharon Kay Penman's latest novel brings a definitive period of history vividly alive with a tale of power and glory that will resonate with readers today.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 3, 2020 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593164105
- File size: 897870 KB
- Duration: 31:10:33
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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January 27, 2020
Penman follows up her Plantagenet series with an engrossing saga of King Baldwin IV and his threatened Crusader state in 12th-century Jerusalem. When Baldwin is 10 years old, his tutor, William of Tyre, discovers that the boy has no feeling in one of his arms. Fearing Baldwin might have leprosy, William consults a Syrian doctor, who confirms the diagnosis, drawing wrath from Baldwin’s father, King Amalri (“If I ever hear you say that my son could be a leper, I’ll cut your tongue out myself!”), who resolves that Baldwin will become a fierce warrior against the Saracens. As Baldwin comes of age and receives treatment, his resilience defies his court’s expectations. When Amalri dies while Baldwin is still too young to rule, a regent executing power on his behalf makes a compromising pact with the Arabians, which Baldwin reverses once he turns 15 and assumes the throne. He receives sound advice from William and warrior Lord Balain d’Ibelin, leading him to withdraw from the Arabian peace treaty. Baldwin’s success in keeping the would-be Mediterranean and Muslim invaders at bay makes the novel a riveting page-turner, and Penman’s well-honed skill for weaving deeply researched details into epic tales is on full display. Fans of medieval historical fiction won’t want to miss this.
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