The First Crusade by Steven Runciman torrent

The First Crusade - Steven Runciman [epub]

When Pope Urban II rose to his feet to address the multitudes gathered before him at the Council of Clermont in 1095, his appeal was simple: let Western Christendom march to the aid of their brethren in the East. Whether the Crusades are regarded as the most idealistic of Christian expeditions or the last of the barbarian invasions, they remain one of the most exciting adventure stories in history. Steven Runciman's History of the Crusades has been acclaimed as a fascinating account of the historic journey to save the Holy Land from the infidel. This abridgment makes accessible to broader readership one of the most compelling historical narratives.

Introductory note:

This work is based on the first of my three-volume History of the Crusades, originally published in 1951. I have abridged the introductory chapters and brought the book to a close with the Crusaders’ capture of Jerusalem, so as to concentrate on the extraordinary story of the First Crusade.

The book is published without reference notes or a bibliography. If readers wish to consult the sources, primary and secondary, on which my account is based, may I refer them to the original work, in which a full apparatus criticus is provided? A recent edition is still in print.

   S.R