Real Knights: Over 20 True Stories of Battle and Adventure
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Gravett, Christopher / James, John, PUBLISHER: Enchanted Lion Books, What do Lancelot, Traistan and Sir Gawain have in common? <strong><strong>Thestrong>strong>y were not real <strong>knightsstrong>. But what do El Cid, Arnold <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> Ardres, Hermann von Salza and Edward <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> Black Prince share? <strong><strong>Thestrong>strong>y were real <strong>knightsstrong>. What were "real <strong>knightsstrong>" really like? Did <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>y resemble <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>ir larger-than-life counterparts <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> fiction and legend? Or were <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>y unscrupulous warriors, <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong>ten little better than brigands in <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>ir pursuit <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> land and loot? As REAL <strong>KNIGHTSstrong> shows, one <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> reasons <strong>knightsstrong> continue to intrigue us is because <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>y remain contradictory figures, high-minded and chivalrous, as well as ruthless. In REAL <strong>KNIGHTSstrong>, <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> careers <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> 20 celebrated individual <strong>knightsstrong> are examined. <strong><strong>Thestrong>strong> book also provides a context for <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>se individual stories by presenting historical background on early <strong>knightsstrong>, <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> Crusades, <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> age <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> chivalry, <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> Hundred Years War, and <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> age <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> pr<strong><strong>ofstrong>strong>essional knight. In addition, special sections focus on such topics as armor, weapons and fighting techniques; warfare; tournaments; life in a castle; and clo<strong><strong>thestrong>strong>s, food and entertainment. John James's highly detailed, vivid illustrations stunningly recreate <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> au<strong><strong>thestrong>strong>ntic look <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> <strong>knightsstrong> <strong><strong>thestrong>strong>mselves as well as <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> atmosphere <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> age, while <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> accompanying text allows for an informative and entertaining exploration <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> world <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> chivalry and <strong><strong>thestrong>strong> careers <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> <strong>knightsstrong> from many different corners <strong><strong>ofstrong>strong> Europe.