Review: Brotherhood of the Shroud by Julia Navarro

Synopsis: The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud is the explosive international bestseller that mixes fact and fiction to tell the riveting story of one of the world’s most controversial relics—the Holy Shroud of Turin—and the desperate race to save it from those who will stop at nothing to possess its legendary power....

A fire at the Turin cathedral and the discovery of a mutilated corpse are the latest in a disturbing series of events surrounding the mysterious cloth millions believe to be the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ. Those who dare to investigate will be caught in the cross fire of an ancient conflict forged by mortal sacrifice, assassination, and secret societies tied to the shadowy Knights Templar.

Spanning centuries and continents, from the storm-rent skies over Calvary, through the intrigue and treachery of Byzantium and the Crusades, to the modern-day citadels of Istanbul, New York, London, Paris, and Rome, The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud races to a chilling climax in the labyrinths beneath Turin, where astounding truths will be exposed: about the history of a faith, the passions of man, and proof of the most powerful miracle of all….

This is two stories in one. The first is the story of the Turin Shroud and how it came to be whilst the second is set in modern-day times, following a team of investigators from the Italian Art Crimes Department as they look into a series of "accidents" at Turin Cathedral. Both stories run along side each other, so the narrative alternates as we progress.

So to the first narrative - the Turin Shroud. There is much history and mythos surrounding this particular relic that to discuss any of at here would be quite lengthy. Suffice to say that the Shroud is said to be the burial cloth of Jesus after the Crucifixion. Carbon dating on the shroud hints at a later date rather than the biblical one. So, which is right - well here Navarro offers an alternate theory. To explain her theory, she relates the tale of how the Shroud came to be in the possession of a small Christian community in biblical Edessa (modern day Urfa) which was ruled by the Abgarid dynasty - and of how it was lost before the narrative merges with the modern day "life" of the Shroud. To be honest, I do like an author / writer who explore an alternate to the traditional line of thought or "the party line" as it opens up opportunities to delve into potential resources used (which I have done) to develop and creative the narrative.

However, all is not so simple as there are two groups, each of whom have a vested interest in not only the Shroud but in its possession, and each are attempting to reclaim it for their own ends - one descended from the original guardians of the Shroud (based in Urfa) and the other from the Knights Templar, or rather their modern-day interpretation.

Enter Marco Valoni, Chief of the Italian Art Crimes Department and his team who are brought into investigate the latest attempt on the Cathedral of Turin. This act of arson has now prompted Marco to look deeper into previous attempts to find some link, some explanation.  As a side note, and it is only speculation on my part, but it is possible that the massive fire in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud in 1997 (which is still a mystery) may have been the catalyst for this story. The Chapel remained closed for over 21 years whilst repairs and restoration work was being carried out.

And so the reader is taken on the same course as the investigative team as they discover new "facts" and unravel the convoluted history of the Shroud - and the presences of these shadowy groups are slowly revealed.  It is in the following of the investigation that the reader is given a history lesson on the Shroud whilst at the same time getting an insight into the daily and private lives of the team. This side of the narrative was a little tedious and there was not much action going on to make it worthy of a true thriller. It is only as the team start to place the pieces together and move the players around the proverbial chessboard, that the action does pick up - though not until much later in the book.

I enjoyed it for what it is - I wouldn't say it was an action-packed thriller along the lines of a Dan Brown book, but it is still an decent enough read.  The ending did feel a little rushed, but the narrative does need resolution.  I bought my copy cheaply, second hand, have had it for a numbers of years, and this was my second reading.  Time to pass it on.

Navarro has another book out along similar lines - The Bible of Clay - which I haven't read.

Review: Lions of the Grail by Tim Hodkinson

Synopsis: First in an adventure-filled historical series following Irish Knight Templar, Richard Savage, as he is forced to spy on his homeland for the King of England.

1315 AD. Ireland and England are ravaged by bitter war. Rotting in an English prison, condemned as a heretic, Irish Knight Templar Richard Savage is given one chance of reprieve. But there is a catch. He must return to Ireland as a traitor, and work as a spy there for the King of England.

Savage returns to his homeland, but even here he can trust no one. He soon discovers the Scots intend to invade and someone in Ireland is helping them. The King of Scotland also claims to possess a mysterious holy treasure, and many are flocking to his cause. And what's more, Savage discovers he left more than just memories behind in Ireland...

Amid feasts, tournaments, invasion and war, can Savage decide whose side he is really on, discover whether this holy relic is real and, above all, stay alive?

As an avid reader of Hodkinson's Whale Road Chronicles, and having some fore-knowledge of the period in history, I was interested to see how the Scottish invasion of Ireland under the Bruces would pan out under Hodkinson's skillful narration.

This is the first in the series. So for those unfamiliar with the era, Edward Bruce fought alongside his brother Robert throughout his struggle for the Scottish throne, which culminated in the battle of Bannockburn, in which the Scots were victorious (1315). Continuing their war against England, especially after the Isle of Man fell under Scots loyal to England, Robert Bruce decided to open a second front in Ulster. As there had been no High King in Ireland for some time, Bruce figured that in making Edward King of Ireland, concessions could be made in return for localised support.  The Annals of Ulster record the event as follows:

U1314.2

Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, came to Ireland along with many gallowglasses in aid of Edward, his brother, to expel the Foreigners from Ireland.

This is where our story opens, in the events leading up to the invasion of Ireland by the Scots. Our protagonist, Richard Savage, is a Templar of Irish descent, imprisoned in England after the decimation of the Order by Philip of France in 1314. When the King of England, Edward II, needs to get a feel for what is happening in Ireland, he drags Savage out of his imprisonment and sends him across to Ulster to gauge the loyalty of those there and to scupper any plans for "a grand Gaelic alliance against England". As Savage is trusted by neither side, there is plenty of action, battles, captures, escapes, rescues, disguises, secret codes, assassins, an old enemy AND a holy relic.  There is enough to keep the reader entertained, much being centered around the town and castle of Carrickfergus, and ais is duly noted in the narrative "... one thing was sure - there would be more fighting ...".

Now, there has been plenty of speculation as to the relationship between the Knights Templars and Scotland. Treasure hunters claim that in the 14th century, the Knights Templar fled to Scotland with a trove of valuables because they received support and protection from King Robert the Bruce. Templar scholar and medieval historian Helen Nicholson said that any remaining Knights Templar were more likely to be found in Cyprus. One of the first to link the Templar fleet to Scotland was George Frederick Johnson, a Scottish exile in Germany in the mid-18th Century, who said that the Templars had sailed to Scotland. However, Johnson's claims proved to be as fraudulent as he himself was later discovered to be.

A number of actual historical figures make their appearance throughout, including the likes of Roger Mortimer, Richard de Burgh, Thomas de Mandeville, John de Bermingham and the Bruces - Robert and Edward. There is, of course, Edward II - though based upon the description of him in this instance, I find myself imagining him as Claude Rains in his role as Prince John in the 1938 adaption of Robin Hood. Similarly, I picture Lancaster as Basil Rathbone in his role from the same film.

Claude Rains and Basil Rathbone

The female character - to be honest - I could take or leave. Sometimes they are not necessary to the narrative - the cast of characters does not - in my opinion - always need to be "inclusive" or "politically correct" to tell a good story. There does not always have to be some "love interest" to lure in the female reader - sometimes their inclusion feels forced and detracts from the storyline. However, as one continues reading, the female character does have some sort of role.

What I find rather poignant about this whole episode can be summed up in this quote:

"   it's sad that a country that has struggled so long to gain it's own freedom should so soon seek to visit war and oppression on another ... "

I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series progresses.

Review: The Knights Templar by Michael Kerrigan

Synopsis: The Templars, the Knights Hospitallers, the Teutonic Knights – the chivalric orders founded during the Crusades evoke romantic images of warrior monks who were fierce but spiritual, chaste and pious yet battle-ready. But what were they really like? How did their organisations form, rise and decline? And how much of what we think about them is myth?

The Knights Templar tells the stories of the major and minor military orders from the 11th century to – in the case of the surviving orders – the present day. Organised chronologically, the book follows the fates of orders, from the foundation of the Knights of St Peter in 1053 to the major crusading era in the Holy Land in the 12th and 13th centuries, from the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic to the Reconquista in Iberia and on to the Hospitallers’ later ventures in the Mediterranean and even in the Caribbean.

Full of surprising details, the book not only explores how the military and religious aspects of the orders were reconciled, but also looks more broadly at the orders’ work, from the Templars’ role in the development of modern banking to hospital, castle and cathedral building, from the Teutonic Knights’ treatment of non-believers to the Hospitallers’ battles against Barbary pirates. Illustrated with 180 colour and black-&-white photographs, artworks and maps, The Knights Templar is a fascinating history of about some of Europe’s most often misunderstood organisations.

Definitely aimed at the "commercial" market and the younger reader, and certainly not the advanced reader looking for a more scholarly tome.

Introduction is on the early knights, courtly love, Arthurian mythos, with a side tour to the world of the Benedictine monks. The focus is not just the Templars, but also the Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights, and other European knightly orders in both the Holy Land and Europe as centered mainly around the Mediterranean. Kerrigan also covers off the basics, and the usual myths and allegations.

There are plenty of maps, images, side text boxes and catchy headings which reminded me of the presentation style of the current popular "History" magazines (which I do buy myself - for the articles of course!).

Well below my reading level - and quite frankly, nothing new has been presented here.

The Templars and their Sources

Summary from Routledge:

The papers in this volume step into this gap and critically evaluate new directions in Templar studies on the basis of as-yet unedited source material. Open issues and desiderata regarding the sources are discussed and from a range of inspiring results a new status quaestionis is proposed that will not only provide a better understanding of the Order’s archaeological, economical, religious, administrative and military history, but also set new points of departure for the editing of charters and administrative documents. The papers here are grouped into six sections, focusing on the headquarters of the Order, its charters, manpower and finance, religious life and finally the suppression and the Order’s afterlife.

Definitely on my wish-list.

Octobers Additions to the Library

Just a few additions (so far) to the Library for October 2015:

The Book of Melusine of Lusignan in History, Legend and Romance by Gareth Knight.

This book provides a collection of material from various sources to give an all round picture of the remarkable faery, her town, her church, her immediate family, and the great Lusignan dynasty she founded. An established authority on Melusine, Gareth Knight collects together all the best source material, which he translates from the French, and presents his own researches into the Lusignan family of the 12th century, whose dynasty included kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem, examining the possibility of a familiar spirit guiding the family in its destiny.

Anna Comnena by G. Buckler

This book discusses Anna’s character, attitudes, biases, theological opinions, and writing style (all of which are useful and interesting), but of more immediate interest to the genealogist is her chronicling of military affairs, foreign relations with the Crusaders (especially the "Franks"), and political marriages with Balkan rulers. 

The Man Who Believed He Was King of France by Tommaso Di Carpegna Falconieri

ith the skill of a crime scene detective, Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri digs up evidence in the historical record to follow the story of a life so incredible that it was long considered a literary invention of the Italian Renaissance. From Italy to Hungary, then through Germany and France, the would-be king's unique combination of guile and earnestness commands the aid of lords and soldiers, the indulgence of innkeepers and merchants, and the collusion of priests and rogues along the way. (Still awaiting delivery of this one - have read it a numbers of times - on loan from local library - so now is the time to add it to my own personal library).

Magna Carta by David Carpenter

With a new commentary by David Carpenter "No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land." Magna Carta, forced on King John in 1215 by rebellion, is one of the most famous documents in world history. It asserts a fundamental principle: that the ruler is subject to the law. Alongside a new text and translation of the Charter, David Carpenter's commentary draws on new discoveries to give an entirely fresh account of Magna Carta's text, origins, survival and enforcement, showing how it quickly gained a central place in English political life.

Templar Families by Jochen Schenk

This detailed study explores the close relationship between the Order of the Temple and the landowning families it relied upon for support. Focusing on the regions of Burgundy, Champagne and Languedoc, Jochen Schenk investigates the religious expectations that guided noble and knightly families to found and support Templar communities in the European provinces, and examines the social dynamics and mechanisms that tied these families to each other. 

Additions For October

August's books arrived safe and sound in September so here is the order for October:

• Absolute Power: The Real Lives of Europe's Most Infamous Rulers by Chad Denton
• Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses by Régine Pernoud
• The Retrial of Joan of Arc: The Evidence for Her Vindication by Regine Pernoud
• The Templars: Knights of Christ by Regine Pernoud
• Defending the City of God: A Medieval Queen, the First Crusades, and the Quest for Peace in Jerusalem by Sharan Newman
• Mediaeval Prince of Wales: Life of Gruffudd Ap Cynan by Simon D Evans
• Lost Capital of Byzantium: The History of Mistra and the Peloponnese by Steven Runciman
• The King in the North: The Life and Times of Oswald of Northumbria by Max Adams
• The Last Templar: The Tragedy of Jacques De Molay, Last Grand Master of the Temple by Alain Demurger
• The Northern Earldoms: Orkney and Caithness from AD 870 to 1470 by Barbara Crawford

A number of these books I have read in the past but have never before added to my own personal library - until now.

June's Books

Well, its been a while ...... quite a while since the library opened its doors for some new arrivals. But better late than never, June's order has just gone in, and here's what should be arriving before month's end:

The Third Plantagenet: George, Duke of Clarence, Richard III's Brother by John Ashdown-Hill

Less well-known than his brothers, Edward IV and Richard III, little has been written about George, Duke of Clarence, leaving us with a series of unanswered questions: What was he really like? What set him and his brother Edward IV against one another? And who was really responsible for his death? 

The Knights Templar Absolution: The Chinon Parchment and the History of the Poor Knights of Christ by A.A. Grishin

the Chinon Parchment .... Originally created in 1308, this official legal record has been recently recovered after missing for centuries. It is finally made widely available here in its original Latin with a new English translation. In the early 14th century, after a long series of defeats in the Levant, the Order was charged with heresy by King Philip IV of France. The Chinon Parchment details a crucial step in subsequent papal investigations into the Knights Templar activities.

Franks and Alamanni in the Merovingian Period: An Ethnographic Perspective edited by Ian Wood

The Alamans were early victims of post-Roman expansion of the Frankish empire. This volume considers the Franks and Alamans from a series of perspectives, historical, archaeological, and linguistic. It explores the origins of both peoples.

Owain Glyn Dwr - the Last Prince of Wales by Peter Gordon Williams

This is the compelling tale of a warrior prince and a host of other characters, ranging from his loyal bodyguard Madoc to mad King Charles of France, who influenced his life. Owain Glyn Dwr was more than a courageous and resourceful commander; he was an eminent scholar who, in the pursuit of learning and scholarship, looked beyond the boundaries of Wales.

Somerled by John Marsden

Investigates Somerled of Argyll's emergence in the forefront of the Gaelic-Norse aristocracy of the western seaboard, his part in Gaeldom's challenge to the Canmore kings of Scots, his war on the Manx king of the Isles, his importance for the church on Iona, and his invasion of the Clyde which was cut short by his death at Renfrew in 1164.

Knights Templar - Fact & Fiction

I must admit to being very intruigued by this band of warrior monks for some time. I have read just about every book on the subject that my local library (and its offshoots) possess, in addition to supplementing my own personal library. However, nothing can compere with the plethora of tomes written on the subject.

Templars in Fiction:

Robyn Young has written a triology on the Templars - Brethern, Crusade & Requiem.

Micheal Jecks has written about 30 books with the Templars (I am a bit biased as he is one of my favourite authors).

Paul Christopher -The Sword of the Templars, The Templar Throne, The Templar Conspiracy and The Templar Cross (in no particular order).

Raymond Khoury - The Last Templar, The Sanctuary, & Templar Salvation.

Jan Guillou - The Road to Jerusalem, The Knight Templar & The Kingdom at the end of the road (also made into a film - Arn).

Steve Berry - The Templar Legacy.

Umberto Eco - Foucault's Pendulum.

Paul Doherty - The Templar & The Templar Magician.

William Watson - Last of the Templars.

Fact: (or as close to it as we can get)

Piers Paul Reid - Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades.

Malcolm Barber - The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple; The Trial of the Templars.

Sean Martin - The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Order.

Michael Haag - The Templars: History and Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons;

James Wasserman - The Templars and the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven.

Alan Butler & Stephen Dafoe - The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present.

Alain Demurger - The Last Templar: The Tragedy of Jacques de Molay Last Grand Master of the Temple (trans: Antonia Nevill).

Edward Burman - The Templars: Knights of God.

Regine Pernoud - The Templars: Knights of Christ.

Sharan Newman - The Real History Behind the Templars.

James Anthony Froud - The Knights Templars: Their Rise and Demise.

Mythos & Legends:

Marilyn Hopkins & Tim Wallace-Murphy - Rosslyn, Guardian of the Secrets of the Holy Grail

Michael Baigent & Richard Leigh - The Temple and the Lodge

Lynn Picknett & Clive Prince - The Templar Revelation

Erling Haagensen & Henry Lincoln - The Templars' Secret Island

Barbara Frale - The Templars & the Shroud of Christ; The Templars: The Secret History Revealed.

Karen Ralls - The Templars & the Grail: Knights of the Quest.

Peter Partner - The Murdered Magicians: The Templars & Their Myth.

Frank Sanello - The Knights Templars: God's Warriors, the Devils's Bankers.

Otto Rahn - Crusade Against the Grail: The Struggle between the Cathars, the Templars, and the Church of Rome