Malcolm Barber (1) (1943–)

Very informative and comprehensive, but difficult to read due to a somewhat haphazard chronology.

If you want to know what the Templars were *really* about, start here. You'll need a cup of tea/coffee/whatever - Barber is an historian, not a novelist, and it shows.

(If you are looking for the Grail, for conspiracies, etc., this book will disappoint you sorely. Read it anyway)....

If you want to know what happened at the trial(s), start here. In fact, start with Barber all through this period and THEN go read some of the... alternatives. Not the most scintillating of reads - it requires attention and dedication to get through, but it's worth it. Not a code or da vinci in sight. Deo Gratias.

This is probably the most boring history book I've read. The story is told through endless sequences of names and dates. It's all correct and meticulously researched, of course, but such bare facts aren't very interesting in my opinion. They don't help me understand medieval European society.