The Greatest Knight (2005)

What a man

William Marshall was probably the greatest knight of all. This book doesn't tell his whole life but there is another book to complete. It is well written and you will come to know much of what made him the man he was. ( )

No continuous narrative drive. I did learn why some Irish names are oddly French.

A personal anecdote:

When I was about 12 or so, I went through a Robin Hood / Magna Carta phase. Of course, a major personage of this time period is William Marshal, and I scoured the library for biographical material. I remember finding one book, looking at the dimly-lit, maroon-ish cover while taking it to my mom for approval. She took it home, read some, then told me I could read it after I was married.

Well then. So much for that.

But, the book stuck in my head, so when I left home, I decided that was close enough to being a grown up that I could read the book without having entered the marriage state. And so, I came across the ONLY historical fiction I could find on William Marshall, that being this very same The Greatest Knight.

I hold out hope that one day I will come across that same maroon covered hardback... ( )

A good book. I love the story of William Marshal. He chose to remain loyal to some rather unsavory characters-the Angevin heirs and kings of England. King John was no prize! But that's in a later novel.
Marshal is fascinating to me because he managed to hold on to his integrity even as his overlords were falling apart and bickering with one another (some family Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine raised!). This book gives him some humanity as well, as I am not sure we know all there is to know about him. It is well written and manages to keep track of all the players without confusing the reader. ( )

Before this read, I have never heard of William Marshal, a 12th century personality. I have not known about the life and exploits of ‘the greatest knight that ever lived’. I admit not being well-versed about feudal Europe, courtly knights or monarchical politics; my knowledge about the Middle Ages is usually limited on fictional books set in that period and medieval-themed films or TV shows that boast of elaborate costume display and scenic country landscapes, and I know that they don’t always count as credible sources of information.

So, hearing about William Marshal through this book (albeit in the same fictional fashion) has given me an introduction to his remarkable life story and how from being landless—which I learned is a younger son’s usual fate in his time—he became one of the richest and most powerful men in their kingdom. His autobiography could rival that of our modern-day telenovelas—a young crown hostage and penniless nobleman who eventually grew up to be an indisputable tourney champion, skilled courtier, honorable knight, loyal crown aide, and brilliant military strategist. Historical accounts also noted that his marriage to wealthy heiress Isabelle de Clare appeared to have been a happy one, and that he treated his wife as his helpmate and equal. Not the usual perspective of men in his time, which made William Marshal even more agreeable for me!

Then, there is Elizabeth Chadwick’s capable writing style. She has given me a historical excursion with her descriptive narrative of events in William Marshal's time. It felt like I was exactly there in medieval Europe either as a silent spectator in tourney jousts or a peasant looking impressed as brave knights paraded in the street. I may have probably said a line or two to the great William Marshal, or even served him wine (or ale)! As a reader, I enjoy this feeling of immersion; the book being so compelling it was like seeing William Marshal in the flesh, hearing his actual voice or knowing what stirs his passion. As a history aficionado, I admire the author’s vivid portrayal of historical events and places, and even the mundane lives of both the nobility and ordinary people.

With Chadwick’s ability to transport me back to the past, who needs standing stones or time machines? (Okay, so maybe I might need those standing stones for Outlander’s Jamie Fraser after all, but this is another story.)

I truly enjoyed this read despite the drama, feudalism and too much politics in William Marshal’s time. It is nice to read people from ages past come back to life in contemporary print, and I think Elizabeth Chadwick excels in exploiting this field. I have never read a lot of historical fiction materials or known a lot of writers under this genre, but ever since my first Chadwick read (Shadows and Strongholds) I already knew that I would see more of her.

(Note: This review was first posted on Goodreads.) ( )

Really gives insight to the times of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their sons, as seen through the eyes of William Marshall. Chadwick really nails it. ( )