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Quick answer: The best books on the Crusades tell the story from European, Byzantine and Muslim points of view. Start with The Crusades by Thomas Asbridge, God’s War by Christopher Tyerman, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf, Crusaders by Dan Jones and The First Crusade by Peter Frankopan.
In 1095 Pope Urban II called on Western Europeans to march east, and four years later crusaders captured Jerusalem. For the next two centuries, waves of armies fought over the Levant, Crusader states rose and fell, Saladin retook Jerusalem in 1187 and the Fourth Crusade shockingly sacked Christian Constantinople in 1204. The Crusades shaped relations between Europe and the Middle East and are still argued about today. The best books look at the people involved on every side: knights and kings, Byzantine emperors, Muslim rulers and ordinary soldiers and pilgrims. Here are 15 histories, firsthand chronicles and novels that tell the story well.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Crusades | Thomas Asbridge | Narrative history | The best single-volume history |
| God’s War | Christopher Tyerman | History | The complete, detailed story |
| The Crusades Through Arab Eyes | Amin Maalouf | History | The other side of the story |
| Crusaders | Dan Jones | Narrative history | Story lovers |
| A History of the Crusades | Steven Runciman | Classic history | Elegant prose |
| The First Crusade | Peter Frankopan | History | The Byzantine angle |
| The Crusades: A Very Short Introduction | Christopher Tyerman | Short introduction | A quick overview |
| The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives | Carole Hillenbrand | History | Serious readers |
| Saladin | Anne-Marie Eddé | Biography | The great sultan |
| Richard I | John Gillingham | Biography | Richard the Lionheart |
| The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople | Jonathan Phillips | History | The crusade that went wrong |
| Holy Warriors | Jonathan Phillips | Narrative history | A readable overview |
| The Crusader States | Malcolm Barber | History | Life in the Crusader kingdoms |
| Chronicles of the Crusades | Jean de Joinville and Geoffrey of Villehardouin | Primary sources | Eyewitness accounts |
| The Talisman | Walter Scott | Historical novel | Classic fiction lovers |
1. The Crusades by Thomas Asbridge
Asbridge covers the Crusades to the Holy Land from 1095 to the fall of Acre in 1291, giving equal weight to Christian and Muslim sides. It’s balanced, gripping and the best place to start.
2. God’s War by Christopher Tyerman
Tyerman’s huge history covers the Crusades in the East, in Spain and in Europe itself. It’s authoritative and detailed, the book to read once you’re hooked.
3. The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf
Maalouf retells the Crusades using Arab chroniclers of the time. It’s short, readable and shows how the invasions looked to the people of the region.
4. Crusaders by Dan Jones
Jones tells the history of the Crusades through the lives of individual people, from kings and queens to merchants and mercenaries. It’s vivid and fast-paced.
5. A History of the Crusades by Steven Runciman
Runciman’s three-volume history from the 1950s shaped how generations saw the Crusades. Some judgments are dated, but the writing is magnificent.
6. The First Crusade by Peter Frankopan
Frankopan argues that the First Crusade can only be understood through Byzantium and the appeal of Emperor Alexios I. It’s a fresh, persuasive book.
7. The Crusades: A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Tyerman
In about 150 pages, Tyerman explains what the Crusades were, why people joined them and how they’ve been remembered. It’s ideal if you want the essentials.
8. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives by Carole Hillenbrand
Hillenbrand uses Arabic, Persian and Turkish sources to show how Muslims experienced and remembered the Crusades. It’s scholarly, illustrated and eye-opening.
9. Saladin by Anne-Marie Eddé
Eddé’s biography is the most thorough modern study of the ruler who retook Jerusalem in 1187. It separates the real Saladin from centuries of legend.
10. Richard I by John Gillingham
Gillingham’s biography in the Yale English Monarchs series examines England’s crusader king, his rivalry with Saladin and his reputation. It’s lively and well argued.
11. The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople by Jonathan Phillips
Phillips explains how a crusade meant for Egypt ended with the sack of Constantinople in 1204. It’s a dramatic and tragic story.
12. Holy Warriors by Jonathan Phillips
Phillips covers the Crusades from their beginning to their legacy in modern politics. It’s a clear, accessible introduction with lots of human detail.
13. The Crusader States by Malcolm Barber
Barber tells the story of the kingdoms the crusaders created in the Levant, how they were governed and how they fell. It’s detailed and authoritative.
14. Chronicles of the Crusades by Jean de Joinville and Geoffrey of Villehardouin
This Penguin volume pairs two medieval eyewitnesses: Villehardouin on the Fourth Crusade and Joinville on the crusade of Louis IX. They bring the period vividly to life.
15. The Talisman by Walter Scott
Scott’s 1825 novel, set during the Third Crusade, features Richard the Lionheart and a famously chivalrous Saladin. It’s romantic adventure in the old style.
Tips for Reading About the Crusades
- Start with Asbridge. It’s balanced and covers the whole story clearly.
- Read Maalouf or Hillenbrand. You need the Muslim perspective to understand the Crusades.
- Don’t forget Byzantium. Frankopan shows why the First Crusade began.
- Watch for modern myths. The Crusades are often misused in today’s politics.
- Try a chronicle. Joinville and Villehardouin are surprisingly readable.
- Use a map. Antioch, Edessa, Acre and Jerusalem are easier to follow with one.
Related: best books on the Byzantine Empire and best books on the Ottoman Empire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about the Crusades?
The Crusades by Thomas Asbridge is the best single-volume history, and God’s War by Christopher Tyerman is the most complete.
What is a good book about the Crusades from the Muslim side?
The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf is short and readable, and The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives by Carole Hillenbrand is the scholarly classic.
How many Crusades were there?
Historians traditionally count about eight or nine major Crusades to the Holy Land between 1095 and 1291, but there were also many smaller expeditions and crusades elsewhere in Europe.