Warriors of God

a narrative history of the Third Crusade (1187–1192), focusing on the clash between Richard I of England and the Muslim leader Saladin. Reston, an American journalist and historian, explores the cultural, religious, and military dynamics of this pivotal conflict, which left Jerusalem in Muslim hands until the 20th century.

The book traces the Third Crusade’s origins to Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem in 1187, prompting Pope Gregory VIII to call for a new crusade. Richard the Lionheart, newly crowned in 1189, and Philip II of France led a massive European army, but their alliance frayed due to personal and political tensions.

Reston portrays Saladin as a cultured, unifying leader who ignited the first jihad, and Richard as a chivalric yet impulsive warrior, delving into his complexities, including his rumored homosexuality—a point Reston emphasizes but which lacks definitive evidence. The narrative, spanning 448 pages, includes maps and draws on chronicles like those of Robert of Clari and Baha al-Din, blending vivid battle scenes with the broader context of Christian-Muslim tensions.