I have to say that general readers may be misled at times about the Marshal’s character because Asbridge’s interpretation – and his facts – do not always stand up to scrutiny and are often very guilty of bias toward a modern mindset. He mostly relies on the “ Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal” as his source material and puts his own interpretations on the story, sometimes with results that will raise the eyebrows of those who know William Marshal well, but probably won’t be noticed by those who don’t. You don’t have to be an academic to enjoy the writing. It’s a fascinating story that draws the reader in and is one of the book’s most positive and interesting aspects.Īsbridge tells his tale in a strong, linear style that is engaging, entertaining and very readable which gives it wide appeal. That survival is the starting point of Thomas Asbridge’s work – how it was rediscovered at auction by historian Paul Meyer in the 19 th century and how he lost the bid, but doggedly followed the manuscript’s trail, found it again, and translated it into the modern French of his own era along with a commentary. It’s the first secular biography of an Englishman and a work of incalculable value, not least because of its survival, which is a story in itself. It’s a vivid glimpse into the world of the 12 th and 13 th century aristocracy – their cares and concerns, their pleasures and politics.

William Marshal, circa 1146-1219 has been called the Greatest Knight who ever lived and we know about him through a rhyming biographical poem of over 20,000 lines commissioned by his family and written by a poet simply known as John.ĭespite the often highly positive spin the biography puts on the Marshal’s life, much of the “Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal” still rings true in its basics and the reader receives a strong flavour of the vigour of the Marshal’s character. My UK novel of the same title, first published in 2004

The greatest knight by thomas asbridge