Book Corner: Pilgrim’s War by Michael Jecks

The tale of a journey that will shape the world for centuries to come…

France, 1096. Crowds gather in Sens, Northern France, to hear the Hermit speak. He talks of a great pilgrimage to Jerusalem, a quest filled with promise for those Christian soldiers who march with him.

Sybill knows the perils of the road ahead, but follow it she must. Her husband is a reckless gambler, easily swayed by the Hermit’s words. For Odo, the pilgrimage provides the chance to demonstrate his unshakeable piety, while his brother Fulk craves adventure and excitement.

Jeanne and Guillemette have been mistreated by the men in their lives and are desperate for this chance of redemption and a brighter future – but for the two women alone on the journey, life on the road will befull of perils…

As the lines between love and hate, virtue and sin, good and evil become blurred, each must survive as best they can. Who will live to reach the holy city, and will the sacrifices they make to get there be worth the price they all must pay?

The first instalment in a scintillating series on the crusades from a master of the genre!

I have been reading Michael Jecks ever since his first book, The Last Templar came out years ago (many, many years ago). He is one of my “go-to” authors. I loved the medieval murder mysteries of the Templar series, and the Jack Blackjack series of Tudor mysteries were engrossing and amusing. Equally, the Vintaine series, set in the Hundred Years War are absolutely fabulous. So, when I discovered Michael was writing a new series, set in the Crusades, I was intrigued but hesitant – yet another Richard the Lionheart tome? I wondered.

But no, Michael Jecks starts Pilgrim’s War where very few authors have ventured, the First Crusade.

It is a challenging topic to cover. Not as organised as later expeditions, the First Crusade was a mixture of soldiers, peasants, religious zealots and those in search of adventure. All intent on recovering Jerusalem. Led by a priest known as Peter the Hermit, they walked the length of Europe to reach the Holy Land, an undertaking not without a huge number of dangers, not least the hostility of the locals in the countries they passed through.

As they depart on the ultimate adventure, the pilgrims face disease, death and the dangers of foreign lands with the hostility of climate, landscape and people.

‘There!’ Benet said, returning to his wife and daughter. He was a man of middle height and had a broad smile that made his blue eyes all but disappear in a way that never failed to melt Sybille’s heart.

She returned his smile as the crowds thinned. The church loomed over them, and she glanced up at it, making the sign of the cross. It was a habit, but today it felt necessary, as though she had a need to ward off evil. The remaining crowd was chanting, fists punching the air as they cried: ‘Dieu le veut; Dieu le veut; Dieu le veut.’

At the farther side of the square women were stitching brown fustian crosses too teh left breast of those who had sworn to march to Jerusalem, while clerks accepted gifts to support the pilgrims. Many were happier to pay, she thought, than undertake such a perilous journey.

‘Josse?’ Benet said. ‘Take Richalda on ahead?’ He waited until their daughter was out of earshot before leading Sybille away from the crush. ‘The preacher spoke well. We should think about joining his pilgrimage!’

He gave a broad smile and opened his hand: in it lay a fabric cross. A shiver ran down Sybille’s spine. ‘What, you mean to leave us here? How long would it take you to travel all that way? We would not know whether you would ever return. No, husband, please do not do this.’

‘No, you and Richalda must come too,’ Benet said, still smiling. ‘The Hermit is gathering a huge army. Not just the scrags and tatters of the villages here, but many thousands. His military adviser is Sir Walter de Boissy-sans-Avoir, and the Pope is telling other knights to join with their feudal hosts, so armies will march from all over Christendom! The Hermit says he will lead his own army of the poor and meek, the common folk, who will show the path of righteousness. Imagine! And army of men and women dedicated to the support of God and winning back his land! Its is the greatest issue of our time!’ He smiled, his excitement palpable.

‘Benet, how could we afford such a -‘

‘My love, this is the beginning of our future.’ He laughed. ‘I’ll sell the house, and with the money we can buy all we need. If we carry gold, it will be easier to hold about our persons. I will hold it in my scrip, wife. and then, when we reach Jerusalem, we can settle there and enjoy a new life, a simpler life.’

Michael Jecks pulls together all the disparate groups of people to join the First Crusade. Ordinary peasants, apprentices, prostitutes, knights, men-at-arms and even children join the march east – to the Holy Land. Jecks recreates the passion and hope for eternal redemption that led so many, from all corners of Europe, to leave their homes and lives behind and join the quest to retake Jerusalem.

The depth of research is impressive. The story moves on at a pace and the hardships and dangers faced by the pilgrims are brought vividly to life. The drama is palpable.

Each character has his or her own reasons for joining the crusade, whether it is for redemption, adventure or a more personal reason, they need each other in order too complete their journey. But they also have their own demons to overcome, or succumb to. Some of the characters are likeable and sympathetic, despite the challenges they have faced so far in life, and even when they are less than kind to those around them. While there are others the reader may want to strangle with their own bare hands!

Michael Jecks has a knack of evoking a reader’s emotions. Isn’t that the beauty of a good book? It draws you in. It gets you to feel invested in the characters. It makes you laugh, cry – and get angry.

And Pilgrim’s War is a good book.

Actually, it’s a jolly good book and you will find it hard to put down.

And you know how I sometimes say, this is a book I would get for my dad? Well, I gave it to him for his birthday. He read it in 2 days and said it was ‘a cracking good book’.

Buy the book:

Pilgrim’s War is available now from Amazon.

About the Author:

Michael Jecks is the author of over 50 novels inspired by history and legend. He is the founder of Medieval Murderers, and has served on the committees of the Historical Writers’ Association, the CWA and he Detection Club. He was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop. or by contacting me.

Coming 30 March: Princesses of the Early Middle Ages

Daughters of kings were often used to seal treaty alliances and forge peace with England’s enemies. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest explores the lives of these young women, how they followed the stereotype, and how they sometimes managed to escape it. It will look at the world they lived in, and how their lives and marriages were affected by political necessity and the events of the time. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages will also examine how these girls, who were often political pawns, were able to control their own lives and fates. Whilst they were expected to obey their parents in their marriage choices, several princesses were able to exert their own influence on these choices, with some outright refusing the husbands offered to them.

Their stories are touching, inspiring and, at times, heartbreaking.

Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest is now available for pre-order from Pen & Sword and Amazon.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Scotland’s history is dramatic, violent and bloody and Scotland’s Medieval Queens have seen it all. This is the story of Scotland through their eyes. Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books. Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. Heroines of the Tudor World is now available from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon.

Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon, Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Ian Mortimer, Bernard Cornwell, Elizabeth Chadwick and Scott Mariani, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

We will be having Michael Jecks on in a couple of weeks, to talk about Pilgrim’s War. In the meantime, have a listen to Michael’s first appearance, chatting about his Last Templar series.

Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

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History… the interesting bits!