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Sto caricando le informazioni... The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France (2004)
Informazioni sull'operaThe Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France di Eric Jager (Author) (2004)
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Iscriviti per consentire a LibraryThing di scoprire se ti piacerà questo libro. Attualmente non vi sono conversazioni su questo libro. Very accessible to read. After long and boring background information on the woman, her husband and her rapist, information on French law at that time -- 14th century, how the husband got permission to fight, how the trial by combat was conducted and the fates of the three involved. "The last duel" referred only to the last one in that particular jurisdiction. There were still other duels in other parts of France. True story of the last trial by combat in medieval France. It was written very accessibly, not dry and dusty at all. It almost felt like a novel. It was interesting to see how the judicial system worked and very interesting to see how women and rape were perceived at the time. I highly recommend it. In fact I wouldn't mind reading it again, which for a history narrative is rare as duck's teeth. I was surprised by this book. I thought it was going to be a historical narrative; it is historical but it is not told in a narrative fashion but rather in a linear non-fiction style that belies a documentary feel. I've yet to watch the movie. The beginning is slow; there are a lot of setups, back story, genealogy, and heraldry to get through prior to the actual incident itself. And you have to wonder at the competence of the knights/Lords in question overall with some of the petty grievances and backhanded things they supposedly did to each other to make it get to the point where there was no other way to get even than assaulting a woman for revenge. There are a few illustrations throughout this very short book; they all look to be taken from illuminated manuscripts of the time. They are lovely accompaniments to the information. Jager does a great job of keeping himself out of the tale as well. Sometimes, an author who is exploring a historic event finds it necessary to introduce their person as a character or dive into their explorations and research habits which leads to a ramble for a while. Jager does not do this. While he provides his own thoughts, they are subtle and included appropriately {academically} in place with the progression of the facts rather than becoming their own narrative. I would recommend this to readers interested in historic crime, trials, and combat. The actual combat scenes were thorough and intense; I enjoyed them! **All thoughts and opinions are my own.** nessuna recensione | aggiungi una recensione
Nel 1386, pochi giorni dopo Natale, una folla silenziosa si raccolse in uno spiazzo erboso, dietro un monastero parigino. Furono in migliaia ad assistere al combattimento mortale che doveva provare di fronte agli occhi di Dio chi, tra i due contendenti, avesse ragione. Quel duello, alla presenza del giovane sovrano Carlo VI, di molti nobili e del parlamento, segnò il culmine di uno scandalo che infiammò tutta la Francia. Protagonista di questa sanguinaria vicenda è il cavaliere normanno Jean de Carrouges. Tornato da una spedizione militare in Scozia, aveva ritrovato la giovane moglie, Marguerite, incinta: la bella e coraggiosa dama accusava un nobile, Jacques Le Gris, di averla brutalmente violentata. Le Gris, favorito dalla corte, respingeva le accuse. Era un caso difficile da risolvere: per i risvolti sessuali, per l'amicizia che aveva legato i due uomini, per le implicazioni politiche e perché la faccenda aveva coinvolto l'intera corte. Il tribunale non riusciva a prendere una decisione e così si decise di affidare il verdetto al giudizio divino. Quel giorno per Jean de Carrouges la posta in gioco era altissima: se fosse stato sconfitto, Marguerite sarebbe stata messa al rogo come spergiura. Partendo da un'accurata documentazione storica, Eric Jager ha saputo raccontare questo episodio storico come un'appassionante indagine poliziesca, un intrigo di crimine, tradimento e vendetta all'epoca della crisi del feudalesimo. Non sono state trovate descrizioni di biblioteche |
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Google Books — Sto caricando le informazioni... GeneriSistema Decimale Melvil (DDC)394.809440902Social sciences Customs, Etiquette, Folklore General Customs Dueling and suicide Biography And History EuropeClassificazione LCVotoMedia:
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The history told is well-backed-up, pieced together in the places where there is no surviving record (or there was only a mystery even at the time) and clearly shown what is known for sure, what is supposition, where there are gaps in the record.
Eric Jager presents a story with remarkable depth of focus, but also breadth, where appropriate - where wider history and culture come into play, he expands upon them duly and most informatively yet without wandering off topic.
The people introduced through the story are given a remarkable amount of character, some of it clearly drawn from their actions, record, and interpersonal relationships, some of it supposition, but it makes the story come to life even more. I'm glad I picked up the book, I learned many interesting things from it.
It also reflects somewhat on later, and even current, perceptions - of crimes (certain crimes), accusations, perpetrators, and particularly of women who accuse their assailants.
(I've seen people claim it was obvious what the outcome of the duel would belong before it was told; I do not feel it was, I was unsure even during the retelling of the duel itself, and even if it were . . . it's a historical examination, the outcome is a matter of record. I wouldn't necessarily condemn the book for that.) ( )