THE GREATEST KNIGHT

THE GREATEST KNIGHT by Thomas Asbridge | Kirkus HomeMagazineNewsletterEmail Newsletter Your AccountReviews / AssignmentsAuthor DashboardEditorial DashboardIndie Author DashboardYour Pro Page Pro InboxYour Book ListManage SubscriptionsChange PasswordLog outLog inSearch termSearch scopeAllReviewsInterviewsAuthorsListsPublishersPro ConnectLATEST ISSUE OFKirkus ReviewsFeaturing the best 100 nonfiction and best 50 teen books of 2014.Book Reviews Just Awarded the KIRKUS STAR CATEGORIESBiography & MemoirBusiness & EconomicsChildren's and TeenCurrent AffairsEntertainment & SportsEssays & AnthologiesFiction & LiteratureFood & CookingGraphic Novels & Comic BooksHealth & MedicineHistoryIndieiPad Book AppsMystery & CrimeNature & TravelPsychologyReligionRomanceScience & TechnologyScience Fiction & FantasySocial SciencesThrillersTrue CrimeBEST BOOKSKirkus Stars & RecommendationsBEST OF 2014FictionNonfictionChildren'sTeenIndieBook AppsFEATURED REVIEWSHot ListsVintage ReviewsBest of 2014FICTIONBy CategoryFull ListFeatured AuthorsCHILDREN'SBy CategoryFull ListFeatured Authors & IllustratorsNONFICTIONBy CategoryFull ListFeatured AuthorsTEENBy CategoryFull ListFeatured AuthorsINDIEBy CategoryFull ListFeatured AuthorsBOOK APPSFull ListBestsellersAuthors Featured Author CATEGORIESChildren's Authors & IllustratorsFiction Authors Nonfiction Authors Young Adult Authors Bestselling Author Success StoriesTOP AUTHORSLatest InterviewsBestselling AuthorsKirkus Reviews Cover StoriesAre you an author?Get Your Book ReviewedGet Your Book EditedPromote Your ReviewKirkus TV Coming Soon Beth Macyauthor of FACTORY MANDecember 9, 2014AUTHOR INTERVIEWSShow ScheduleRecent InterviewsBROWSE VIDEOSAllFictionNonfictionLatest InterviewAndrew Smithauthor of GRASSHOPPER JUNGLEBlogs Latest From THE BOOK SMUGGLERS CATEGORIESChildren'sMysteries/ThrillersRomanceSci-Fi/FantasyYoung AdultBLOGSSF SignalForever Young AdultThe Book SmugglersSeven Impossible Things Before BreakfastBookshelves of DoomThe Rap SheetBobbi Dumas: Read-A-RomanceATFMBAndrew Liptak Contests The Kirkus Prize Recently Nominated GENERAL INFORMATIONRules & Selection Process2014 Judges2014 Awards CeremonyFAQPress Room2014 WINNERS & FINALISTSFictionNonfictionYoung Readers' Literature2015 NOMINEESFictionNonfictionYoung Readers' LiteratureABOUT THE KIRKUS PRIZEThe Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.Pro Connect This Week's AUTHOR TO WATCH T. MULLEN
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KIRKUS REVIEW

Biography of WilliamMarshal (1146-1219), Earl of Pembroke, the epitome of medieval chivalry, whobattled for great kings (Henry II, Richard the Lionheart) and the not-so-great(Henry III).

Marshal’s reputationstems from a fulsome epic poem commissioned after his death (“In its pagesWilliam almost became the living embodiment of the mythical Arthurian knight,Lancelot”), which thrilled scholars when it turned up in 1861. Acknowledgingits value as well as its bias?it presented its hero “as the perfectknight”?Asbridge (Medieval History/Univ. of London;?The Crusades: TheAuthoritative History of the War for the Holy Land, 2010) delivers anintensively researched but lucid portrait of a knight who triumphed in an agemuch nastier than that of Arthur’s mythical kingdom. Son of a minor noble,Marshal matured in a time when England still ruled much of France. Aftertraining in the household of a great Norman magnate, he distinguished himselfin tournaments, which were exceedingly popular during the day. These were notthe formal jousts that proliferated in later centuries but rather brutalbattles between groups of knights whose winners ransomed surviving losers.After serving Eleanor of Aquitaine, Marshal joined the court of her estrangedhusband, Henry II, where he prospered, fought for but occasionally betrayedHenry and his successors, and ended life as England’s most powerful royalretainer (“guardian of the realm”). Henry II passed much of his reign fightingthe French, when he wasn’t fighting one of three ambitious sons anxious tounseat him. Matters did not improve after Henry’s death, so Marshal’s careercomes across as a relentless series of intrigues, battles, atrocities, trucesquickly broken, internal revolts and treason that often included Marshal forreasons the author must guess because historical evidence is lacking.

A valuable biography ofan important figure in a distant, violent, barely comprehensible era.

Pub Date:?Dec. 2nd, 2014ISBN:?978-0062262059Page count:?416ppPublisher:?Ecco/HarperCollinsReview Posted Online: Oct.?8th,?2014Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct.?15th,?2014



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The Greatest Movies Of All TIme

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A Pride Tribute To The World's Greatest Gay Icon

In what is becoming a New York tradition, the legacy of Judy Garland will be celebrated with an evening of eclectic performances honoring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth.

Now in its third year, "Night of A Thousand Judys" will feature Broadway's Carolee Carmello and Christiane Noll along with Manhattan cabaret stars Justin Vivian Bond and Molly Pope. Also making their "Judy" debut in 2013 are "Glee" Warbler Telly Leung, original Weather Girl Martha Wash and singer Madeleine Peyroux.

Acknowledging that the evening's set will comprise both classic tunes and lesser-known material from the Garland songbook, the participating artists were nonetheless tight-lipped about the specifics of their performances; last year's show featured nods to Garland's seminal 1961 Carnegie Hall concert as well as her starring roles in "Meet Me In St. Louis" and, of course, "The Wizard of Oz." Still, they nonetheless praised Garland as being more than just a stage and screen icon with the troublesome private life.

Check out the poster for "Night of A Thousand Judys," then scroll down to keep reading:

"She wasn’t the kind of performer who teared up or was over-the-top about her emotional demonstration, but there was something so heartbreaking about her performances when she was singing about love and relationships," Carmello says. The Tony nominee believes Garland's much-publicized, behind-the-scenes turmoil only adds to the enduring myth: "Performers who have their own personal struggles outside of their stage persona are appealing to people who are struggling themselves because they see in that person a way to rise above. They feel a personal empathy from that performer."

Added Leung: "Like many artists, Judy sought refuge from her personal life through the performing arts ... the best performances are an escape, so I think everyone can relate to that."

As in previous years, "Night of A Thousand Judys" -- which is a special presentation of New York-based actor, writer and performer Justin Sayre's variety show "The Meeting*" and timed to coincide with Pride month -- will benefit the Ali Forney Center, a New York advocacy group dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. New to the event this year is an auction of artwork based on Garland, which includes pieces donated by Charles Busch and Tommy Tune.

Sayre says his passion for Garland herself, who he deems the ultimate "comeback kid," is matched only by his dedication to the cause at hand, which is more relevant than ever following what appears to be a spate of disturbing attacks targeting the city's LGBT community.

"I really hope it's a great Pride event to show how proud we are of everything the Ali Forney Center does," Sayre says. Though he points to the show's emphasis on "honoring who Judy was and what she represents," he adds, "Homeless LGBT kids can be such a target for violence ... we're all under attack right now and we really have to watch out for our kids, because our kids are really the most vulnerable."

"Night of A Thousand Judys" plays New York's Kaufman Music Center on June 17. For more information, click here.

Check out 18 of Judy Garland's most legendary performances below:

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