“This book is a wonderful and enjoyable read that holds to the facts, and yet still weaves a good tale for the reader.”

Read the review here

A Wargamers Needful Things

This is a very readable account of Saladin’s life and achievements, from his involvement in Nuradin’s repeated attempts to conquer Fatamid Egypt, which swiftly led to Saladin’s unexpected promotion to Vizier of Egypt, his strained relations with Nuradin and on to the conquest of Syria in the aftermath of Nuradin’s death. We then move onto Saladin’s victory over the Crusader States at Hattin, the conquest of Jerusalem and most of the Crusader States, and his final campaign, against the forces of the Third Crusade. Saladin’s life had more than enough interest to justify a biography, and it is somewhat surprising that this was the first one in English, especially considering how popular he was in Medieval literature, and his role as the great opponent of Richard the Lion Heart, one of the great heroes of Victorian England.

Read the full review here

History of War

This remarkable biography explores the life and exploits of a legendary sovereign and warlord: Saladin. Based on an in-depth study by a prominent historian, Stanley Lane-Poole.

Prétorien magazine, N°43

An ambitious and very complete military biography
of Saladin.

VaeVictis, January - February 2017

Saladin is a legendary figure in the history of the Middle East. Based on a lifetime of study, Saladin and the Fall of Jerusalem examines Saladin’s youth, his military development, his conquest of Egypt and Syria, the Holy War against the crusaders and, crucially, his duel with Richard the Lionheart, including the struggle over Acre and, of course, the fall of Jerusalem.

Pennant, Forces Pension Society

Republished complete and unabridged with some minor alterations and the addition of introductory material by Dr David Nicolle, who also supplied the images in the picture section.
Stanley provides great detail about this battle; how the infantry maddened with thirst, scorched by the burning sun, and blinded by the flame and smoke of the bush which the Muslims had fired, lost their formation.

Duncan Harrington, KFHS