Starred Review. Grade 5–9—Students will satisfy both their research needs and their curiosity with these two books. The first title goes a long way in explaining the whys of the Crusades as Currie deftly examines the mindset and worldview of the medieval era. The perceptions of time and space, the order of the universe, and religion and superstition are given thorough treatment. Despite the title, Lace gives equal attention to the events leading up to the destruction of Constantinople and traces the planning and plotting of the Crusades, whose reverberations are still felt today. Both books have numerous color reproductions. Clear, concise writing makes them highly readable, while the scholarship makes them valuable resources.—Carol Fazioli, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
