' … an authoritative statement, written with verve … Based on a meticulous study of all known charters and combined with the chronicle reports and some poetic accounts of what came to be known as the First Crusade, Riley-Smith conjures a humane, believable and multi-faceted picture of the aspirations and capacities which motivated and enabled some thousands of French fighting men to arrange for their journey to the Holy Land, to provide for themselves and their dependents en route, and to withstand the ounishing rigours of journey and battles.' The English Historical Review

• Introduction; 1. Crusading and crusaders, 1095–1131; 2. Holy sepulchre, holy war; 3. Preaching and the crusaders; 4. Recruitment, lordship and family; 5. Preparing for the crusades; 6. Returning from the crusades; 7. Crusading and the Montlhérys; 8. Conclusion and postscript; Appendix; Bibliography.

' … an authoritative statement, written with verve … Based on a meticulous study of all known charters and combined with the chronicle reports and some poetic accounts of what came to be known as the First Crusade, Riley-Smith conjures a humane, believable and multi-faceted picture of the aspirations and capacities which motivated and enabled some thousands of French fighting men to arrange for their journey to the Holy Land, to provide for themselves and their dependents en route, and to withstand the ounishing rigours of journey and battles.' The English Historical Review

• Introduction; 1. Crusading and crusaders, 1095–1131; 2. Holy sepulchre, holy war; 3. Preaching and the crusaders; 4. Recruitment, lordship and family; 5. Preparing for the crusades; 6. Returning from the crusades; 7. Crusading and the Montlhérys; 8. Conclusion and postscript; Appendix; Bibliography.

' … an authoritative statement, written with verve … Based on a meticulous study of all known charters and combined with the chronicle reports and some poetic accounts of what came to be known as the First Crusade, Riley-Smith conjures a humane, believable and multi-faceted picture of the aspirations and capacities which motivated and enabled some thousands of French fighting men to arrange for their journey to the Holy Land, to provide for themselves and their dependents en route, and to withstand the ounishing rigours of journey and battles.' The English Historical Review

• Introduction; 1. Crusading and crusaders, 1095–1131; 2. Holy sepulchre, holy war; 3. Preaching and the crusaders; 4. Recruitment, lordship and family; 5. Preparing for the crusades; 6. Returning from the crusades; 7. Crusading and the Montlhérys; 8. Conclusion and postscript; Appendix; Bibliography.