Talisman

Set in the deserts around Syria and Palestine, Talisman is Walter Scott's classic tale of the Crusade. In Talisman, no one is who you think they are and if they are, and neither are they on the side you expect. During the time of the Talisman story, a truce is in place and Richard is near death with a mysterious fever. After Richard recovers with the help of an Infidel medical man, the Royal women join the camp, including Richard's charming young consort. Various alliances are contemplated, all including marriage proposals as their contractual binder. A very brave young Scotsman turns out to be a person of greater standing than advertised. This book has the classic images of the Crusades: duels, secret convents hidden in the harsh, craggy rocks of the desert, hermits, sultans, kings, dukes, Nubian slaves, conspiracies, Arab doctors and the like. It makes fascinating reading and reveals a lot about the imagination of Scott and his time.