Very accessible to read. After long and boring background information on the woman, her husband and her rapist, information on French law at that time -- 14th century, how the husband got permission to fight, how the trial by combat was conducted and the fates of the three involved. "The last duel" referred only to the last one in that particular jurisdiction. There were still other duels in other parts of France. ( )

True story of the last trial by combat in medieval France. It was written very accessibly, not dry and dusty at all. It almost felt like a novel. It was interesting to see how the judicial system worked and very interesting to see how women and rape were perceived at the time. I highly recommend it. In fact I wouldn't mind reading it again, which for a history narrative is rare as duck's teeth. ( )

I was surprised by this book. I thought it was going to be a historical narrative; it is historical but it is not told in a narrative fashion but rather in a linear non-fiction style that belies a documentary feel.

I've yet to watch the movie.

The beginning is slow; there are a lot of setups, back story, genealogy, and heraldry to get through prior to the actual incident itself. And you have to wonder at the competence of the knights/Lords in question overall with some of the petty grievances and backhanded things they supposedly did to each other to make it get to the point where there was no other way to get even than assaulting a woman for revenge.

There are a few illustrations throughout this very short book; they all look to be taken from illuminated manuscripts of the time. They are lovely accompaniments to the information.

Jager does a great job of keeping himself out of the tale as well. Sometimes, an author who is exploring a historic event finds it necessary to introduce their person as a character or dive into their explorations and research habits which leads to a ramble for a while. Jager does not do this. While he provides his own thoughts, they are subtle and included appropriately {academically} in place with the progression of the facts rather than becoming their own narrative.

I would recommend this to readers interested in historic crime, trials, and combat. The actual combat scenes were thorough and intense; I enjoyed them!

**All thoughts and opinions are my own.** ( )

well written, thorough in its historical detail, balanced in its treatment of the characters involved although in limited third person pt of view of the knight ( )

Eric Jager is becoming one of my favorite writers. He writes non-fiction in a way that is fascinating. This story of the argument between the knight and the squire and their duel kept me so intrigued that I could not put the book down. I was so tempted to look at the last page and see who won but did not. I recommend this book to anyone who loves history and/or mysteries and wants to read a fascinating true story. ( )