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Bradley's Reviews > The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France
The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France
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Since the new movie adaptation of the real history, with all-star actors and actresses, is all the buzz, I decided to read the book that it was based on. And no, I have not seen the movie (yet).
But either way, I'm glad to have read it. It's the account of the last lawful use of duels in the French court during the Hundred Year's War, and because it was a pretty horrific way to perform law from any way you look at it, it also ended the practice.
Rivalry, rape, rapine, perhaps even a bit of revenge. Of course, the topic is evergreen. How should the law be settled in case of rape accusations? Why, with multiple perjury, likely malfeasance, with women treated as chattel and burned, pregnant, at the stake for simply accusing her rapist, of course. And if that isn't enough, resort to systemized knightly duels because, as we know, might always makes right.
The history is written well and the book is very readable, full of basic explanations and personages and cultural baggage, but the history of this, itself, is aggravating as hell.
Good book, however. And good riddance to the practice.
But either way, I'm glad to have read it. It's the account of the last lawful use of duels in the French court during the Hundred Year's War, and because it was a pretty horrific way to perform law from any way you look at it, it also ended the practice.
Rivalry, rape, rapine, perhaps even a bit of revenge. Of course, the topic is evergreen. How should the law be settled in case of rape accusations? Why, with multiple perjury, likely malfeasance, with women treated as chattel and burned, pregnant, at the stake for simply accusing her rapist, of course. And if that isn't enough, resort to systemized knightly duels because, as we know, might always makes right.
The history is written well and the book is very readable, full of basic explanations and personages and cultural baggage, but the history of this, itself, is aggravating as hell.
Good book, however. And good riddance to the practice.
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Reading Progress
December 30, 2021
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Started Reading
December 30, 2021
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to-read
December 30, 2021
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December 30, 2021
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December 30, 2021
– Shelved as:
history
December 30, 2021
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)
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Trish
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 31, 2021 03:17AM
I'm so happy I made you read this! :D
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Yep, I'm happy you're happy you voluntold me face-first into the Hundred Years War legal system. ;)
Muhahahahahaha. Well, I did offer you watch the movie with me. And I gave you a way out of reading the book but you even wanted to read it RIGHT NOW. So, you see, it's all your own fault. ;)
It's hard to say no when you're plopped right between two fires.
Wrong book to comment that under. ;)
Don't care. This is the fourth book in a week that I've been thrown into that apocalyptic war in the space of a week and it was all almost entirely by accident.THE UNIVERSE IS OUT TO GET ME.
You obviously sustained some (brain) damage in the process. Might wanna re-check that sentence? *lol*
Nope, re-read it. Still accurate. lol
Bradley, God knows why I still watch Ridley Scott (though 'Raised by Wolves' is quite good.) I wasn't aware of this book, which by default has to be better. The movie tells the same story from 3 different POVs. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon sport the worst mullet hairstyles in Christendom. And we are forced to watch the full rape scene on which the plot turns TWICE.
Yes, you have to watch the rape. Does that make you uncomfortable? Imagine how women feel, especially ones that are rape victims themselves (no, I'm not talking about myself). It's important because HE DIDN'T GET IT. Many men won't, in fact. And yet, it is there for everone to see. Also, society as a whole should HAVE to look at such things more often instead of burying it. Moreover, considering that they thought to the death over it, we should see the actual crime.As for the hairstyles, they were historically accurate. Nobody made that movie wanting the actors to look pretty.
Did you think the movie was well depicted? While watching the movie, I thought , “ the truth was somewhere in the middle”. Was the book more forthcoming as to what actually happened?
Loool, oops. I forgot to watch the movie. I get so wrapped up in books. I can't judge. :)
Well, I've seen the movie and it was very good. However, both the book and the movie need to speculate since we weren't there and there was never a confession. The book does have a nice way of pointing out why it is unlikely that the rape was invented though.
