Hilaire Belloc 
Crusades 

Belloc shows that the Crusades were a titanic struggle between Christian civilization and "the Turk, " savage Mongols who had embraced Islam. He explains the practical reasons why the Crusaders initially succeeded and why they ultimately failed then he predicts the re-emergence of Islam, since Christendom failed to destroy it in the 12th century. Makes history come alive and gives a rare, true appreciation of Christendom and of our Catholic forefathers!