This book is a delightful read; it's full of information written in a flowing and captivating style. James Reston paints a picture of human events and doings and the social workings behind the colossal clash between two legend warriors; Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.
For someone who never read about crusades before, nor of Saladin, Reston managed to give me a good background of the times and a good hold of the story he told.
I recommend this book as both a gateway to crusades and middle east history, it's a very good book.