Doctor Who And The Crusaders

Oct 7, 2024 2:28 PM

Author:David Whitaker,William Russell

Within minutes of the TARDIS' arrival on twelfth-century Earth, the First Doctor and his companions are in serious trouble. They happen to intercept a Saracen attack on Richard the Lionheart, therby enabling the English King to escape otherwise certain capture. But Barbara is kidnapped and carried off by the Saracens to the Sultan Saladin's court. Saladin spares her life -- on condition she entertains his court by telling stories. And, like Scheherazade, if she fails, then she must die... William Russell, who played Ian in the original 1965 TV serial on which this book is based, reads David Whitaker's complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1973. 'They’re well-written books-adventure stories, of course, but with some thought… the creation of the character of the Doctor had a touch of genius about it.’ - Westminster Press.

Reviews

The Crusaders is a book alive with colour, impact and surprise

—— Gary Russell , Doctor Who Magazine

This is a raw, true book that evokes not just the life of the great singer Billie Holiday but an entire jazz era.... Blackburn's compelling tale is of whores, drug-pushers, bent policemen and crooked lawyers as well as brilliant musicians, and she brings alive everything she touches

—— Mail on Sunday

This addition to the tide of Billie Holiday books is extremely welcome. Nowhere else is the context of her life and work so vividly captured

—— Toni Morrison

Full of vigour and colour...Ms Blackburn's portrait of a unique artist is moving, revealing and quite unforgettable

—— Economist

Julia Blackburn...has contributed much to the legacy of a remarkable human being

—— New Statesman

With her assured touch, she has transcribed and framed the verbatim accounts into a resonant piece of social history, never losing sight of the woman who enthralled everyone with whom she came into contact

—— Financial Times

Often books about jazz musicians make the mistake of over-focusing on the music. Blackburn is more interested in Billie as a person

—— Mike Figgis , Guardian

This is a really marvellous book, the most uninhibitedly intimate portrayal ever of the short, hard life and overall musical triumph of Lady Day...With Billie vividly reflects the chaos that Billie Holiday was born into and only rarely escaped from

—— Spectator

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