A macho multi-culturalist Templar

Are you a serious admirerer of the Knights Templar? Then this isn't a book for you. Do you just love Templar hype? Do you have a collection of weird Templar books at home or in your trailer? Then "The Knight Templar" is a must have.

I'm sure you've read books where the Templars are pirates, terrorists, Satanists, keepers of the Holy Grail or just plain mean to poor Ivanhoe. Forget about them. Say goodbye to Earl Sinclair, Brian Guilbert and albino killers in Paris. Say hello to Arn Magnusson, the pro-Muslim multi-culturalist Templar.

"The Knights Templar" is a English translation of the Swedish novel "Tempelriddaren" by Jan Guillou. I've never read the translation, so I can only vouch for the Swedish original. You just have to buy this book anyway! If you live in Nueva Mexico or Puerto-damn-Rico, you can even purchase a Spanish translation. Note that "The Knights Templar" is really the second part of a trilogy. However, it can be read independently of the others.

Jan Guillou is a highly controversial writer, journalist and political columnist. Politically, he is very left-wing and pro-Muslim. Indeed, he is blacklisted by US authorities and can't enter the country! The heroes of his novels are always tough macho guys. But they are tough macho guys with a twist: they are politically correct tough macho guys. If you can imagine a politically correct version of Arnold Schwarzenegger, you can imagine Arn Magnusson, the main character of "The Knights Templar".

The novel is very well-written. It cleverly weaves together fact, fiction and sheer fantasy. Indeed, it's so clever that you have to be an expert on the history of the crusades to untangle the fact from the fiction. Guillou even utilizes Muslim legends about Saladin's dealings with the Templars. According to one legend, Saladin was once saved by a Templar. According to another, he once pardoned a Templar who mysteriously resembled Saladin's brother. In the novel, this Templar gets a name: why, it's Arn Magnusson of course!

The plot is set in the late 12th century, shortly before the Muslims under Saladin capture Jerusalem. Arn is a Templar from far-away Sweden who develops pro-Muslim sympathies while in the Holy Land. He saves Muslim Bedouins from being killed by rougue crusaders. From his castle at Gaza, he rules the Muslims fairly, even to the point of implementing Muslim laws. He rids Gaza of bandits and employs Muslim doctors. Only his valiant sense of duty makes him fight for the Christians, whenever he is called up. Yet, Arn's fate is mysteriously bound to that of Saladin.

Of course, the novel is political propaganda. It's not really about the 12th century but about the 21st. Guillou has never hidden his pro-Arab or pro-Muslim sympathies in the Middle East conflict.

Be that as it may, this book will make a fine addition to your high strangeness library of Templar lore. God wills it!

PS. In this book, you'll finally get the answer to that Question of Questions. Why on earth did Ivanhoe hate Templars?