How to be a Knight: A Squire’s Companion

Dugald Steer

Templar

1840119284

Jun 2006

Assuming the guise of Hector de Lance, readers become caught in a quest to rescue their assumed father, Sir Geoffrey from the clutches of the French Knight Sir Denis d’Oc who although allowing Sir Geoffrey to abode in Castle d’Oc itself rather than in the dungeon won’t abide releasing him until a ransom of ’40 is paid. Sir Geoffrey, however, has a cunning plan to teach his son to become a knight, how well will you fare?
Following the high production values in terms of print, illustration, paper-engineering, design and lay-out, that Templar’s ‘Ology’ books have become renowned for, ‘How to be a Knight: A Squire’s Companion’ lays-out the mediaeval world of knighthood and chivalric values. Details on chivalry, on armoury, heraldry, training, questing and battles are provided. Adding colour and detail to these are lift-the-flap sections, a complete game, Squirefight, with all the pieces needed to play, a rule book on jousting a pop-up showing the strongholds of the castle gate means and devices for making an attack on enemy castles, a mini bestiary of creatures that might be encountered when questing and a short retelling of the Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
A book that enables such active participation successfully transports readers through time to live and breathe, learn and battle in the age of knights and chivalric honour. The over-arching story provides a satisfying cohesion to the work.