Historical fiction has long been a way of bringing to life legends, characters and epochs with which we may not be familiar.  If you did not read the Pagan series when they were first published (starting in 1992) then you missed four books that brought the crusades of the twelfth century alive in a way not done before.

Pagan's Crusade, the first book in the series, opens in May 1187 as Pagan is signing on to be a squire for Lord Roland Roucy de Bram, a Templar Knight stationed in Jerusalem.  Lord Roland needs a new squire because his last one, "was disembowelled by the Infidel, and his guts were tied across the road to the fortress".  The master of squires (whom Pagan nicknames Rockhead) tells him in no uncertain terms that he is "mercenary garbage" and is only being accepted because the Christians are losing the fight against the Moslems for Jerusalem.  On top of that, they have to guard hundreds of Christian Pilgrims who have arrived to visit the Holy Land.

So begins the story of Pagan, a street-wise orphan, and Lord Roland, the original 'knight in shining armour' - peaceful, self-assured, dignified, strong and aloof - if not a little naive at times.  On one level the series tells of their physical adventures.  On other levels it tells of their journey to understand their times, themselves and each other.  The test of a great historical novel is whether readers learn things about themselves and their own times too.  Jinks is able to help the reader make these links by using Pagan's cynical voice to question just what the crusades were about.

Jinks tells Pagan's story in the first person and in the present tense.  This style perfectly captures Pagan - a sixteen year old street-kid with a sharp wit and the ability to survive in the most hostile environments.  The matter-of-fact, 21st Century, voice also puts an extremely funny spin on the whole story and gives it a 'Monty Python meets the Lonely Planet Travel Guide' feel.  Pagan's highly sarcastic observations bring alive the violence, filth, horror and paradoxical every-dayness of the Holy Lands and Europe during the time of the crusades.  The first three books are told by Pagan, the last by Isidore (Pagan's scribe).  The similarity of Isidore's voice to Pagan's helps us to understand just how true to himself Pagan has remained, even when he does become an Archdeacon in France.

Although these books have been shortlisted for, and won, CBC Book of the Year Awards they may not be books that young adults would necessarily pick up for themselves, because the crusades is not an historical time-frame that is all that well known.  But readers will be well rewarded with Jinks lively story, full of the most unforgettable characters.  This series is a fabulous example of clever character development.  Jinks gives her characters the time and space to evolve.  In doing this she makes accessible a fascinating period of history.  This series is highly recommended.  Pick a funny bit, read it aloud to someone and see how long the book stays in your hand!

Titles in the Pagan series:
Pagan's Crusade - Pagan enlists as squire to Roland in the desperate defence of Jerusalem against Saladin
Pagan in Exile - After the fall of Jerusalem, Roland and Pagan return to France at the height of the Cathar heresy
Pagan's Vows - Questioning his fighting life, Roland enters a monastery.  Pagan follows, with similar questions about his life
Pagan's Scribe - As a senior arch-deacon, Pagan is caught in the brutal campaign of 1209 against the Cathars

Other books by this author:
The Inquisitor (Pan Macmillan, 1999)
Eglantine; Eustace; Eloise - 3 ghost stories (Allen & Unwin, 2002-4)

Review by Sarah Mayor Cox

© 1999 Sarah Mayor Cox