The Last Duel (Movie Tie-In): A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat
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- Create Date：2021-10-15 07:50:56
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Eric Jager
- ISBN：059324088X
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Summary
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE - "A taut page-turner with all the hallmarks of a good historical thriller。"--Orlando Sentinel
The gripping true story of the "duel to end all duels" in medieval France as a resolute knight defends his wife's honor against the squire she accuses of a heinous crime。
In the midst of the devastating Hundred Years' War between France and England， Jean de Carrouges， a Norman knight fresh from combat in Scotland， returns home to yet another deadly threat。 His wife， Marguerite， has accused squire Jacques Le Gris of rape。 A deadlocked court decrees a "trial by combat" between the two men that also leaves Marguerite's fate in the balance。 For if her husband loses the duel， she will be put to death as a false accuser。
While enemy troops pillage the land， and rebellion and plague threaten the lives of all， Carrouges and Le Gris meet in full armor on a walled field in Paris。 What follows is a fierce duel， the final one sanctioned by governing powers， before a massive crowd that includes the teenage King Charles VI， during which both combatants are wounded--but only one fatally。
Based on extensive research in Normandy and Paris， The Last Duel brings to life a colorful， turbulent age and three unforgettable characters caught in a fatal triangle of crime， scandal， and revenge。 The Last Duel is at once a moving human drama， a captivating true crime story， and an engrossing work of historical intrigue with themes that echo powerfully centuries later。
The gripping true story of the "duel to end all duels" in medieval France as a resolute knight defends his wife's honor against the squire she accuses of a heinous crime。
In the midst of the devastating Hundred Years' War between France and England， Jean de Carrouges， a Norman knight fresh from combat in Scotland， returns home to yet another deadly threat。 His wife， Marguerite， has accused squire Jacques Le Gris of rape。 A deadlocked court decrees a "trial by combat" between the two men that also leaves Marguerite's fate in the balance。 For if her husband loses the duel， she will be put to death as a false accuser。
While enemy troops pillage the land， and rebellion and plague threaten the lives of all， Carrouges and Le Gris meet in full armor on a walled field in Paris。 What follows is a fierce duel， the final one sanctioned by governing powers， before a massive crowd that includes the teenage King Charles VI， during which both combatants are wounded--but only one fatally。
Based on extensive research in Normandy and Paris， The Last Duel brings to life a colorful， turbulent age and three unforgettable characters caught in a fatal triangle of crime， scandal， and revenge。 The Last Duel is at once a moving human drama， a captivating true crime story， and an engrossing work of historical intrigue with themes that echo powerfully centuries later。
Reviews
Susan
，
Fascinating， very readable。
Red Claire
，
An excellent and incredibly well-researched piece of narrative history that evokes time， place， society and character of the protagonists wonderfully effectively。 My only major regret is that it was written by （afaik） a cis man pre the #MeToo movement。 Given the nature of the incident - not to mention how it and Marguerite have been treated by history and historians since - it would be incredibly interesting to see a discussion of the events in that context。
Lauren Connor
，
great book and such a good and important story to be told。 really excited for the movie too
John
，
This is an interesting account of a judicial duel to the death fought in Paris in 1386。 There is some question if the alleged rape was committed buy the defendant but the Parlement of Paris allowed the duel to go ahead so that God could decide who was telling the truth。 And if the husband loses the wife will be put to death for bearing false witness。 Lots at stake here。
Î-Chhin
，
A well-organized and well-written book that provides a clear and fascinating explication of the event and all related contexts。
Ryan Reese
，
This one was a slow started that was bogged down with historical details that related to scene-setting。 I understand how some might enjoy/appreciate this， but I think it got in the way of the story at hand in certain ways。 This said， once this got started with the central story， it didn't stop。 Jager's level of detail in describing the buildup to the duel， as well as the duel itself was appreciated and beautiful。 Excited for the movie！ This one was a slow started that was bogged down with historical details that related to scene-setting。 I understand how some might enjoy/appreciate this， but I think it got in the way of the story at hand in certain ways。 This said， once this got started with the central story， it didn't stop。 Jager's level of detail in describing the buildup to the duel， as well as the duel itself was appreciated and beautiful。 Excited for the movie！ 。。。more
Cherol A Grainger
，
Really enjoyed this book。 The duel was interesting but the history lesson was great。
David Doty
，
I find the Middle Ages fascinating， so was intrigued when I saw this book released in paperback in advance of a forthcoming movie based on the story。Eric Jager is a professor of English at UCLA， and writes a compelling narrative describing the true historical events surrounding the last "justice duel" that was held in medieval France in the late 12th century。 The story itself is really interesting--it is a legal drama that unfolds after the wife of a French knight alleges that she was raped by a I find the Middle Ages fascinating， so was intrigued when I saw this book released in paperback in advance of a forthcoming movie based on the story。Eric Jager is a professor of English at UCLA， and writes a compelling narrative describing the true historical events surrounding the last "justice duel" that was held in medieval France in the late 12th century。 The story itself is really interesting--it is a legal drama that unfolds after the wife of a French knight alleges that she was raped by another man while her husband is away， the other man being a powerful and very politically connected rival of her husband。Not only is Jager a terrific writer， making centuries-old events come alive with his powerful descriptions of characters and action， but he also is a fantastic historian。 I learned a lot about France， medieval practices， and the legal system that applied at the time。I can absolutely see why Hollywood decided to make this book into a major feature film。Five stars！ 。。。more
Dave Courtney
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Riveting。 And a very easy， breezy read filled with great questions， captivating controversy， and a story that translates in a fresh way into our modern setting。 Highly recommended。 One of the best historical thrillers I can remember reading in a long while。 Very much looking forward to the film releasing this week。
Coleen Dailey
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I read this book in anticipation of the movie and now I am really looking forward to seeing it brought to life。 I enjoyed the background of the history of French Law as well as the politics of the time。
Robin
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I really appreciated all of the historical context provided by Jager to help the reader understand what was happening， why it was happening， and what the implications were。 It is quite a dramatic story， but it was certainly written as a history book， and doesn't read like a novel。 I understand that this is， in fact， a history book， and you can only play with nonfiction so much before it becomes a historical fiction。 I guess I was just expecting a little more thrill and a little less dryness base I really appreciated all of the historical context provided by Jager to help the reader understand what was happening， why it was happening， and what the implications were。 It is quite a dramatic story， but it was certainly written as a history book， and doesn't read like a novel。 I understand that this is， in fact， a history book， and you can only play with nonfiction so much before it becomes a historical fiction。 I guess I was just expecting a little more thrill and a little less dryness based on many of the other reviews。 As far as history books go， it was pretty good。 Just don't expect it to keep you up on the edge of your seat into the wee hours of the night 😉 。。。more
Jenny Wheelbarrow
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First， I love history and any little bit of royal history and I am all in。 I probably won’t see the movie， but reading the historical account of this duel with artifacts， like tapestries and maps， only made me read faster to find out who won the duel。 The pageantry of the duel， the religious components， and the inter-weaving of royalty and parliament was so neat to read。 No spoilers！ However， the idea that my husband could challenge another and if he dies I am burned to death because his death i First， I love history and any little bit of royal history and I am all in。 I probably won’t see the movie， but reading the historical account of this duel with artifacts， like tapestries and maps， only made me read faster to find out who won the duel。 The pageantry of the duel， the religious components， and the inter-weaving of royalty and parliament was so neat to read。 No spoilers！ However， the idea that my husband could challenge another and if he dies I am burned to death because his death is seen as God’s will that the guilty are killed in a duel is WHOA to me！！ 。。。more
Hannah
，
"As the huge crowd seethe with pent up excitement， the two deadly enemies studied each other intently， their breath hot behind their visors， and the inside of their armour already damp with sweat。 Each sought the other's death as fire and water seek each others annihilation。 "Reading the book before seeing the film so I know whether or not to mentally prepare to see Adam Driver die。。。 "As the huge crowd seethe with pent up excitement， the two deadly enemies studied each other intently， their breath hot behind their visors， and the inside of their armour already damp with sweat。 Each sought the other's death as fire and water seek each others annihilation。 "Reading the book before seeing the film so I know whether or not to mentally prepare to see Adam Driver die。。。 。。。more
William Gill
，
A short， but highly engrossing read that has all the ingredients to make a great film。And so， Ridley Scott， no less， has translated it into a cinematic form which I intend to see。As good as the book is， the author meticulously sticks to the facts of the story， which while plentifully documented during its day， yield insufficient flesh for the bones of the narrative。 History alone can't do history justice in this case。I was left wanting to know more about the nature of all of the main players。I t A short， but highly engrossing read that has all the ingredients to make a great film。And so， Ridley Scott， no less， has translated it into a cinematic form which I intend to see。As good as the book is， the author meticulously sticks to the facts of the story， which while plentifully documented during its day， yield insufficient flesh for the bones of the narrative。 History alone can't do history justice in this case。I was left wanting to know more about the nature of all of the main players。I think the dramatization of the story has the potential to make it more compelling， adding pathos to an already intricate and interesting tale。 。。。more
Mickey Warshaw
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3。5 stars
Naomi
，
Read this mainly in preparation of the upcoming movie。 Very fascinating read that has kept me at the edge of my seat。 Can’t wait for the film to come out （in anticipation of Jodie Comer’s portrayal of Marguerite） AHHHHH Oct 15 can’t come any sooner。 History books are often boring but with the right material， writing and presentation， it can be very very interesting。 I have not read anything like this before （esp out of my own volition） so this is a first for me。 “as “a man of humble birth who ha Read this mainly in preparation of the upcoming movie。 Very fascinating read that has kept me at the edge of my seat。 Can’t wait for the film to come out （in anticipation of Jodie Comer’s portrayal of Marguerite） AHHHHH Oct 15 can’t come any sooner。 History books are often boring but with the right material， writing and presentation， it can be very very interesting。 I have not read anything like this before （esp out of my own volition） so this is a first for me。 “as “a man of humble birth who had risen in the world， favored by Fortune as many people are。 But when they are right on top and think themselves secure， Fortune flings them back into the mud and they end up lower than they began。” 。。。more
Brandi Guffey
，
This book does an excellent job discussing the traditions and ceremonies which took place in France during the 1300s。 There is not a lot of historical documentation on this event in particular， but the author does a great job researching what he could， and filling in what likely happened。 A lot is left up for debate， which is interesting in a historical topic。
Hana
，
This was an extremely readable history on the last judicial duel allowed by the Parlement of Paris。（view spoiler）[I am almost convinced， Eric Jager。 A few things still nagged at me， including the accomplice， Adam Louvel。 Since Marguerite had been "proven" to be right in the duel， then Louvel was as guilty as Le Gris。 Shouldn't he have been arrested and punished？ Another thing was Jean de Carrouges being a huge jerk and immediately trying to claim Jaques Le Gris' land at Aunou-le-Faucon， after he This was an extremely readable history on the last judicial duel allowed by the Parlement of Paris。（view spoiler）[I am almost convinced， Eric Jager。 A few things still nagged at me， including the accomplice， Adam Louvel。 Since Marguerite had been "proven" to be right in the duel， then Louvel was as guilty as Le Gris。 Shouldn't he have been arrested and punished？ Another thing was Jean de Carrouges being a huge jerk and immediately trying to claim Jaques Le Gris' land at Aunou-le-Faucon， after he had failed before。 It felt very suspicious to me， as if the whole thing had been cooked up to attempt to claim Le Gris' holdings。Also， why didn't Le Gris confess when Carrouges gave him the chance？ This was presumably a religious man， a man that had studied in the church。 Confession would have at least unburdened him of the sin that would prevent him from getting to heaven。 A trapped man in a highly religious time refusing salvation gives me a little bit of doubt。 （hide spoiler）] 。。。more
Pete
，
A good historical and seemingly accurate portrayal of knights battleing to the death over a woman's reputation。 I loved it and could not put it down。 A good historical and seemingly accurate portrayal of knights battleing to the death over a woman's reputation。 I loved it and could not put it down。 。。。more
Sarah
，
To date， the most engaging piece of historical non-fiction I have read。 I could not put this book down。 I am not a student of Medieval history， admittedly。 Jager has done an excellent job introducing not just the infamous Carrouges-Le Gris affair but also the world into which it was born。 His dutiful reference and interpretation of the primary source material and doubt of popular legends of the story have produced this stunning work that I honestly love。This book left me both angered and heartbr To date， the most engaging piece of historical non-fiction I have read。 I could not put this book down。 I am not a student of Medieval history， admittedly。 Jager has done an excellent job introducing not just the infamous Carrouges-Le Gris affair but also the world into which it was born。 His dutiful reference and interpretation of the primary source material and doubt of popular legends of the story have produced this stunning work that I honestly love。This book left me both angered and heartbroken， because 700 years later this narrative that women fabricate accusations of rape and violence still abounds。 Marguerite was painted as a courageous and noble character in this story and I think that interpretation is deserved。 I cannot wait for the film adaptation later this Month （Oct） and to pick up Jager's other histories。 。。。more
Alex Cue
，
The book started off a little dry for me。 Quite a bit of backstory and context-setting。 I do see the value of the historical context and setting the stage for what was to come and why each character has their motivations， it just made it a bit of a slog。 Once the action picked up， I found the narrative to move fairly quickly。 The build up to the actual duel fueled my anticipation， and the payoff was great。 I thought the author did a decent job of not editorializing history but showing why he was The book started off a little dry for me。 Quite a bit of backstory and context-setting。 I do see the value of the historical context and setting the stage for what was to come and why each character has their motivations， it just made it a bit of a slog。 Once the action picked up， I found the narrative to move fairly quickly。 The build up to the actual duel fueled my anticipation， and the payoff was great。 I thought the author did a decent job of not editorializing history but showing why he was drawing his conclusions based on the available primary sources。 。。。more
Bo Schutte
，
Very nice， loved that it was both educational and fun， it gives a great insight into those times and the thoughts of the people who lived in the 1380's。Which does make the views on women not that great， reading about how women were treated back then was both educational and scary， know knowing how we were treated and how we now are treated as back then as well。However the quarrel between Carrouges and Le Gris is very entertaining and the duel itself is super tense and gory。I can recommend this b Very nice， loved that it was both educational and fun， it gives a great insight into those times and the thoughts of the people who lived in the 1380's。Which does make the views on women not that great， reading about how women were treated back then was both educational and scary， know knowing how we were treated and how we now are treated as back then as well。However the quarrel between Carrouges and Le Gris is very entertaining and the duel itself is super tense and gory。I can recommend this book but only if you are willing to read about such cruelty 。。。more
Adelbert
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Well written and researched！
Elise
，
The most riveting non fiction book I've read in a long time。 Completely captivated from beginning to end。 Cannot wait to see the film now。 The most riveting non fiction book I've read in a long time。 Completely captivated from beginning to end。 Cannot wait to see the film now。 。。。more
Christine Allison
，
Enjoyable-way to Relive HistoryThis well-written novel was enjoyable from start to finish。 Although， well-researched and historically accurate， it still read like a novel。 It was the right length for the topic and was engaging in its depiction of one particular event in time。 If you enjoy Medieval History， this book is a must read。
Stephanie
，
I have ready many great， thrilling， non-fiction books （Unbroken comes to mind）。 While this book was very interesting and I cannot wait to see what Ridley Scott does with this on film （and see Jodie Comer） the majority of this book reads like any book I was assigned as a history major at Geneseo。 🥱
Olivia
，
just read the wikipedia page
Marie
，
An interesting look at the political and justice systems of medieval France。 I thought it would be more novelized。 There are places where the author adds speculative description and detail， but much of the book is straight non-fiction。 It's worth the short read if you find the topic interesting， and I can certainly see why a movie is being made given the Hollywood-ready drama and violence of the story。 An interesting look at the political and justice systems of medieval France。 I thought it would be more novelized。 There are places where the author adds speculative description and detail， but much of the book is straight non-fiction。 It's worth the short read if you find the topic interesting， and I can certainly see why a movie is being made given the Hollywood-ready drama and violence of the story。 。。。more
Blake Gidley
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A very gripping account。 So much detail and intrigue packed into these pages。 If you have an interest in the medieval or historical， this is well worth your time。
Warren Fretwell
，