Hospitallers

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Good primer in the history of the Order of St John. - Rated
Jonathan Riley-Smith knows his subject well. He writes in an easy manner, and provides a well rounded history of this famous Order, both in its ancient guise, and in its present day divisions resulting from the loss of Malta in 1798. The latter pages give an account of the rise of the British Order founded post 1827 (page 129 onwards), which was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1888, with the patronage of the Monarch as head (in the English State, it ranks as a decoration but not as an Order of Chivalry).

Of criticisms - only two minor points; There are some areas of technical controversy such as the claimed sovereignty of the present Roman Catholic Order (pages 119 and 121). Such claim is made as a matter of fact by the author, but is disputed by some academics. Omitted are details of the early schism in the English group of 1837.

For anyone wishing to read a first rate primer on the history of the Order - this book is excellent, and more than worth buying. Furthermore for added value, there are nearly two hundred illustrations, most of which are in colour. It is this fact which makes the book stand out from earlier histories.
It is a book which I have purchased, and enjoyed.