The Brethren

The Brethren is a historical and adventure novel written by H. Rider Haggard and originally published in 1904. It is set just before the beginning of the Third Crusade.

In this classic tale of love and chivalry we meet Godwin and Wulf D'Arcy, twin brothers. While Godwin is thoughtful and quiet, Wulf is a great fighter and very burly. Both are in love with the same woman: their cousin Rosamund.

Their lives will change completely when Saladin, the Sovereign of the East, dreams of Rosamund even though he has never seen her in person and decides that she must be taken to the Holy Land.

Although Rosamund refuses to go with Saladin, he resorts to force and kidnaps her. At this point Godwin and Wulf D'Arcy, newly knighted, set sail for Saladin's palace to rescue their cousin and beloved.

Along the way, they will experience a series of adventures in which they will have to overcome numerous difficulties such as the confrontation with the leader of the cult of the Assassins...

"Standing a while ago upon the flower-clad plain above Tiberius, by the Lake of Galilee, the writer gazed at the double peaks of the Hill of Hattin. Here, or so tradition says, Christ preached the Sermon on the Mount—that perfect rule of gentleness and peace."