Lionheart, by Sharon Kay Penman

A grand historical fiction about Richard the Lionheart's failed 3rd crusade to liberate Jerusalem in 1191. Penman excels at period detail, but she also provides fleshed out characters and plenty of action. There's lots of court intrigue, interspersed with battles, romance, banquets, and sex. The story follows multiple characters, including Richard, his sister, his new bride, and several of the major knights in his entourage. Richard was unique in that he approached the Saracens and their leaders with respect, and was willing to listen and learn from them. I learned quite a lot about the crusades and the political intrigue and jockeying for power that continued throughout the expeditions. Penman provides several pages of historical notes at the end, describing how she used chronicles from the period to provide authenticity to the work, also noting where she has embellished. The story ends with Richard's departure from the Holy Land. Penman is at work on the sequel, to cover the rest of his life's adventures. 589 pages.