Soldier of Crusade by Jack Ludlow

This is the fifth novel in Jack Ludlow's saga of the de Hauteville familly.
This book covers the arrival in Anatolia of Count Bohemond of Taranto to join the Crusade called for by Pope Urban with the aim of recapturing Jerusalem from the Muslims.   Accompanied by his nephew Tancred his first task is to visit the Byzantine Emperor Alexius who is in no doubt that Bohemond is the most formidable of the European warriors who have joined the Crusade.   Alexius is determined to use the Crusaders to drive out the Turks and other Muslims who have occupied Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine all of which used to belong to the Empire whilst holding his own much depleted forces back to defend Constantinople.   Bohemond is not helped by the other leaders of the Crusade none of whom have his experience of warfare but who demand to be included in all decision making.   All the leaders have spent immense sums in equiping and transporting their armies to Byzantium and all are looking to recoup this expenditure by plunder and establishing themselves as rulers of the territories that they conquer and naturaly this was a certain recipe for conflict among the commanders.   The Crusaders find that the terrain poses as many problems as the enemy varying from sunbaked desert to torrential downpours and freezing mountains and Bohemond is constantly struggling to find sufficient food and forage for his men and their mounts.   Jack Ludlow has written another first class adventure here keeping the pages turning as he brings to life some of the most amazing men of the day and their incredible exploits.   Best of all there is another volume to come.