Yale University Press has acquired the World English rights to a groundbreaking book by Rugby School's history teacher, Dr Thomas Smith. His upcoming work, The Egyptian Crusade: Holy War on the Nile, promises to be a vivid and engaging narrative history, bringing the little-known story of the Fifth Crusade to life for a wide audience. The book is set to captivate readers with its globe-trotting journey through the triumphs, betrayals, political intrigue, and personal dramas of the crusaders.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Tom before he embarks on the full writing process, to gain insight into his motivations, challenges, and hopes for the book.

The Inspiration Behind the Book

"The story of the Egyptian Crusade has fascinated me for over fifteen years," Tom shared. "I first encountered it during my university studies and was immediately captivated by the events and the characters. The idea of medieval crusaders campaigning in Egypt, amidst the ruins of Ancient Egypt, captured my imagination and merged two of my major historical interests. I wrote my master's dissertation and PhD on aspects of the Fifth Crusade, but the academic format never fully did justice to the story. Now, I’m thrilled to present it to a popular audience. (And if anyone’s interested in the film rights, I always thought it would make a great movie!)"

He added, "Many people are fascinated by Egypt, medieval history, and the crusades, but no one has yet combined these in a popular history book. The Egyptian Crusade isn’t as widely known as other crusades, and I wanted to immerse readers in the dangerous world the crusaders inhabited, to accompany them on their journey, and to recreate their sense of wonder as they explored medieval Egypt for the first time."

The Writing Process

Tom has already made progress on the book, including a sample chapter that was submitted to Yale University Press by his agent, Andrew Lownie. However, much work remains. "There’s still a lot to write, so I’ll be chaining myself to my desk for most of the holidays!" he joked. "Trips to London’s great libraries—like the British Library, the Institute of Historical Research, and the Warburg Institute—are also on the horizon."

In terms of content, Tom aims to breathe life into the historical characters and events. "I’ll be drawing out the human interest, bringing the characters to life, and finding curious anecdotes that add color to the story—like a nunchuk-wielding Frisian crusader atop a newly invented waterborne siege engine on the Nile, which is how the book opens. To find out what happens next, you’ll have to read the book!"

Challenges and Aspirations

Reanimating nearly thousand-year-old events for a modern audience is no small task. "There’s something romantic about bringing medieval lives back to life," Tom reflected. "But the history must be grounded in source material, and I’ll be drawing on a wide range of sources from both crusader and Egyptian perspectives—from chronicles and letters to coins and archaeological evidence, even an illustrated bishop's hat."

When asked what he hopes readers will take away, Tom said, "First and foremost, I hope they have fun getting to know the characters and following the twists and turns of the crusade. I want the military engagements to feel immediate and dangerous, as if readers are there with the crusaders under the Egyptian sun. By the end of the book, I hope readers feel as though they’ve traveled from northern Europe, across the Mediterranean, to the sun-baked vistas of medieval Palestine and Egypt. I also hope they gain a nuanced understanding of Christian-Muslim interactions during the crusades, seeing them as more complex than just intolerance and violence."

Balancing Teaching and Writing

Balancing teaching and writing is no easy feat, but for Tom, it’s a labor of love. "I do most of the writing in my holidays—it’s my nerdy hobby—but I believe my teaching greatly informs my writing, and vice versa. I’m fortunate to teach A-Level Crusades at Rugby, which allows my research to influence my teaching. For this book, I’m applying some of the same approaches I use in the classroom: starting with an attention-grabbing anecdote, thrusting the reader into the story-world, and creating a vivid sense of place. I want readers to imagine themselves in the midst of the events as they unfold."

Tom’s upcoming book promises to be a compelling and insightful read, blending rigorous scholarship with a narrative flair that will engage history enthusiasts and general readers alike. We eagerly await the final product and wish Tom the best as he continues to bring the Fifth Crusade to life!

Find out more about Dr Thomas Smith and 'The Egyptian Crusade: Holy War on the Nile' here. 

Agent: Andrew Lownie Literary Agency
Publisher: Yale University Press