One of the big books on the twelfth century. The chronology is there to show how harassing the top job in Christendom could be. Perhaps Otto wasn't a brilliant stylist, but I can't find anything contemporary that is so good regarding the Plantagenets. This all leads back into the interrelationships of the Hohenstauffen with the Americi of Monferrat. Read carefully to see that, and then on to the "The Talisman" for a hatchet job almost as good as Shakespeare/Bacon on Richard III ! read twice, and dipped into a lot! Originally composed in the 1160's. ( )