Crusade in Jeans
Thea Beckman
Trim size: : 14,3 x 21,5 cm | 307 pages
Fifteen year old Dolf thought he was engaged in an experiment that would take him back to the Middle Ages to a tournament of knights. But by a miscalculation of the computer, he arrives in the Rhineland at the exact time that the Children’s Crusade is passing through. A stranded traveler in time, Dolf joins the immense children’s army — almost 10,000 strong.
With Dolf, the reader struggles to understand how it was possible that children between the ages of 6 and 15 thought they could travel across Europe, then cross the sea to drive away the Saracens from the Holy Land. They had no weapons, transportation, or money; they experienced hunger, epidemics, and death. The dreadful conditions he encounters compel him to use his 20th-century knowledge to try to create order out of chaos. In spite of himself, he becomes a leader and organizer. And along the way he also experiences loyal friendships, courage, and devotion to God.
Slowly, Dolf begins to realize that the real danger does not lurk behind the next mountaintop, but rather within the crusade itself.
Crusade in Jeans was first published in 1973. It became an overnight success, making Thea Beckman one of the most popular authors of juvenile books in Europe.
In 2006, the book was turned in an award winning movie picture featuring Emma Watson, Michael Culkin, Joe Flynn and Stephanie Leonidas.
This wonderfully rich story is a winner of the Golden Pen, the most prestigious Dutch national award for children’s books.
Rights sold:
Brazil
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Germany
Russian Federation
Spanish Worldwide
Crusade in Jeans
Quotes from the press
‘I loved this. I was not aware that it is an older book in translation. Hurray! Highly recommended.’
-NetGalley
‘I am not sure I have the words to adequately describe how much I’ve loved this book and still love this book. My 4th grade teacher started reading this to our class back in ’78 or so. About two chapters in I couldn’t stand his slow pace anymore, got the book out of the library and plowed through it in a day or two. I have reread this book so many times I have long lost count and even as an adult I reread it every few years.’
-Marleen Stam-Gibbs at GoodReads.com
About the author
Thea Beckman (1923 – 2004) was born in Rotterdam. She is the most famous Dutch author of historical novels for the young. Her books have been awarded several prestigious prizes by children´s and adult juries and are still very popular among all ages.
She began writing in 1947, but it was not until her children were grown, that she devoted herself to writing full time. Crusade in Jeans was first published in 1973. It became an overnight success, making her one of the most popular authors of juvenile books in the Netherlands.
Ms. Beckman is fascinated by history and wrote books about many historical periods from the Middle Ages to the future. In 1974 Crusade in Jeans was awarded The Golden Pen (the most prestigious Dutch national award for children’s books). In 1976 the Province of Trento, Italy, named it the Best European Historical Juvenile Book. In 1984 Ms. Beckman was awarded the Huib de Ruyter Prijs (a prize from Dutch teachers for all her historical novels).
Ms. Beckman has the ability to bring other centuries vividly to life. Her characters are realistic and her stories compelling. She died in 2004.
