The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager

The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager describes the final judicial duel in Paris which took place in 1386. The case was a claim of rape. The husband of the victim challenging her attacker. They were both members of the retinue of a French noble. The book is pretty short. It is an interesting topic the execution is a little wanting though.

The author who is an academic an English professor by training tends to take some liberties when discussing the motivations and feelings of the individuals. Some of these views don't seem to me supported by sources. We occasionally get "he thought" and the like even though there are no primary sources written by the claimants. There are endnotes. The author has obviously spent a lot of time in the archives. I would have appreciate it a longer treatment with perhaps more prospective on the legal concept underpinning the combat.

Recommended.

Is available through Abebooks.