Eric Jager's The Last Duel is lauded for its vivid, well-researched recount of medieval France, bringing historical characters and legal drama to life. Critics praise its engaging narrative style but note occasional anachronistic language and a somewhat slow middle section. Overall, it successfully blends historical accuracy with captivating storytelling.

Readers who enjoy The Last Duel by Eric Jager are fascinated by medieval history, true crime narratives, and legal dramas. Fans of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall or Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City will appreciate Jager’s meticulous research and gripping storytelling set against a backdrop of 14th-century France.

The Last Duel by Eric Jager recounts a 1386 legal battle in Paris where Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris duel to resolve accusations of rape by Carrouges’s wife, Marguerite, with the outcome determining her fate and Le Gris's guilt. Set against the backdrop of feudal Normandy and involving King Charles VI, the duel marks one of the last sanctioned by the Parlement of Paris. The story includes sexual violence.

Mysterious / Dark / Suspenseful / Informative / Gritty

- The Last Duel by Eric Jager explores the last officially recognized judicial duel in France—a dramatic event that marked the end of a centuries-old tradition of trial by combat.
- The book delves into the rich historical context of 14th-century France, shedding light on its legal, social, and political complexities during a time when notions of honor and justice were fiercely defended.
- Author Eric Jager is a medieval literature scholar, and his detailed research provides an authentic glimpse into the customs and mindsets of medieval society.

**Eric Jager**  
The author of the book, Jager specializes in medieval literature and teaches as an English professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

**Marguerite de Thibouville**  
Wife of Jean de Carrouges IV, she is central to the story due to her accusation of rape against Jacques Le Gris, which sets off the main events.

**Jean de Carrouges IV**  
A Norman nobleman and experienced warrior, his demand for a judicial duel over his wife's accusation against Jacques Le Gris is pivotal in the narrative.

**Jacques Le Gris**  
Once a friend of Jean de Carrouges IV and later a rival, he is accused by Marguerite de Thibouville of sexual assault, leading to a judicial duel.

**Count Pierre of Alençon**  
Overlord of both Jean de Carrouges IV and Jacques Le Gris, whose favoritism towards Le Gris influences key events in the story.

**King Charles VI**  
The king of France who presides over the judicial duel, having ascended to the throne at age eleven and later suffering from mental illness during his reign.

Eric Jager

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Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 2

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Part 1, Chapters 3-4

The Last Duel Part 1, Chapters 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 5-6

The Last Duel Part 1, Chapters 5-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 7-8

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Part 2, Chapter 9-Appendix

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

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