After reading a lot of history in the obsolete style of Runciman and others, and many historical novels who, although documented, remain just what they are - novels - this book truly opened my eyes to the work of the real, honest historian. Queller and Madden not only try to tell the story of this unique and intriguing event that was the fourth crusade, they also try to answer questions which have always fascinated people like me, interested in the mechanics of the events, not only in the big picture:- How many people gathered and how were they distributed along social class lines?- Where were all those people lodged in Venice?- How much money was collected and from whom?- How many ships were provided and who built and delivered them?- When did the bulk of the crusaders leave for their destination?- How was communication working between Rome, Venice and the crusaders?- What is plausible truth and what is hearsay, invention or whishful thinking in contemporary eyewitness accounts, like that of Geoffroy de Villehardouin?The product of their work is highly readable prose and the attitude is one of honesty. Age-old prejudices (like the widespread opinion that everything that happened was a diabolical plot of Enrico Dandolo, the doge of Venice) are analyzed critically in their historical context. Most important, Queller and Madden admit that there are limits to what a historian can hold for true beyond the shadow of a doubt. The documents of the time are scarce, and those that exist must be interpreted accurately and should not always be taken literally but merely as attempts at journalism in an age where the ethics of the press had not yet developed.